$$$$ The High Cost to Craft $$$$

This morning I had a few appointments to go to and a few errands to run, hence the later than normal post.  One place I wanted to stop at was Joann's Fabric Store.  You see, coupons burn a hole in my pocket and for the first time since we moved (almost two years ago) I got one of their pamphlets with a ton of coupons.  The one that excited me was 40% everything not already on sale.  I prepared myself with a list of items I needed and wanted🙂.

It took about 10 minutes for me to realize almost EVERYTHING I "needed" was already on sale!  Everything on my list that I "wanted" was also on sale for less than 40%, so why buy it when in another week or two I can use a 40% or 50% coupon to save money.

I was on a mission to look for another idea for a sewing project.  The one item of clothing that I have wanted for quite awhile is a nice quilted vest.  Every time I shop at Boscov's or Kohl's I look at them and refuse to pay their prices for something so simple to make. So I headed over to the pattern books to look what was available.

OMG!
I know it has been over twenty years since I have looked for a pattern and I was shocked to see the prices!  I can distinctly remember back then I thought they were expensive for tissue paper and newsprint like paper for the directions.  Then "a lot" was the cost of $2.95-$7.95 per pattern.

So guess how much this Simplicity easy-to-sew pattern was marked?

$16.95!

Yes, I did purchase it since this is EXACTLY what I was looking for as far as the design.  But all Simplicity patterns were on sale for $1.99!  Now that is a sale!

What is so sad is that at these prices for just a pattern, no wonder sewing clothing seems to becoming a lost art.  I hear they no longer teach it as a required subject in school, and most adults these days can't even sew on a button or hem an item of clothing they purchase at a store.  It is indeed a lot cheaper to make the flannel shirt I am wearing right now that I purchased at Vanity Fair for $9.99.  You can't even buy a yard of flannel material ON SALE for that price!

The quilted fabric was on sale, however I was not happy with their selection and will look at other stores over the weekend to see if I can find what I am looking for.  I don[t want to settle for a fabric until I look around since I have already waited so long for the vest.  Will keep you updated on this new sewing project as I start working on it over the next few weeks.

If there is a morale to this post...….watch for sales and NEVER buy a pattern at full price!

Happy Crafting!