Should I be allowed to get a sewing machine?

Question

I want to get a sewing machine to design my graduation dress. But my mom won't let me get one until I "learn to sew". But I took a class over the summer and I learned to sew a tote bag and a bath robe. My mom says that isn't enough to get a sewing machine but the class taught me all the basics of sewing with a machine and hand sewing. Do you think I should be allowed to get the sewing machine? How would you convince your mom to let you get one.

Answer 1

Designing a dress is WAY different that sewing a totebag or a robe. Do you plan to follow a pattern or design it on your own?

All that aside... Ask your mom if you get a job if she'd pay for a portion of it and you pay the rest. Or if there are things you can do around the house to earn money.

Answer 2

You are your mother's daughter. What I mean is, you would have a better idea how to appeal to your mother's sense of reason than any of us would.

Could the real reason be, that she doesn't have the money for a machine? You are not really going to learn how to properly construct a garment without actually doing it. You really need either a sewing machine, or a serger.


How did your robe turn out? If it turned out well, I would suddenly start wearing it around a lot. Is there any way that you could get a job to earn some money for a machine? (I know that isn't always as easy as others may think. If you live in a rural area, the jobs aren't always available or anywhere you can get to.) If you can't get a job, perhaps you can have a yard sale or make a trip to the flea market and sell some of your own items to save money. I think that if your mother truly saw how intent you are and how committed you are to helping provide funding for your machine, she may change her mind.

I disagree with the person that said sewing a robe is entirely different than a dress. While yes, there is a lot more detail to a dress, if you can construct a robe properly, you should have the necessary skills to sew a dress.

Answer 3

How are you going to practice and learn if you don't have your own machine.
If I was your parent, I would buy you a sewing machine because it is a fantastic creative tool that would keep you home sewing and out of trouble.
Tell your mom a sewing machine for you to play with would be the best investment for her peace of mind.
There are fantastic careers in costume design for films and Television.

Answer 4

I think mom might be persuaded if you came up with a plan.
*How much will it cost? Have you done any research on models of machines and price?
*Are there any after school classes or groups in your area that teach sewing? Alot of evening adult education classes offer programs like sewing or pottery.
**Have you thought about how much the fabrics will cost and about how much time it will take to finish this project? It is a bit ambitious for a new sewer, but not impossible if you have the right support people around you to help if you run into problems.
It might help to talk to mom about why this is important to you and enlist her help, maybe it is something you could work on together.

Hope this helps and keep sewing!!
Mama Bear VT

Answer 5

Well your best best is to create your own project by hand, but it shouldn't be a simple square project, try something like a small quilt for a baby, a shirt, or even a stuffed animal, to let her know you have the basic understanding of how things are put together, and show her that you can do embellishments like embroidering your intials and placing buttons and such. If she doubts your ability to manuver a machine, if you can use a friends show her you can by getting a jumbo coloring page of a flower or something and print it on heavy paper and trace the lines with a machine, with or with out thread and you can show her your ability, this is a great practice that I used with my niece when teaching her how to manuver and use differnt stitches on a machine.

Answer 6

You may be able to find an excellent quality used sewing machine for similar money ($75-150) that you'd pay for a lesser quality new one; check local independent sewing machine dealers... people who want the latest & greatest often trade in their old ones.

If you live anywhere near Pittsburgh, PA, email me; I have some local info that might be helpful to you.

Answer 7

If you are near highschool graduation, you are old enough to get a job and earn the money to buy your own sewing machine. If she sees you working and saving to buy one, she may be more willing to help you cover the cost of one.

Answer 8

uncertain if there's a internet site to consult. yet i will proportion my thought with you. Fold the sleeves to the elbow. Fold it so as that the wrist section isn't hid. stitch a button reminiscent of the colour of the blouse on the two side of the sleeves. Button it to the sleeves which you have folded up. placed on a belt around your waist. This works appropriate with a black, cotton mens blouse. you are able to bypass with a thick white belt. replace the button into white or crimson ones reckoning on the colour of the belt you decide on for to placed on.

Answer 9

I wouldn't convince my mom i would get a job and buy it myself.. but if you can't do you know anyone who has one that you could borrow for a while.. that way you could prove to your mom that you would actually use it and maybe she would think about getting you your own

Answer 10

Let you mum see this answer. Please let your daughter have a sewing machine. She could make lots of things with it, all her clothes curtains cushions. I have always had one.