If you sew (not OT)

[Hattie]

You can buy foam at Joann’s Fabrics and other fabric stores. It comes in different densities. It is expensive. You can get the clerk to cut it to the size you want. From my experience, I do a better job at that. I also like to cover the foam with batting for cushions. I have made simple cylindrical cushions out of batting, wrapped a squares of fabric around them and tied the ends. That’s good for people who don’t sew, don’t have the time, or are lazy bones like myself. Those may not be firm enough for yoga.

If you sign up for mailings at Joann’s they send you flyers with coupons. I always use the 40 - 50% off ones for expensive items. Joann’s regularly has sales on patterns without coupons. I never pay more than $2 for a pattern unless it is a class one such as Vogue or Burda.

Stretch & Sew patterns use to have various active sportswear patterns. I don’t know if they still make them. I have an old Stretch & Sew pattern that includes a cropped top, shorts, long pants, and one piece tank/thong which goes over pants. I always use 2 way stretch lycra to sew those type of garments. Lanetz has out of print patterns. Sometimes, I have had luck finding odd ball patterns there.

A friend once made me a stuffed bag filled with beans. I left it at my summer cottage over the winter. Come spring, I discovered the field mice had moved in and ate the beans.

Jeannine, what a neat idea, covering a fanny lifter. lol

[ilovemygreatdane]

I am in awe of anyone who can sew. I have trouble putting a button back on. Can you please tell me why zippers are so expensive? I have to replace the zippers on my jackets and the cost at the cleaners is pretty high. I will pay the price, but is it for the sewing or for the zipper? The dangling part of the zipper is what breaks off and the whole zipper needs to be fixed? Thanks for your knowledge!

[atiman]

Originally Posted by ilovemygreatdane

I am in awe of anyone who can sew. I have trouble putting a button back on. Can you please tell me why zippers are so expensive? I have to replace the zippers on my jackets and the cost at the cleaners is pretty high. I will pay the price, but is it for the sewing or for the zipper? The dangling part of the zipper is what breaks off and the whole zipper needs to be fixed? Thanks for your knowledge!

You are paying for the time. Ripping out something is not FUN! It's less time consuming to put one in than take one out and then replace it.

[ilovemygreatdane]

Thanks for the info. I figured it had to be the labor. I have seen some of the newer sewing machines and they are incredible. I still would not know what to do with it though!

[InstantBlue]

I love sewing stuff myself - I have a bad habit of looking and things and saying, "I can make that for so much less than they are charging for it!" I recently made my own, custom pink-and-grey TRX. It cost about $15 instead of around $100 and is so much prettier!

[Helen]

How lovely to see a sewing thread!

In my 20's I copied designer clothes from magazines and drafted my own patterns. Then I moved onto fitness clothes (lycra shorts & tops) but since being a home-maker, my efforts have moved to roman blinds, curtains, & cushions; and since being a mother, kiddies stuff and dance costumes.

Home furnishings like cushions and bolsters can be the easiest to do. Curtains and blinds are easy to sew, but accurate measuring and keeping things striaght to hang right can be bothersome. Fitness clothes in lycra is SUPER easy due to the stretch - a perfectly fitting pattern isn't necessary. It can be difficult to find really good quality fabric though.

If anyone is interested to learn to sew and the the kinds of machines (and some of the prices!!) is daunting - to be honest, I rarely use anything other than straight stitch (and zig-zag before I bought an overlocker/serger). Most have automatic buttonholers which is pretty essential.

I agree that replacing a zip isn't fun and it is time-consuming.