Economical sewing: think about LED lighting!

If you are sitting in your sewing studio and you are working on a wonderful garment, you simply cannot do without good lighting. Most seamstresses have their sewing machine on a table in front of the window. And they have a large extra lamp on the desk or a fluorescent tube above the sewing machine. Fortunately, the sewing machine itself also has a built-in light. You can hardly have enough light!

But how do we sew as economically as possible?

Economical is not a dirty word
For years frugal was a bit of a dirty word. Most people immediately thought of 'misers' who, did not want to spend a penny, walked around in old worn out clothes and had the strangest ideas. The 'miser newspaper' was a trade magazine for people in The Netherlands who liked a sober and simple lifestyle. The word 'consume less' quickly became a household name. The miserable newspaper was not only about frugal living, but also about using money and raw materials wisely.
There was (is) nothing wrong with that.

Sustainable and conscious
Nowadays it is a trendy again to live sustainably and consciously. The luxurious times are over and, in addition to the corona crisis, two more immense global problems are getting a giant problem as well. Climate change and social inequality. Taking a step back is no longer a luxury but a necessity for many.

We already wrote about the return of sewing in the blog: the revival of the sewing machine!

Sewing as a hobby is no longer an old-fashioned activity. It is quite the opposite: sustainable, conscious, modern and above all very creative.

How do you sew economically?
Sewing is therefore already an 'economical' activity. After all, you make something yourself and the garment is not made in low-wage countries, has been transported many times, wrapped in plastic and eventually ended up in a store. It might be thrown away if it is even not sold at the end of the season ...

Your garment is tailor-made, you have chosen the beautiful fabric yourself and the result is something personal and unique. And often much cheaper!

A few ideas and tips:

• Always turn off the sewing machine when you are not using the sewing machine. (For example, you have to cut something extensively, pin or you are busy ironing everything)
• Always remove the plug from the socket. This is better for the sewing machine anyway, according to Matri sewing machines customer service.
• Buy an iron that switches itself off when the iron stops. (This energy-saving mode is also very safe ...) Place the sewing machine on a table in a well-lit area, preferably near a window.
• Take a good look at the lighting: can it be replaced by LED bulbs?
• Sewing machine lights themselves: buy the new LED lights.
• The same goes for the overlocker or coverlocker. Unplug them if you are not using them for a long time and replace the internal lights with LED bulbs.

Conclusion:
It's good to think about energy-saying measurements. Sometimes simple actions can make a difference.

But above all think of energy-efficient lighting: choose LED. Replacing incandescent and halogen lamps with LED lamps is a smart move, even if the lamps are still working properly. An LED lamp is 90% more efficient than an incandescent lamp and consumes 85% less power than a halogen lamp. There are LED lamps in almost all shapes, sizes and shades.