Sewing on a Budget: Patterns - Which One(s) to Buy?

Do you ever have this issue: You see several patterns of things you want to make but can't make up your mind of which one to get?
or
You see some patterns you love but you don't love the price?

Well, first let me say this. Most of the patterns I buy are of the tutorial/made by a designer type rather than a Simplicity or  Butterrick type. Yes, Simplicity and the like have value, both cost and instructionally.  However, I find them very difficult to understand and read, especially from the new sewer perspective. I don't get the someone-is-standing-next-to-you feel that I get with designer/tutorial patterns. From the few patterns I have bought I've learned MANY great skills.  When I first started to sew, I picked out patterns based on a clothing skill I wanted to learn. Granted, with the internet you can almost learn any sewing skill for free, but sometimes I needed the extra guidance of how that skill yielded a result in clothing.  With all that said, I don't own a great many patterns. They can be expensive so I select my patterns carefully and only buy ones I know I am going to use.

Right now I have an obsession with little girl's jackets/coats. I wish I could just make one of the fly, sans pattern, but I don't quite trust myself yet. There are certain elements I want to learn in coat/jacket construction so I am looking for those elements as I search. (I really wish I could make this jacket that Dana from Made designed. It is darling. I hope that with learning some coat/jacket basics, I can!)  I don't live somewhere that gets that very cold. However, we do get some lovely 'jacket weather' so luckily I can look at jackets/coats based on the cuteness factor instead of is-this-going-to-keep-my-little-one-warm-enough-so-she-doesn't-get-sick factor.  I have to say that there are many cute jacket/coat patterns that are both very cute and very practical.

Without any further adieu here are my contenders:

#1 Uptown Girl by Make It Perfect - (I LOVE her patterns! She also has one called Downtown Boy which I love. Plus she made it with the yummy Farmer's Market from Sandi Henderson.)
Skills I'd Be Learning: hoodie, lining a jacket & working on my button hole issues

#2 Sweat Pea Fall Jacket by Heidi and Finn
Skills I'd Be Learning: lining a jacket, collar construction & I love that mid-waist band, I see that on a lot of tunics, tops, etc.

#3 Urban Hoodie by Heidi and Finn
Skills I'd Be Learning: cuffs, wide bottom band, hoddie, again...button hole issues, sewing with knit

#4 Trendy Pea Coat by dmkeasywear
Skills I'd Be Learning: collar, double-breasted coat, lining, again...buttons

Wow. Now that I see all of them. It is going to be really hard to decide. I love all of them for various reasons. 

The debate continues. Any suggestions?

Sewing on a Budget - Part Two: Shopping at Hobby Lobby

Thanks for all the tips on the last 'Sewing on a Budget' post. I will be doing a post with all your suggestions! Keep them coming!!!

Shopping at Hobby Lobby

I love Hobby Lobby. Nuf said.

The sales aren't as great as Joann's but I still go there for specific items because I can get them cheaper than Joann's. They also have a weekly coupon on their website www.hobbylobby.com.

Kona Cotton

• Kona Cotton - I love Kona Cotton. It's regular price at Joann's & Hobby Lobby is $5.99. At Hobby Lobby it is ALWAYS on sale for 30% off. Typically, I get it at Hobby Lobby. Yes, I could use my coupon at Joann's but I am closer to a Hobby Lobby. I figure I'd eat the extra 10% in savings by driving/extra time spent. I use Kona for clothing and quilting. Plus it comes in EVERY color!!!
• broad cloth - A huge step down from Kona Cottons, but still does a great job. At Hobby Lobby, it is usually about  $1.87 a yard. But with a hot 40% off coupon in your hand...nice! I use broad cloth for linings, especially in totes. I use a load of broadcloth so I usually buy 10 yards at a time with a coupon.
• ribbon - Most of the time it is on sale for 50% off. You can get usually around 15 feet/5 yards for .99 cents. Great deal! And they have a great ribbon selection
• cotton prints - Often are much cuter than Joann's and always 30% off! 
• tulle on a spool - (wow that rhymes) Often this is on sale for $1.99 for a 25 yard spool  of 6" wide tulle. (Great color selection.) This is great for the no-sew tutus and for decorations.
• clearance section - I love to dig through the clearance in the fabric section. I've found many fun trims, fabrics, and notions for a steal. 

My list of 'regular' items at Hobby Lobby is much shorter than Joann's but still worth my time. I also love the fact that they are closed on Sunday. Everyone needs a day off.

Any tips for shopping at Hobby Lobby?

Thanks for reading,

LeAnne :)

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Missed the first post in this series?

Sewing on a Budget - Part One: Shopping at Joann's

This is a post I've been thinking about doing for awhile. (I also have been working on it for awhile!)
So I hope you find the 'Sewing on a Budget' series helpful. Feel free to leave comments on things you do to make your crafting dollar go the furthest. I'd love to have a post with reader tips! 

(FYI: I am not saying I am a pro at budgeting or these are the only ways to do so, I am just passing off some things that have worked for me.)

So here we go....

Keeping your hobby in line with your budget, yikes! It's hard not to go crazy with all the fun fabrics, supplies, and ideas out there. However, I think with creativity and planning you can have a fun and practical hobby that you enjoy that and is easy on the wallet. Christmas is also right around the corner and handmade gifts are wonderful but can be expensive if you wait to the last minute. However, if you start to plan now, watch sales, and of course make time to sew or craft, you will enjoy making those handmade gifts much more.

So my first tip for sewing on a budget is....

Shopping at Joann's

Yes.  I know Joann fabrics aren't always the most current and some stores have horrible inventory. Trust me I've seen my share of Joann's; the good and the bad. Even still, I still love shopping there for these reasons:

Coupons & Sales

• There is always a sale! And if there isn't, use a coupon. I never pay full price for anything. Okay...I may have bought a zipper or two w/out a coupon. ;)
• I always take a coupon with me. If you don't get Joann emails or mailers go to www.joann.com and sign up. 
• My favorite sales:
• Patriotic Sales. Joann's has a sale around every patriotic holiday and they always have the basics on sale.
• Coupon Commotion. Happens about 3 times a year. It is great because you can use multiple coupons at once. They usually happen in the winter, summer, and fall. 
• Black Friday. I stock up on a few items at this sale because the prices never are lower. (These have been the prices for the last three years.)
1. Interfacing, $3.99/10 yard bolt
2. 72" wide Felt, $1.99/yd
3. Cotton Flannel, $1.49/yd
• In my opinion, I feel like from September - January are some of the best sales at Joann's. (Probably because everyone is doing extra crafting/sewing for the Holidays.)

Basic Sewing Supplies & Materials
I stock up on the following items when they are on sale if I need them. I never buy all these items at once, remember this post is about staying on budget. This is how I started to build my sewing supply stash a few years back. I would pick up a few items when they went on sale. Before I knew it, I had a nice supply of basic supplies and fabrics so I didn't have to go to the store for each and every project.

• thread - About every 4 - 6 weeks it is on sale for 40% - 50% off. I like to always have a big spool of black, cream, and white on hand. Then I get smaller spools of other colors.
• basic cotton prints {polka dots, stripes, vines, etc} aka 'Keepsake Calicos' - These are almost always on sale for 30% - 40% off. I stock up on my basics when they are on sale so I can get all the fabrics I want at a discount. Of course, if I only need one print and no sale, I use my coupon. 
• fat quarters - I only buy these when they are on sale for .99 cents each. Otherwise, they are $1.50 each which equals $6.00/yd fabric! Yikes! More than I want to pay for Joann fabric, let alone fat quarter fabric from Joann's because the quality isn't $6.00/yd fabric. (In my opinion.)
• remnants - I go through the remnants every time I go because they are always 50% off. I've made adorable little girl dresses from remnants because you usually only need a yard or less of fabric.
• cutting tools - Seem like they are always on sale for 40% - 50% off. You can read more about my favorite cutting tools here.
• felt yardage or 72" wide felt - Unless I only need the smallest amount of felt, I buy it by the yard. It is far cheaper. Example:
• One felt sheet is .25 cents and really not a lot of felt.  
• 1/4 yard of felt at regular price using a coupon costs .75 cents and is a lot of felt!
• From about September - January felt is super cheap, around $2.99 - $3.99 a yard.
• interfacing - About every 4 - 6 weeks it is on sale for 50% off. 
• notions wall - Again, about every 4 - 6 weeks the notions wall is either 50% off or BOGO free. 

So those are some of the tips I have for shopping at Joann's. Do you have any?

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