Sewing

Sewing is an activity in FreeTime that builds Arts and Crafts enthusiasm, as well as a new talent badge. It is the only crafting activity in The Sims 2 that Sims do while seated. Sims can sew many craftables, including teddy bears, quilts, and customized clothing. When telling a Sim to sew an item, the player can give it a name and description, or can accept the default.

Sims can build the Sewing Talent Badge by sewing many projects. Having high Creativity will make Sims earn this badge faster. Sims may roll a want to sew a project, especially if they have made progress in Sewing. Fulfilling this want may trigger a want to buy a sewing machine, even if the project was sewn at home. All sewn objects appear in the sewer's inventory when completed, even if the Sim was only making a single object. This means that Sims will take items sewn on the Arts and Crafts hobby lot home with them, even though a Sim's inventory cannot be accessed on hobby lots.

Sewing anything other than a potholder is time-consuming and can be hard on motives, but can be profitable. While all sewn objects except outfits and customized outfits can fail, sewing is the only craft in which failed objects are not sold at a loss, though they will sell for less than successfully made objects.

Higher badge levels reduce the chance of failure, and may reduce the time needed to make some objects. If The Sims 2: Seasons is installed, sewing in Fall appears to reduce the time needed to make objects.

No Badge
Sims with no talent can only sew potholders, and have a high change of failure. A potholder costs §40 to make, and takes about one game hour to sew. A potholder can be placed on a wall as a decorative object. A successfully made potholder can be sold in buy mode for §50, and a failed potholder can be sold for §44.

"A beginner's sewing project done to perfection! A bit thin to actually hold pots, but certainly beautiful enough to sit on the wall."
 * Basic Potholder

Bronze Badge
Sims with a Bronze talent badge have a medium chance of failure when sewing. The Bronze talent badge allows Sims to sew teddy bears and curtains. These objects take at least three game hours to sew. Sims can sew curtains that are one or two tiles wide. One-tile curtains cost §180 to make and sell for §300 if successful; two-tile curtains cost §225 and sell for §375. Failed curtains sell for §225 and §280, respectively. Sewn curtains resemble the Floor-length Tieback Curtains and Doublewide Tieback Curtains from the base game, but are separate objects with their own color options that are not available in buy mode. Teddy bears cost §56 to make, and sell for §80 if successful; §66 if failed. Sewing a teddy bear appears to allow the player to choose patterns that are not available in buy mode, but sewn bears are otherwise identical to those bought in buy mode.

"An example of a solid pattern and good execution, these shiny and durable curtains will frame your windows for years."
 * Shiny Sewn Curtains (both sizes)

"What a cute little bear! Your sewing has improved and it shows with this well put-together and cuddly toy."
 * Little Bear Boo

Silver Badge
Sims with a Silver talent badge can sew quilts as well as 'an outfit', i.e. any one-piece outfit that can be bought in a category other than Outerwear, including custom content. There are also a few hidden adult outfits that cannot be bought, but can be sewn. Quilts cost §450 to make, and can be sold for §900 if successful, and §600 if failed. Quilts can be hung on a wall as decorative objects. These objects take around three game hours to sew. Sims with a Silver talent badge have a low chance of failure when sewing, and outfits cannot fail.

"Your long hours of sewing and dedication to the art of the quilt have paid off. This quilt is well-made and good-looking. Take a bow; your stoic stitching has brought you here."
 * Quality Quilt

Sewing outfits
Selecting "Outfit..." allows the player to select any of the 6 clothing types that are available in the base game. All clothing types cost §120 to sew, regardless of how much it would cost to buy them from a clothing rack. Selecting a clothing type opens up a version of the "Buy..." dialog for that type. As with buying clothes off a rack, the player will be able to select the gender and life stage the clothes are for; the "mannequin" figure will be a generic Sim of that age and gender. However, if the "Everyday" category is selected, only one-piece outfits can be chosen; separate tops or bottoms cannot be sewn.

Once an outfit has been selected, the player will be able to give it a name and description, or can accept the generic name and description that is given. This name and description will be used when the finished outfit appears in the Sim's inventory. An outfit will take around three Sim hours to complete. Once finished, it will appear as a "bundle of clothes" like those Sims carry when taking clothing to or from a clothing rack. Removing a bundle from the Sim's inventory and clicking on it gives the options "Add To Wardrobe" and "Sell". Choosing "Add To Wardrobe" immediately adds the outfit to the household's wardrobe, as if it had been bought off a rack. Choosing "Sell" immediately sells the outfit; a newly-made outfit will sell for §400, regardless of type.

Gold Badge
Having a Gold talent badge enables Sims to sew a nifty special outfit with a texture that can be customized. This outfit costs §75, and is available for all life stages from toddler through elder. This outfit can be placed in the wardrobe, or sold for §750. Sims with this badge have a very low chance of failure when sewing.

When selecting the option to make this outfit, the player will be able to choose which gender and life stage to make it for. The "mannequin" figure for the outfit will be an outline with three color-coded areas. Each area will have a set of textures that can be chosen for it, but the player's choices will not appear on the outline. Once the outfit is finished, it will appear in the Sim's inventory as a "bundle of clothes" like those Sims carry when taking clothing to or from a clothing rack. Clicking on the bundle will give the options "Add To Wardrobe" and "Sell".

Some players may have a problem with skin tones for the teen female outfit. Treeag at Mod The Sims has a fix for this.