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REP

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125. Just an anecdote ...

Sun May 5, 2013, 09:26 PM

May 2013

I recently bought a sewing machine because I have room for one now and it kills me to pay more to have my close-out store pants hemmed than what I paid for them (I'm short, but I can't believe most women wear a 36" inseam). Anyway, my new machine is a lot more fun than my mom's cranky old Singer, so I've been buying fabric for very simple projects. And I've been able to find 100% cotton made in the US at the three places I bought fabric (Ikea, Joann's and Hancocks). Not every bolt I liked met my demands, but I was surprised at how many did. If I were in my hometown, I know a bunch of places to go (my mother is a fabric junkie) and I'm sure I'll find those places here, but for those who have the time and inclination to sew, I can report that finding US-made fabric is less daunting than I thought it'd be.

Just an anecdote from one novice with a machine.

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So my niece may never go shopping with me again [View all] dflprincess May 2013 OP

American Apparel. Made in downtown L.A. JaneyVee May 2013 #1

Unfortunately "made in america" is the only positive thing they have Lordquinton May 2013 #12

they only do knitware BainsBane May 2013 #17

They also sexually harass many of their employees... Agschmid May 2013 #118

Having grown up with sexual harrassment, and laws to deal with it, I'd rather fight that than be in freshwest May 2013 #139

good luck finding quality fabric Kali May 2013 #2

Yes, they're putting that damned plastic into EVERYTHING Warpy May 2013 #5

They're using bamboo a lot more lately. I have some bamboo socks and they're great. cui bono May 2013 #13

Bamboo is actually not that great for knitted stuff Warpy May 2013 #29

Bamboo is THE environmentally cool fabric ingredient these days.... Honeycombe8 May 2013 #67

The process of turning bamboo into fiber is not a gentle one Warpy May 2013 #89

That's too bad. I really like the socks. Very soft. n/t cui bono May 2013 #134

I like to dye it and card it into merino wool Warpy May 2013 #135

I just got a bunch of soft bamboo knit abelenkpe May 2013 #103

I believe there are some Mom & Pop stores in Oregon that have cotton... Left Coast2020 May 2013 #54

I cannot believe this has not been mentioned! zerosumgame0005 May 2013 #83

I'd seen the hemp clothing in stores, but not the OR clothing. Thanks. freshwest May 2013 #140

Shopping online makes it easier to find made-in-USA stuff. Brickbat May 2013 #3

So you didn't tell her about the building collapse in Bangladesh that killed malaise May 2013 #4

I did dflprincess May 2013 #7

Thrift stores have amazing stuff! tblue May 2013 #6

I find great stuff in the Goodwill with "made in USA" tags. mountain grammy May 2013 #11

For about $60, I just bought a whole wardrobe of easy-care wrinkle-free clothes to travel with. Nay May 2013 #92

+1- I shop at Goodwill LittleGirl May 2013 #95

We have at least 2 in our area that cater to young adult styles woodsprite May 2013 #64

I have bought loads of brand new items from them. GoCubsGo May 2013 #115

Yard sales, too! Le Taz Hot May 2013 #117

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton May 2013 #8

Thanks for that, gonna check out those jeans. freshwest May 2013 #24

I went to the site. Beacool May 2013 #128

For $98, she could make an A-line skirt, with lining, out of a fabric of *her* choice, winter is coming May 2013 #9

I was thinking the same thing... TreasonousBastard May 2013 #19

A-lines are relatively simple, and tend to last well because they're not skin-tight. winter is coming May 2013 #21

Well Aerows May 2013 #73

for that she could make a few A-line skirts from the fabric of choice :) azurnoir May 2013 #20

Depends on whether or not she wants a premium cotton, but yes. n/t winter is coming May 2013 #23

Do you honestly think this young woman will take up sewing pnwmom May 2013 #25

prolly not :) azurnoir May 2013 #41

I used to like to sew pnwmom May 2013 #44

I used to sew when I was younger and my kids were little azurnoir May 2013 #49

My machine got closed up during one of my extreme baby-proofing periods pnwmom May 2013 #59

I doubt she'll learn to sew even though our political views pretty much match dflprincess May 2013 #121

Yes, a seamstress at a clothing repair shop would do it for much less. freshwest May 2013 #26

How do you know a seamstress at a repair shop or laundry pnwmom May 2013 #30

If they aren't busy, and they usually aren't, they'll do it. freshwest May 2013 #32

But if the materials aren't made in the USA, then it's like many of the products pnwmom May 2013 #35

I gave solutions on the micro scale with artisan fabric, not the macro. EOM. freshwest May 2013 #36

Artisan fabric? And that's cheap? n/t pnwmom May 2013 #37

I buy at thrift stores mostly. Sorry I said anything. Good night. *EOM* n/t freshwest May 2013 #43

Just an anecdote ... REP May 2013 #125

Most quality fabrics for the US market are made in Italy, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic or politicat May 2013 #52

Yep. Manifestor_of_Light May 2013 #56

Silk buttonhole twist still exists... politicat May 2013 #62

Thanks. That's good to know. pnwmom May 2013 #60

I know this is slightly off topic, still relevant. sheshe2 May 2013 #69

Good news, then. No need to give up on anything, thanks, Sheshe! freshwest May 2013 #79

Agreed. Ednahilda May 2013 #110

how do you know they won't? zerosumgame0005 May 2013 #85

I'm doubtful, based on personal experience. And if you think I just "beat up" pnwmom May 2013 #97

detail your "personal experience" in this regard please zerosumgame0005 May 2013 #111

Nice knowing you. pnwmom May 2013 #113

First she'd have to buy a sewing machine and take lessons pnwmom May 2013 #58

Sh3 could make a skirt for a lot less than $98 with quality fabric. Honeycombe8 May 2013 #68

She ccould get her quality fabric at a thrift store in the form of a woman's 1X size skirt. And Nay May 2013 #94

Just can't take you anywhere, can she? NBachers May 2013 #10

You "followed her around the store, ranting" at her? Nye Bevan May 2013 #14

I know I wouldn't... pipi_k May 2013 #109

She's used to that behavior from me dflprincess May 2013 #122

$98 for a skirt? Lordquinton May 2013 #15

I hear ya. I get on my friends' nerves trying to get them to be more eco-friendly. cui bono May 2013 #16

Truthfully, an American-made skirt will be close to $250 BainsBane May 2013 #18

It will cost maybe $10 more to make in the USA n2doc May 2013 #71

perhaps it's that BainsBane May 2013 #74

Hickey freeman in Rochester NY... Agschmid May 2013 #120

unfortunately, that doesn't factor in the economy of scale... and the same item costing more than 3X bettyellen May 2013 #75

something I learned from a friend long ago about making clothes azurnoir May 2013 #22

Not everyone likes to sew. Your solution works well for you but I doubt the niece would appreciate pnwmom May 2013 #27

sorry it was just a suggestion azurnoir May 2013 #39

I think that would be a great place for it. It just seemed to me pnwmom May 2013 #42

You seem to think that sewing can only be learned when one is young. jeff47 May 2013 #116

That is NOT at all what I meant. This has nothing to do with anyone's age. pnwmom May 2013 #129

As I said above, she is used to this from me dflprincess May 2013 #123

Glad to hear this. You had mentioned in your OP pnwmom May 2013 #130

I do most of my shopping at Goodwill or St Vincent DePauls Nika May 2013 #102

For those who are pushing the idea that this niece should learn to sew -- pnwmom May 2013 #28

I looked for fabric to make curtains in Joann's Fabric store... peace13 May 2013 #53

Learn pattern drafting. Manifestor_of_Light May 2013 #31

How do you choose a sewing machine? BainsBane May 2013 #33

I've got old all-steel Singers. Manifestor_of_Light May 2013 #55

I have that same Slant-o-Matic curlyred May 2013 #78

My mom had the Slant-O-Matic dflprincess May 2013 #124

I don't have the cabinet. Manifestor_of_Light May 2013 #131

yard sales are great for old machines. get a really basic old singer or kenmore bettyellen May 2013 #76

Lehman Bros. had the non-electric ones like my aunt had. Electric ones always spooked me, LOL. freshwest May 2013 #137

oh goodness, then stay away from industrials! those machines will zip your finger under the needle bettyellen May 2013 #141

Oh, no, I won't be sewing. She was never a professional, but sews like one. freshwest May 2013 #143

Why? The fabric there will most likely be foreign. pnwmom May 2013 #38

The main complaint is about poor labor conditions jeff47 May 2013 #119

Fair Indigo has a good selection of cute, youthful, Made in USA clothing. Starry Messenger May 2013 #34

From the description of the $98 dollar A-line skirt, pnwmom May 2013 #40

Why not? Starry Messenger May 2013 #46

She mentioned the material and the price. pnwmom May 2013 #57

LOL. I had plenty more suggestions than that. Starry Messenger May 2013 #107

Thanks for the info, Starry! freshwest May 2013 #45

You're welcome freshwest! Starry Messenger May 2013 #48

I'm grateful to no longer have the pressure to have stylish clothing for work, etc. freshwest May 2013 #51

Freshwest, are you my twin sister? I do the very same thing. I retired last September (thank Nay May 2013 #96

Whoa! Trip to Europe, my twin! When I travel in the USA, everything is in a backpack. All carry-on. freshwest May 2013 #99

another twin! pipi_k May 2013 #106

Yes, I too dress like I did when I was a teen. Felt great then, feels great now! To the end! freshwest May 2013 #108

Don't miss this post for Made in USA stuff... Triana May 2013 #47

awesome! lovemydog May 2013 #88

Thanks, that is a great thread! I wonder if it should go in the Labor group, too? freshwest May 2013 #138

I'd start with Craigslist and go for custom. politicat May 2013 #50

www.allamericanclothing.com SummerSnow May 2013 #61

Check out Etsy. I have people make everything from clothes to... Walk away May 2013 #63

Katie's Mercantile eShirl May 2013 #65

It's like trying to buy dog toys made in the USA. Pert near impossible. Honeycombe8 May 2013 #66

K&R! sheshe2 May 2013 #70

Whenever I find myself "cornered" Shankapotomus May 2013 #72

I sew about 20 hours per week but not people clothes truegrit44 May 2013 #77

If you decide to start sewing again, you will be disappointed to find that the inferior Cleita May 2013 #80

design your own fabric or buy from hundreds of designs.... madrchsod May 2013 #133

there are clothes made in america Liberal_in_LA May 2013 #81

Not a bad idea. If my sewing machine worked, I'd be sewing my own clothing now and 1monster May 2013 #82

Here are a couple of links A Little Weird May 2013 #84

flags shireen May 2013 #86

k & r lovemydog May 2013 #87

I think that that's the exact opposite of ethical consumership! Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #90

You could try this. MsPithy May 2013 #91

Only products and services in USA Milliesmom May 2013 #93

Post removed Post removed May 2013 #98

That's unnecessary. NYC_SKP May 2013 #101

Lots of interesting advice and anecdotes in this thread. I wanted to buy Stardust May 2013 #100

Make stuff out of pieced up second hand clothes. nt patrice May 2013 #104

Soft-hemp and organic cotton blend made in the USA A-line skirts Samantha May 2013 #105

Hear hear! MNBrewer May 2013 #112

Just watched the documentary 'Detropia' on Netflix, about Detroit... radhika May 2013 #114

Deva Lifewear is US-made REP May 2013 #126

A gentle suggestion: offer to pony up the extra cost to help her buy American mainer May 2013 #127

Excellent idea. I may use that in the future. nt okaawhatever May 2013 #136

dam you are old...checking the seams and hem... madrchsod May 2013 #132

I've had similar experiences speaking to the owners of the corporations that use & propagate them.nt raouldukelives May 2013 #142

Even when the label says "Made in USA" it is doubtful. mykpart May 2013 #144

Sweatshops in the Marianas use Made In USA HereSince1628 May 2013 #145