My younger son moved a couple of weeks ago and was unable to find his needle and thread to put a button back on a work shirt....so he drives over here to get a needle and a yard of thread. :shock: I handed him a quickly put together sewing kit in a zip baggie. He says he will return this when he finds his regular kit. (told him no)
BTW, I made a kit for him and his brother one Christmas in a plastic tub that we would use for leftovers. :shock: they actually liked it.

I have this fabric, do you want it?
Of course I say yes, never know when you will actually get something good. But, whatever it is, usually goes in the trash and never makes it into my sewing room. I have recieved: jean legs left after making cutoffs, old threadbare curtains, polyester double knit, chunks of upholstery fabric, the list goes on. But hey, I figure I am helping them clean out the clutter.

I've had all the same questions but I what really hit me was when someone asked me if I would make her a twin size quilt for $25. I laughed and told her she was missing a zero because $25 wouldn't cover the fabric for the top. She thought I was kidding. Needless to say she said she would be just as happy buying one on sale at the local dept store.
I tried to tell her that my $250 quilt would last a very long time where her dept store one might make it through a few seasons. Didn't matter to her at the time. Have never heard from her since.

Oh yeah! because you sew people think you're a seamstress...
I CAN sew clothes, something simple, for myself.. I always tell them they'd be better off going to a professional tailor, spend the 20 or 30 bucks if it's worth altering..

All of the time! Especially from the doting (dotty) mothers who are too cheap to get a professional dressmaker to make the tutu or costume for the concert.The best response is to say,"I'd be glad to do it - I usually charge $100, but as you're such a good friend, I will only charge you $50." That way, if they do 'con' you,you are getting a little reward for your effort.
The usual comment that I really dislike is,"You would only be doing it whilst you watch TV anyway".If we continue to accept the put - down we continue to undermine the status of quality work from quality artist sewers.

EXACTLY!

A "friend" asked me to make her an item but then thought it was like my hide to ask her to supply the thread as well (not to mention that there was no suggestion of payment in kind or replacement of needles etc.).Therefore it hung on my sewing room door for 13 years. Both she and her daughter were very hostile when I suggested that I would never have the time to start it,as I was handing it back...













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I have heard most of these. I just tell them that I don't have enough time to sew for myself as much as I would like so I certainly don't have time to do it for any one else. That lets them know it's not personal but that I am not going to do it.

It helps that anyone who asks knows how crazy my job is, so they usually understand.

I help as many people as I can with what I can - I do not do zippers of any kind and will repair things if I can... who knows - maybe one day they'll have something I need and I'll feel free to ask them for their help. I am rarely asked to do any of them for free - I did make a doll recently for an ex-co-worker - I was happy to do it - I now have the pattern and can use it for myself - thats a fair trade - it took me maybe two hours to do it.

There have been very nice people who asked interestedly and politely if I make quilts to sell. I tell them No, I make what interests me at the time, and if I took orders it would be too much like piecework or production work, and I can't bring myself to do projects like that.