SMP, Mangonui.

Dust off the sewing machine because there is gold in there! When my daughters sweat shirts get a bit snug I cut then a the front down the middle add a full length zip & make a roomier sweat jacket. Zips cost at local op shop a dozen for $1.00. I also extend the length of the sleeves by cutting the arms off at the mid upper arm & adding a piece in. This takes me about 10 minutes & I am a beginner sewer. It can be easier to remake clothing from existing pieces as they often already have hems, zips, waist bands. A second hand $2.00 long skirt became three skirts with additional elastic at $2.00. Total cost for three skirts $4.00. One skirt used the existing waist band & zip & button. The others used the existing hem & elastic. The material is stunning. I have made short sleeve tops into long sleeve, shirts to skirts & dresses (apologies to my husband!), knit shirts to tights. There are a lot of tutorials on the internet so …no excuses.  Teach your kids.

P.S. I share my machine with three other friends, Second hand it cost us $25.00 each. 2 weeks about gives us a month to get our stuff together. When we have the machine it is sew, sew, sew.