The Background
Long before I knew I needed to regain a lot of contact with the old ways, I always smiled to see my wife sewing at the dining room table. You can’t imagine the joy when my youngest daughter decided she wanted to sew her own pajamas. Before she had a chance to forget the idea we took her off to the fabric store to pick out some material and a pattern.
We chose a polar fleece material and a robe and pants pattern. The polar fleece may not be the most natural of fabrics, but is easy and forgiving for a seven year old who actually wants to sew instead of watch TV. (Would you encourage a new cook to make their own pasta or let them use a box of dried pasta to learn on?) The funny thing about the pattern is that it included a pattern for a blinder mask. The child has zero need for one of these, she has a shade in her bedroom that is thick enough to stop high energy gamma rays, but that small accessory made her day.
Sewing is a life skill. Learn it early while you have time.
She did most of the work herself. Insisted upon it. She cut the pattern. Pinned the pattern to the material. Learned, with guidance, to pin all the parts before cutting in case it doesn’t fit the way you planned. Cut the material and did about 90% of the stitching herself. Mom helped get a lot of the seams started and straighter when she wandered, but she made her own robe, pants, and of course, blinder mask.
The project was a huge success across the board. Besides the new attire, she was rewarded with the sense of accomplishment that only comes from doing something yourself. We certainly could have gone to Walmart and bought a set of pajamas and been done with the whole business, but this is an early lesson of being rewarded for your effort.
More importantly, she started learning a skill. If we had bought her some pajamas, she would have outgrown them in six months. This pair she made. Herself. Nothing can ever take away the learning and pride she developed in making these. Nothing.
Nothing can take the skills she devlopes from her.
The Analysis
| Item |
Cost |
| Material |
20.00 |
| Pattern |
5.00 |
| Thread |
1.00 |
| Time (10.00/hr) |
20.00 |
|
Total |
46.00 |
| Manufactured PJs |
19.99 |
|
Difference |
26.01 |
I needed to decide is there $26.01 in value of learning, pride, and the joy of watching my child do something she loved. Well that is a no brainer. Of course. But the deal gets even better. The pattern can be reused. The entire spool of thread isn’t used on this one project. The quality of the material is far superior to the cheap imitation flannel used in the purchased pajamas. There are small bits of fabric left over that can be used for patchwork blankets, or to mend other clothing. The learned skill could develop into a source of income, working part time in an alteration store. Possibly developing skills as a designer or costumer later in life.
It isn’t always about first cost. As an engineer I need to evaluate that everyday. The cheapest motor can cost a lot more over the course of 5 years running. If a motor that costs $50 more to purchase new, uses $50 more in electricity per year, then the more expensive motor starts paying for itself after only 1 year. Remember this simple concept the next time you find your self saying…“I can buy one of these so much cheaper than making it.”
There is a great letter on sewing skills in a self reliant setting at SurvivalBlog.com:
