Have you ever tried sewing your own clothes?  

I don't even know much about sewing machines..the first time I used one, it was a disaster..I tried to make something that was supposed to be like a sundress..but it came out more like a crooked, odd-shaped nightgown..it was awful!!

My mother used to sew clothes for me when I was younger. Now it just seems cheaper at least where I live to buy premade clothes. I do sew my son's Halloween costumes. As far as what to buy for a sewing machine if you are just sewing clothes you don't have to go too crazy with the features. There are only so many stitches you can use.

My mum used to do that to me. I made my own clothes until my mid twenties, but it's cheaper to get them from the supermarket now. I have my mums tosbiha it's really good, does everything except embroider and is easy to use.

A lot of fabric stores will host sewing classes or even simple open sews, where an employee or the owner will be available to help people out.

My own sewing skill isn't great, but I can still manage to make my kids halloween costumes and an occasional garment. So long as you look at it as an interesting hobby, and don't put pressure on yourself to create what they are desperately needing in their wardrobes : ) I think you'll have fun and get a lot of satisfaction out of it. Myself, I love being able to give my kids things made with organic cotton or hemp. I once made an organic cotton Batman costume : ) It was a lot of fun, my son loved it, and I didn't have to watch him wrap himself up in a polyester cape!

A bit off topic, but I have to comment about the low cost of clothing mentioned in the above posts. A lot of super inexpensive clothing is produced oversees, in China and elsewhere, often by workers who are poorly paid in working conditions that are less than humane. These poorly treated worker include children, hours are long, sanitation is lacking, the list goes on. Before we buy textiles with low pricetags, we need to consider just how high the price may actually be.

www.coopamerica.org/programs/sweatshops