The Lost Art of Dress has a long section on thrift. I needed a new, smaller wardrobe, and I planned to create it with my large collection of beautiful fabrics and yarns, saving large amounts of money which I could use to pay off the debt I added to my cards when I was traveling last year.
The Lost Art of Dress explained how women could make a year's wardrobe for thirty-six dollars and change.
I could have done it for no additional cost at all. I had fabrics from previous years when I planned a SWAP, bought the cloth, and didn't get the sewing done. I had enough yarn for a dozen sweaters. The second Ketch is shown above, at just about one skein's worth of KnitPicks sport weight Wool of the Andes, from my very ample stash.
Also the Baby's new spring dress and blanket, because I have lots of yarn and fabric for her, too, from last year's stockpiling.
I had no business buying fabric or yarn. But I did.
I saw a cool new pattern that required a particular type of cloth, of which I had none. So I bought the pattern and the fabric.
Not a rational choice.
Then I needed something — buttons, I think — and had to add a couple of yards (okay, 4) of a couple of fabrics to get free shipping… and I discovered that I had a $25 credit there, so I had to take advantage of it.
Then there was a super cute knitted toy kit that kept popping up in Facebook ads. When it went on sale, I naturally had to buy it. And a couple of other things that were on sale for ridiculously low prices. I mean, three kits for less than $20.00 apiece? How could I resist?
And I discovered during the Seamwork DYW that I needed just a few more things to create my perfect warm weather wardrobe. Adding $100 to my stash meant I could make a perfect coordinated collection. Thrifty, eh?
Oh, and #2 son offered to bring special yarn back from his trip to Colorado, so I had to give him a C-note and an order.
I have certainly spent $500 on craft supplies this quarter. Now, that same expert book says that Americans buy a new piece of clothing, on average, every 5 days. So that $500 could seem like a reasonable investment.
Right?
But not if it just means that my projects this year, far from stash-busting, turn out to leave my stash just where it was. And obviously that is money I didn't use to pay off my credit card.