Review: New Dress a Day by Marisa Lynch

You probably know Marisa Lynch as the New Dress A Day chick, made famous by her blog where she chronicles a year of creating a new dress each day for a year, and doing it on a budget of a dollar a day.

Now she’s put together a book showing how you, too, can become a refashionista. It’s aptly named New Dress A Day: The Ultimate DIY guide to Creating Fashion Dos from Thrift-Store Don’ts.

What can I say? This book is utterly delightful. Her bubbly, engaging personality shines through from beginning to end. She is upbeat and conversational. Marisa is like your encouraging best friend or big sister, holding your hand and telling you the whole time that you can do it. You won’t need advanced sewing skills for any of them. In fact, there are a number of projects that don’t require sewing at all. (In one project, she shows how to use pack tape to put a quick and dirty hem on to a shortened dress.)

She avoids jargon and fancy words when explaining sewing concepts, and instead uses language that makes it easy to understand. In fact, I’ve already recommended this book to two friends of mine who claim they “can’t sew” or that sewing is “too hard”.

The book is divided into 19 chapters. Some focus on types of garments easily found in thrift stores (e.g., Muumuu Transformations, Tweaks on the Basics, and Bridesmaid Dresses). Others are focused on the types of garments you’ll end up with (e.g., DIY Black Tie, Costume Party, Transition Pieces, Two-Minute Tunics). Still others are organized around a technique (e.g., My BFF the Iron, I Dye!, Trimmings, and Boo-Boo Fixes.)

Favorite projects/techniques include:

Red, White, and Blue with Buttons, in which she shows how shortening a rather frumpy dress turns it into an awesome color blocked mini dress.

Asymmetrical Dress, in which she removes a shoulder from a thrifted dress to give it an asymmetrical, off-the-shoulder neckline.

M.O.B. Dress, in which she transforms a sequined mother-of-the-bride dress into a cute little sequined jacket.

And have I got a treat for you! Marisa will be guest posting here tomorrow. I’ve already seen the project she’s got for you, and all I can say is WOW. Be sure to check back to see what it is!!

Next Pattern:

If there’s one topic that makes sewists uncomfortable faster than sewing zippers, it’s pricing. Not how to sew the item — but how much to charge for it once it’s finished.

Most people don’t struggle with making handmade items. They struggle with putting a price on their time, skill, and effort without feeling awkward, guilty, or worried they’ll scare buyers away.

If you’ve ever thought:
“I’m not good enough to charge that much,”
“People won’t pay handmade prices,”
or “I’ll just price it low until I get better,”

you’re not alone. But you’re also not doing yourself any favours.

Let’s talk about how to price handmade sewing items in a way that’s fair, realistic, and sustainable — without undervaluing yourself.

Why Undervaluing Your Sewing Hurts More Than You Think

Underpricing doesn’t just affect your income. It affects your motivation, your confidence, and how seriously buyers take your work.

When handmade items are priced too low:

You burn out faster
You resent the time spent making them
You struggle to restock
Buyers assume “cheap” equals “low quality”

Ironically, pricing too low can make selling harder, not easier.

Handmade sewing items aren’t competing with mass-produced factory goods. They’re competing with thoughtfulness, quality, and care — and those have value.

Start With the Real Cost (Not Just Fabric)

One of the biggest pricing mistakes beginners make is charging only for materials.

Fabric, thread, zips, interfacing, labels, packaging — these are your base costs. But they’re only the starting point.

You also need to account for:

Cutting time
Sewing time
Pressing and finishing
Packaging
Listing, photographing, or selling time

Even if you enjoy sewing, your time still counts.

A simple rule:
If someone else had to make this for you, what would you expect to pay them per hour?

The “Straight Line” Trap (And Why It’s Not a Problem)

Many sewists worry that because their items are “simple,” they don’t deserve higher prices.

Straight seams, basic construction, minimal shaping — these are often seen as beginner skills. But from a buyer’s perspective, simplicity is often a feature, not a flaw.

Simple items are:

Practical
Durable
Easy to use
Less intimidating
Often more giftable

A well-made tote bag, table runner, or pouch doesn’t lose value because it’s simple. It gains value because it works.

A Simple Pricing Formula That Actually Works

You don’t need complicated spreadsheets to price handmade sewing items.

A beginner-friendly formula looks like this:

Materials + (Hourly rate × Time) + Fees = Price

Your hourly rate doesn’t need to be high — but it does need to exist.

Even a modest rate acknowledges that your time matters.

And remember: pricing isn’t permanent. You’re allowed to adjust as you learn.

Why “Charging Less Until I’m Better” Backfires

This mindset feels sensible, but it causes long-term problems.

When you price low “for now,” you:

Attract bargain-focused buyers
Set expectations that are hard to raise later
Undermine your confidence
Train yourself to accept less

Your skill will improve through repetition, not through underpricing.

Selling handmade items is a skill too — and pricing fairly is part of learning it.

What Buyers Are Actually Paying For

Most buyers don’t analyse your stitching technique.

They’re paying for:

Convenience
Thoughtful design
Quality materials
Handmade care
Supporting a real person

They want something useful, well made, and ready to use — not a bargain-bin price.

When you price confidently, buyers feel more confident too.

Comparing Prices Without Panicking

It’s smart to look at what others charge — but don’t use comparison as a weapon against yourself.

Instead of asking:
“Why are they charging more than me?”

Ask:

Are they targeting the same customer?
Are they selling the same type of item?
Are their materials similar?

There is room for different price points. You don’t need to be the cheapest to be successful.

Pricing for Sustainability, Not Just Sales

Selling handmade items should feel rewarding, not exhausting.

If your prices don’t allow you to:

Replace materials
Restock without stress
Enjoy sewing
Take breaks

…they’re too low.

A sustainable price keeps you sewing longer — and consistency is what builds sales over time.

The Confidence Shift That Changes Everything

Instead of asking:
“Is this worth what I’m charging?”

Ask:
“Would I be proud to sell this?”

If the item is:

Well made
Useful
Finished with care

Then it deserves a fair price.

You don’t need permission to charge what your work is worth. You just need to believe that your time, effort, and creativity matter.

Because they do.

Book Review – Sewing to Sell – The Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Craft Business

Selling your handmade items? Here’s how to figure a fair price.