Exploratory Studies of Measuring Money Savings and Time Costs of Homemade Clothing

1958

National Agricultural Library

ARS 62-8

This report presents some of the problems encountered in recent research concerned with one aspect of home production- -the economy of home sewing. A summary of the findings on the time and money costs of making garments at home is included. Information on these costs was reported in somewhat more detail in Rural Family Living, April 1956 and October 1956. This report is intended primarily for those who direct research in home economics, both in household management and in clothing construction.

The project involved the making of three types of dresses similar to ready-to-wear garments available on the market; the work was done in a laboratory under conditions simulating those of home sewing. The experimental procedures and the various problems arising from the project are discussed, including the underlying reasons for various decisions that were made. Some of the unsolved problems and areas where further research would be desirable are indicated.

The study was conducted jointly by the Household Economics Research Division and the Clothing and Housing Research Division.