SSG Robert Burns351661<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So I have a Daddy/Daughter dance coming up this Friday and needed to get the service stripes changed on my Mess Dress. So the stripes themselves cost $38. Then I walk across the hall to the sew shop and they charge me $55 to sew these bad boys on. Unbelievable.<br />They teach or at least taught us to shine our boots. It would have been a better investment to teach us to sew our own stuff on our uniforms!<br />Again thats a total of 91 freakin dollars! For service stripes! (excuse my english)We should be taught to alter our own uniforms in basic training! $55 to get service stripes sewn on my Mess Dress!!!2014-12-02T15:11:59-05:00SSG Robert Burns351661<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So I have a Daddy/Daughter dance coming up this Friday and needed to get the service stripes changed on my Mess Dress. So the stripes themselves cost $38. Then I walk across the hall to the sew shop and they charge me $55 to sew these bad boys on. Unbelievable.<br />They teach or at least taught us to shine our boots. It would have been a better investment to teach us to sew our own stuff on our uniforms!<br />Again thats a total of 91 freakin dollars! For service stripes! (excuse my english)We should be taught to alter our own uniforms in basic training! $55 to get service stripes sewn on my Mess Dress!!!2014-12-02T15:11:59-05:002014-12-02T15:11:59-05:00PO2 Private RallyPoint Member351669<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Never a rush on that stuff either.Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 3:11 PM2014-12-02T15:11:42-05:002014-12-02T15:11:42-05:00CPT Zachary Brooks351675<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Sewing classes aren't that expensive. Why don't you take one to learn? Its a good long term investment.<br /><br />In the old days, when uniform pride was a thing, this would have been a great idea. Nowadays, I cannot really see it flying.Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Dec 2 at 2014 3:13 PM2014-12-02T15:13:43-05:002014-12-02T15:13:43-05:00LTC Paul Labrador351714<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Who says you have to have them sewn there? They are charging more because it's convenient. You can always find some place that is cheaper..... For me, though, I'd rather pay the money and know that it will be done right the first time, rather than me trying to do it and maybe it is correct the first time.....Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Dec 2 at 2014 3:28 PM2014-12-02T15:28:06-05:002014-12-02T15:28:06-05:00SFC Private RallyPoint Member352026<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I wasn't aware you couldn't do your own sewing....Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 6:30 PM2014-12-02T18:30:38-05:002014-12-02T18:30:38-05:001SG Private RallyPoint Member353461<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Two words: Fabric Glue!<br /><br /><br /><br />I feel your pain. I had to put out about that much to get my ASU prepared. At least I was able to stretch out the payments through the clothing credit on Star CardResponse by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2014 3:43 PM2014-12-03T15:43:26-05:002014-12-03T15:43:26-05:00LTC Stephen C.413325<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Unfortunately, <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="45358" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/45358-ssg-robert-burns">SSG Robert Burns</a>, this has been going on forever. The only thing that will change will be that the cost of uniforms and the associated tailoring will increase. As an E-2, I went from jump school to SF school in APR70. It was suggested (literally, we were told) to go get Corcoran jump boots and get our uniforms pegged (tailored), because that's what jump pay was for! Enlisted jump pay at the time was $55/month! This included OD fatigues and cotton khakis. I wore tailored fatigues from that time until the Army came out with BDUs. I shudder to think about how much I've spent on dress uniforms.<br />I always had all uniform alterations done professionally, and if done on post, it always seemed to be done right and was less expensive in the long run, because it was done right.Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 11 at 2015 10:15 PM2015-01-11T22:15:53-05:002015-01-11T22:15:53-05:00SGT Jim Z.413724<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am sure like any other installations there are 100 of alteration shops just because you decide to go to the alteration shop at mini-mall, or attached to clothing and sales you are paying the Army Air Force Extortion Service (AAEFES). Soldiers have enough to learn in Basic Combat Training they do not need to learn to sew. If they want to learn to sew after BCT and AIT then go right ahead.Response by SGT Jim Z. made Jan 12 at 2015 8:17 AM2015-01-12T08:17:27-05:002015-01-12T08:17:27-05:00SSG Private RallyPoint Member414836<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Isn't there usually an older lady that someone knows that does alterations, sometimes cheaper and better than those shops?Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2015 9:03 PM2015-01-12T21:03:14-05:002015-01-12T21:03:14-05:00PO1 Private RallyPoint Member522576<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have been in 7 years and have hand sewn every part of my uniforms from the start. Take your time, it really is easy. Note: if you can teach a 12 yr old Boy Scout to do it, a grown man should have no difficulty learning it.Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 11:45 AM2015-03-10T11:45:59-04:002015-03-10T11:45:59-04:00SSG Private RallyPoint Member522579<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I recall hearing about a women exclusive MOS that did sewing and alterations. I am being serious as they would sew tents up.Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 11:48 AM2015-03-10T11:48:02-04:002015-03-10T11:48:02-04:00CSM Charles Hayden522590<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SSG Robert Burns, If you, as a poor PFC, have ever tried to sew 'Mosquito Wings' on a uniform, you will bite the bullet and go to the tailor shop!Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 10 at 2015 11:52 AM2015-03-10T11:52:41-04:002015-03-10T11:52:41-04:00PV2 Private RallyPoint Member526008<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I know how to do that. Used to change stripes and sew unit patches on my ex's class A's and BDUs all the time. Sewed name tape on too. He got his ASUs after we split.Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2015 4:48 AM2015-03-12T04:48:08-04:002015-03-12T04:48:08-04:001LT William Clardy540228<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="45358" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/45358-ssg-robert-burns">SSG Robert Burns</a>, how dare you challenge the wisdom and insight of the general officer(s) who decided earlier in the 21st century that expecting soldiers to sew anything on their uniforms was unreasonable?<br /><br />You're probably also one of those Deniers who doubt the economies of scale achieved by replacing eliminating the need for using a $2.95 sewing kit to sew patches on by using $11 worth of velcro on each ACU jacket. Shame on you!Response by 1LT William Clardy made Mar 19 at 2015 4:38 PM2015-03-19T16:38:20-04:002015-03-19T16:38:20-04:00SSG Private RallyPoint Member555206<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Same issue the other day. I had to get my ASU's altered the other day and it cost me $80.00. Clothing allowance sure as hell doesn't cover all of this.Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2015 11:46 PM2015-03-26T23:46:04-04:002015-03-26T23:46:04-04:00MSG Private RallyPoint Member565486<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The high prices make me wish I took Home Eco in high schoolResponse by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 1:07 PM2015-04-01T13:07:55-04:002015-04-01T13:07:55-04:00TSgt Melissa Post919808<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Why did your stripes cost so much in the first place?Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Aug 26 at 2015 2:36 PM2015-08-26T14:36:09-04:002015-08-26T14:36:09-04:00Cpl Joseph Roberts2535806<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Isn't there a uniform stipend still, yearly or twice a year...i forget, its been a long time. If you plan ahead you can find much cheaper places too... I'm glad I didn't need to take a sewing class in boot camp, I had more important things to learn.Response by Cpl Joseph Roberts made Apr 30 at 2017 4:29 PM2017-04-30T16:29:13-04:002017-04-30T16:29:13-04:00SGT Private RallyPoint Member4491357<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Easier than a subcuticular or figure-8 suture...Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2019 3:26 AM2019-03-28T03:26:12-04:002019-03-28T03:26:12-04:00SFC Michael Hasbun7258261<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Basic Training is intended to teach you to be a Soldier, not a seamstress. There are other schools you can go to if that's your desired profession of choice.Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 10 at 2021 8:38 AM2021-09-10T08:38:50-04:002021-09-10T08:38:50-04:00SSG Edward Tilton7258547<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is stupid. dressup balls and dances, what kind of Army is this?Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Sep 10 at 2021 10:48 AM2021-09-10T10:48:13-04:002021-09-10T10:48:13-04:00SGM Steve Wettstein7259211<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The reason sewing stripes on the old Dress Blues and Mess Dress is because they have to rip out the seems to sew them on.Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 10 at 2021 3:50 PM2021-09-10T15:50:14-04:002021-09-10T15:50:14-04:00Maj John Bell7259331<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>When spinning holes in the ocean as part of a Marine Expeditionary unit, it was not unusual for someone newly promoted to try and sew on his own stripes, or to pay one of the canvas riggers from ships company to sew on some stripes<br /><br />OMG, trust me 5% of your troops have the manual dexterity and skill to be good seamstresses, but probably only 5% of those have access to viable sewing machines. But for the rest, you might as well hand a needle and thread to a duck.Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 10 at 2021 5:08 PM2021-09-10T17:08:41-04:002021-09-10T17:08:41-04:002014-12-02T15:11:59-05:00