It seems only fitting that in the wake of the Hockey Horror Show, my budget should be similarly blown. Although sometimes it’s wonderful to be an expat, it’s hard not to feel some ties to home. After all, Australians love their Kiwi cousins – surely the feeling is mutual?
So, I ended February with $158 left from my optimistic $365-for-the-year.
In March, I went to Melbourne and bought spandex to make Rose Hip tights and a maternity top (a gift). Since the tights have now gone to a new home I’m going to decide they don’t count either. I also bought some cotton for burp cloths (also a gift).
Then, Fabric-a-brac happened, which cost me $32, plus an extra $20 for a Hummingbird pattern that Kat had ordered for me.
Next, the WSBN went to Levana, a knits paradise, and I spent a (comparatively restrained) $37 on what will soon be two dresses and a t-shirt.
The very next weekend, a local church had a fabric sale, which cost me $19 (mainly in notions).
And the icing on the cake… this week The Fabric Warehouse undercut The Fabric Store by having a 40% off sale. You could tell they meant war, because they included drinks and snacks. I found myself $130 poorer, mind you, $40 of that is a delicious wool/silk trouser blend, to make two pairs of work trousers for the Fashion Critic. Does anyone know a good men’s trouser pattern, that’s formal enough for the office? Other goodies were a navy wool blend knit for a work dress, some viscose/elastane for a slip (and an amazing 80s Knitwit pattern for the same purpose), some green sweatshirting for a Lola dress and some more spandex for Rose Hip tights V2.0.
So, it’s only May, and I’m already $40 in the red.
You know, I don’t care. I haven’t used much stash, but I haven’t added to it either. I’ve had a productive year, made lots of good presents, and challenged myself with new techniques and patterns. I’m going to keep on keeping track, because I think it’s good to know how much sewing is costing me, but I know that every dollar is worth it. If nothing else, it means that I’m a tiny part of a huge and diverse community.
sixty six stitches 
When reading your post my mind wondered how much more the items being made n would have cost if you had purchased finished retail rtw instead of making them yourself. Plus it sounds like all of what you bought ia being put to use and not hoarded away in your stash. Ao I say. Goos going!
Good going. .. not goos. Darn autocorrect
Yes exactly, plus all the frustration of looking for RTW and not finding anything right. Mainly I was trying to stashbust, but lots of my stash is cotton for summer dresses, and that’s not the most practical outfit for Wellington in May 🙂
I have the opposite problem with my stash; it’s mostly fleece and I live in Houston Texas! Ha ha!