Make Do and Mend

geordie_joe

danksshady wrote: »

I save all old clothes for fabric where possible and cut the buttons off too,

Do people still have button tins these days?

I have one but it's more of a sewing tin these days. As well as a large assortment of buttons it contains needles, threads, needle threaders, zips, pins, safety pins, wonder web, tape measure, scissors, knicker elastic etc.

before any of you ask why a single man keeps knicker elastic, it's useful stuff and can be used for much more than keeping knickers up!

I cut a couple of inches off the roll, fold in half and sew the two ends to the corner of towels/tea towels to make useful hanging loops. If I'm feeling posh I sew a bit diagonally across a corner for then to make a useful hanging loop that is not obvious.

It can replace the draw string in jimjams and jogging bottoms, can be sewn diagonally accross the corners of a flat sheet to hold it in place on the bed.

It really does have many uses.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

geordie_joe wrote: »

Do people still have button tins these days?
.

Me,I do.
I have my sewing basket and then my button tin and also a ribbon box that I save all the bits of ribbon that I have.There's also the tin I keep elastic,cord,velcro ect.I never throw any bits of trimmings away as they all come in handy for craft work.I also have two big linen bins full of fabric that I buy when I see remnants.Very handy for patchwork and making ragdolls.

bizzylizzy

I have just replaced our king size duvet as the old one was very old and in desperate need of a wash :eek: and I reckoned it would be as expensive to buy a new one as to have it washed at the launderette (far too big for our machine). I got a new one from Asda for £9 something :j

Anyway, I am cutting up the old one into pillow size bits, oversewing the edges, putting them in the washing machine (about 6 at a time) and now I will have new "mattresses" for the dog's bed! I have a pile of old pillowcases I got from Freecycle to use as covers. So the dog can have her bed changed regularly too (I wash the doggie pillowcases in the very hot wash I put on once a month to descale the washing machine...)

mama67

DS1 managed to pull the zip fastner off his football rain jacket.

I had a couple of old jackets which were in the recycling bag so I took the fastener off one and added it to his rain jacket.

10 minute job as it was only the pullup and down bit , and his rain jacket is good as new.

Olliebeak

Have always had to 'make do and mend' - 50's upbringing by grandmother .

I still have a button box AND a sewing box with all kinds of bits and pieces. NEVER throw away buttons, press studs, zips etc and I always carry one of those mini sewing kits in my handbag (there's always one (which I never use) in the caravan where we go for holidays ) as DD invariably has something that needs a button/hem sewing when I call at her house. Dgk's are amazed at what comes out of my handbag - I'm like Mary Poppins!

p00

Years ago I used to use pillowcases as fitted baby sheets too - funny what you remember when you find an interesting thread.
I have also kept different size clothes since a teenager as fashion goes in cycles and my daughter now wears some of my 'old stuff' which means nobody else is wearing the same thing.

xxp00

Reverbe

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

I was just thinking back to what I had when I first got married 22 years ago and what is still going.
My Clairol hairdryer bought in December 1987 is still going strong , so too is my Breville Hand Mixer, Phillips Liquidiser, Morphy Richards Coffee Maker, and a Teasmade not bad going really, I wish things where still built to last as long now.

I often think if the Govt really are serious about being green etc as the way forward they should bring in something that makes companies build things to last like they used to. Now they build them deliberately to break down in a coupla years etc so you have to buy a new one.

zarazara

I have a 1970's yoghurt maker, I aqired it last year via freecycle. its a good thing.

ceridwen

Reverbe wrote: »

I often think if the Govt really are serious about being green etc as the way forward they should bring in something that makes companies build things to last like they used to. Now they build them deliberately to break down in a coupla years etc so you have to buy a new one.

I quite agree that things need to be made to last - though I guess its more a case of firms themselves making the decision to make durable goods - rather than the Government making them do so (I may be wrong on that - and possibly there is some sorta pressure the Govt could put on them to do "the right thing").

I think the fault to a large extent lies with people themselves - I do get very fed-up with people chucking out perfectly good stuff just because they feel like it and replacing it unnecessarily. Cant say I've been a "plaster saint" in that respect myself in the past - but I am now trying these days to think in terms of I would rather spend 3 or 4 times as much on something if I have to and never ever have to buy it again (as it is of durable construction and still doing fine). I replaced a cheapie cheapie item of furniture the other day that had fallen to bits, for instance, with one that cost about 8 times as much - but thats it - I've got it for life now literally and I can feel pleased when I look at it - as its a good item of stuff and I actually like it. To me - its not just the environmentally-friendly thing to do to be this way - but it saves me personally having some hassle: I've bought a good-quality thing once and will never have the hassle of having to buy the same thing again:D - all part of my "theme tune" of simplifying life.

3WayFreedom

LOved this thread, thank you all.