What are your thoughts on homemade clothes?

He thinks that if someone asks where it’s from, saying “my mum made it” sounds childish.

He sounds like an immature dick. Quite aside from it being a wonderful loving gesture by your mum that he should appreciate as such, wearing sweatshop clothes in shit fabrics is nothing to be proud of.

It is quite obvious that hand making clothes is expensive when you factor everything in. That's fine. Doesn't mean it has to be super, super expensive and you have to dash out and buy the most expensive fabric and most expensive pattern (and, as someone who quilts with offcuts, I am with you on re-using these bits!). But it's important to acknowledge that if you are discounting the time it takes to make a garment at home, or you're happily busting your stash pile or using gifts from friends, that's not the same thing as being aware of the bottom line costs.

But it is dead easy to not buy new fabric. I have never bought a metre of fabric new in my life. There's a huge community of fabric re- and upcyclers.

Four shirts from a free FB bundle waiting to be made into patchwork bags and accessories

My Mum made a whole host of my clothes when I was younger. That last thing she made was a ball skirt for my 18th birthday. I really wish she would start sewing again and make me clothes. I am an awkward shape due to mild scoliosis and extra weight and she paid a fortune to have my wedding dress custom made.

Well, I've been doing it all my life. Being given fabric was a bonus certainly but it is still cheaper making my own. I really only mentioned the coat because I did splash out on the lining. If you find it a chore and want to factor in your time then don't do it but don't try to put people off trying on that basis. OP's mum clearly doesn't feel that way. Most home dress makers do it because they enjoy the process as well as achieving a level of fit and finish that would cost more to buy

I don't factor time in but I do consider

• quality fabric
• a good pattern
• interfacing
• buttons / zips / fastenings
• quality thread, including enough to edge
• decent tools, e.g. scissors, cutting mat, regular new needles and the most essential - an unpicker

Is he the jealous, controlling type? It's such a bizarre objection to the way you and your mum spend your time, money and effort.

Wear your beautiful clothes and when people ask, tell them with a big smile, 'My mum made this for me.' All the bigger if he's next to you at the time!

I think this is just talking cross-purposes.

People who're pointing out that hand sewing is inherently expensive are taking into account time, and excluding things like your friend just happening to give you a present of fabric - which is lovely, and adorable, but it's like me saying 'nonsense, I always find shopping for ready-made clothes cheaper; why, last year my friend bought me a gorgeous dress so I got it for nothing!'

It is quite obvious that hand making clothes is expensive when you factor everything in. That's fine. Doesn't mean it has to be super, super expensive and you have to dash out and buy the most expensive fabric and most expensive pattern (and, as someone who quilts with offcuts, I am with you on re-using these bits!). But it's important to acknowledge that if you are discounting the time it takes to make a garment at home, or you're happily busting your stash pile or using gifts from friends, that's not the same thing as being aware of the bottom line costs.

I think it really matters, because knowing the true value of these things is something we've lost track of in society. It's why people are outraged at the idea of paying more for clothes and it's why people who have small businesses making clothes and other craft items find it hard. If we want more sustainable clothing and better work conditions, I think it's really important not to gloss over this stuff.

I'm 71 and have been making my own clothes since I was a teenager. You are absolutely wrong. My hand made clothes might be more expensive than Primark but are not more expensive than, say, M&S. I have never bought fabric from a charity shop although I know people who have. I buy deadstock from market stalls or a shop near me and reuse my patterns over and over again with variations. A friend gave me some pure wool tweed and I made myself a coat. Because the fabric was free I splashed out on a couple of metres of special lining at £22 a metre, it's a beautiful coat if I do say so myself. I incorporated the woven Made in Britain from the woven selvedge into the coat.

Because I shop at the places I describe I don't always know what is in stock so don't go with a fixed idea. I usually buy fabric I like and then decide what to make with it. If I buy 3 metres at £2.50 a metre (pure cotton so not rubbish) I can make a dress or trousers at a later date and use the left over fabric for a pair of shorts or a top or smaller pieces for quilting etc. It's very economical and very little is wasted.

I don't add in the time taken because it's my time and I can do what I like with it. Its not a job. I usually listen to audio books while sewing. I also knit (definitely much cheaper for a handmade item that is totally unique) and can knit fair isle in front of the TV. I need something to do with my hands.

I certainly don’t find it cheaper, but I make a lot of my own clothes as 1)I enjoy it and 2) sometimes I want a dress that fits in a certain way in a certain fabric that fits just right, and you just know that’s never going to be easily found on the high street! I would be careful of cheap patterns on Etsy however - a lot of them are AI generated nowadays. No doubt there are some gems to be found however.

My mum was a brilliant seamstress and I can’t remember ever wearing a shop bought item of clothing, including coats, apart from school uniform until I was into my teens. She made everything for me, and when I was a teenager, she made some wonderful clothes from my designs and I was the envy of my friends. My dad worked in the Stock Exchange which was a very formal environment with a strict dress code in those days, and she made all his work shirts; she even made him an overcoat. My mum was particularly talented, but not unique, and if they knew that someone was wearing home made clothing. no-one ever thought they looked silly.

Most people could sew to an extent when I was a child, and everyone had sewing lessons at school. I really regret not developing my basic skills but am planning to do more once I've retired completely.

I'd be very surprised indeed if it's cheaper! Pound fabrics has some deals or you can haunt charity shops and car boot sales but when you add in the time taken and all the equipment it'll be the most expensive wardrobe you've ever owned!

And clueless!

But OP could always tell people ‘Oh, my dressmaker made it for me.’

Looking at current prices and inflation I think more of us will be returning to dressmaking especially on dresses

Ooh! Just a vote for the Rae Geranium dress if you've still got a baby/toddler. It's my favourite.

If you pick the right fabric, something on trend, no one will know it’s homemade. Get it wrong and it can look slightly off. I’ve been making baby dresses lately, average cost £2 per dress, using a pattern from a charity shop. Such a saving if you can use the patterns more than once.

I made clothes during the 80s, mainly tops but the vibe back then was very much DIY. I also made my tie-less apron about 10 years ago which I use for pottery and had used for gardening for years. It has plant pot shaped pockets. So suited both activities.

It often is. Not always. But the joy of handmade clothes is you get to choose lovely fabric. My mum makes herself blouses from Liberty cotton - which is gorgeous to wear - and she never pays anything like full price but it is still expensive. Much, much less expensive than buying a ready-made blouse from Liberty, though!

When DD was little I loved that I could buy fabrics we both really liked. She had a little dress I made at Christmas out of Liberty craft cotton in a dark pine-needle colour, with tiny dark-red buttons down the back, and it was adorable. And another one where she wanted a dress that matched mine (it was a few years ago when those bombshell-ish revere dresses were quite trendy), so I made her a dinky little dress with a revere collar. You'd never see that on 'normal' toddler clothes but it made her really happy.

I wouldn't get hung up on fabric price. Same with haberdashery. Sure, you can buy buttons etc. really cheaply - or take them off old clothes - but part of what is great about making stuff yourself is using really nice ones. Even with stuff I haven't a hope in hell of making for myself, like a properly tailored coat, I quite often replace the buttons as it's amazing how many fairly high-end brands still use crappy plastic buttons.

Not necessarily you have to know where to get bargain fabrics.

I don't understand the people who factor in the cost of the time. If sewing is something you enjoy then it's part of the pleasure. I don't pay myself minimum wage to read a book or walk the dog. I get a feeling of achievement when I've made something I love.

I’m massively jealous!

I returned to dressmaking 5 years ago and now make 95% of what I wear including underwear and swimwear. I buy patterns on sale or use free patterns from indie companies. I buy dead stock or roll ends from a local shop or I buy online from cheap fabric companies. Fabric costing £1 per metre isn’t usually rubbish at all, it’s often deadstock or chain store surplus and it’s very easy to identity decent quality by the product description. I’ve never paid more than £5 a metre for fabric.

I don’t buy many patterns nowadays because I can usually adapt something I already have to copy a style I like. I pick up patterns cheaply in charity shops and occasionally I’ll buy a sewing magazine if I like the look of the included patterns.

I often recycle fabrics like duvet covers. I’ve got a beautiful king size duvet cover in duck egg 100% cotton double gauze that I bought in from Tesco when it was reduced to £8.50. It will never go near a bed. It’s waiting to become something summery.

I sew because I love to sew and I love to wear unique clothes that fit me. I definitely find it cheaper to make my own. I’m frequently shocked by the prices of very ordinary clothes that people link to on MN

Good dressmaking is a valuable skill. I would be trying to learn from her, OP. And yes, have her make some clothes for you, it's an excellent plan.
I don't know why your husband's stupid opinion matters here. Idiot.

I make my own clothes. I‘m currently making things for my upcoming holiday. It can be cheaper if you find a bargain but generally they are few and far between. Cheap fabric makes cheap clothes. Quality fabric (which is generally expensive) makes quality garments that last. Cotton fabric at £5.99m (or more likely polycotton) is a world away from Cotton fabric at £15 - £20m and up. A garment is only going to be as good as the fabric it’s made with (and the makers skills obviously).
I make my clothes because a) the fit b) the finish and c) they are unique.