14 MISC. PUBLICATION 4, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



The Tucker survey reports that 56.6 per cent of the women bought 

 rendy-nirtde c:anTients because of less trouble, 50.4 per cent because of 

 greater satisfaction, 36.5 per cent because they found it an economy, 

 and 12.7 per cent because they did not know how to sew. In this 

 survey a question was also asked regarding the difficulties women 

 have in buying clothing. Of the total number of replies summarized, 

 40.2 per cent reported difficulty in choosing suitable styles, 43.9 per 

 cent in choosing suitable and l)econiing materials, 42.4 per cent in 

 choosing durable materials, 40.1 per cent in choosing becoming colors, 

 30.5 per cent in choosing good designs, and 29.4 per cent in recognizing 

 good values. In atldition to these difficulties 351 of the 4,138 women 

 said they could not find good materials at a reasonable price, 226 

 reported that they could not find stj'les for the stout person, and 158 

 said they had trouble in getting fitted. A few others reported that 

 they had trouble in obtaining good design and material at moderate 

 prices, in judging fast colors, and in finding cheap material that would 

 look well and launder well. 



In the bureau survey, 76.1 per cent of all women reporting said 

 that they remade garments for men, women, or children. Ten per 

 cent more of those living in the rural communities than of those living 

 in the city remade garments (rural, 81.1 per cent; city, 71 per cent), 

 and practically 10 per cent more of those with an income of under 

 $1,000 (80.8 per cent) than of those with an income of S5,000 or over 

 (71.8 per cent) reconstructed garments. 



Tucker found that 52 per cent of the total number reporting recon- 

 Btructed garments for children, 51.8 per cent for themselves, and 3 

 per cent for their husbands. 



CONCLUSIONS 



A large percentage of the women reached by this survey were still 

 making many garments for women and children. More than two- 

 thirds of the women stated that they were making nine or more of tho 

 kinds of garments for men, women, and children listed in this survey. 

 More of those living in the smaller communities than of those living 

 in the larger communities made these garments. A larger percentage 

 of those having a low income than of those having larger incomes 

 made the garments named; however, the highest percentages 

 appeared in the majority of ca.ses in the $2,000 to $2,999 income 

 group. 



The more persons there were in the families studied, the more 

 difTorent kinds of garments were being made in the home. 



Fitting was one of the greatest difficulties which the women said 

 they encountered in making garments. Others which were nearly 

 as troublesome were altering patterns and the choosing of becoming 

 materials, satisfactory patterns, and becoming and practical designs. 



A high percentage of women owned sewing machines, but only a 

 low percentage used all of the attachments. The hemmcr was used 

 the most, but less than one-third of the women took advantage of 

 that attachment. 



A large percentage of the women stated that they reconstructed 

 clothing for some member of the family. 



The reasons given for buying ready-made garments were to save 

 time and energy, to get better style and design, and to get greater 



