make do and mend for tougher times

Malfiore

prepareathome wrote: »

Malfiore,

Please don't take this the wrong way but knowing someone else out there who cannot get on with their sewing machine makes me feel better, but considering I used to use the treadle for years really it is shameful that I cannot......

Its like they say you never forget how to ride a bike. Once health got bad I found I could no longer ride one, just couldn't get balance right so had to give up and give it away about 15 years ago used to enjoy it.....its like I need to relearn everything which some things I have managed to do, others I find if don't do daily then when I go to use it have to relearn so annoying and frustrating.

Don't believe it thunder went away so put this back on and hey pesto thunder coming back ........not a drop of rain though just thunder and lightning.

opps getting nearer

hugs and lovexxx

Gosh! No offence taken! I know what you mean about illness, I had surgery in February for an ongoing condition I have that left me in agony 24/7 for the previous 2 years and doing 'basic' things were (I imagine) like climbing Everest! I had to get back in the swing of things and it's only really now that it's back swinging. I have more surgeries to come and there will be more in the future to keep my pain and problems hopefully to a minimum. I'm sorry your illness is taking so much out if you, I totally empathise and can offer advice or an ear if you ever need it

Cutlery holder purchased as well as as some more tupperware and kitchen cupboards are all clean and tidy and sorted Now to make a pretending roast and veg out

thistledome

I need some advice and was wondering if you make do and menders would be able to point me in the right direction, please?

I've just bought a pair of trousers and the legs are skin tight, but I like everything else about them. Is it possible to add an extra fillet of material to the inside leg seams? The outside leg seams are a bit complicated, but the inside legs are just a plain straight seam. I've had a few google searches, but everything I've found is about making the legs smaller, rather than bigger.

Any ideas or any pointers to web sites that might be helpful will be gratefully received! TIA

SDG31000

Hello Everyone

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for the hugs and support, especially PAH and bossymoo, it was greatly appreciated and very welcome. Thank you xxx DH and I went to a friend's for dinner which was a welcome distraction and helped a lot.

Possesion I grew up just down the road from The Black Country Museum in Coseley and went to college in Dudley. I haven't been to the Museum in years. Best not tell mardatha about the sweet shop

The clothkits stuff is gorgeous, but I must resist. I would love some of those skirts though.

Today we have spent this amount of money :eek: £300 on a new bed and carpet for DS1. He is 13 and nearly 6 foot tall and was way too big for his cabin bed. So we spent a few hours going around all the carpet and bed shops in search of the best prices. The new carpet will be ready for DH to collect on Tuesday and the new bed should be about a week. They will hold it until we are ready for it and we found a place with free delivery. I now have assorted boxes and a dismantled bed in the living room. It's not in a fit state to be put back together or I would put it on freecycle or offer it to a charity.
I also picked up 3 pork shoulder joints from Morrisons as they are on offer at £2 per kg. That will keep us in pulled pork for a while. It's a good job that the food stash is huge at the moment. I have to start using things up as my urge is to hoard and to have just in case, rather than using things. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but I don't want it getting out of hand.
Tomorrow will be spent painting DS1's room, having a sewing lesson, lots of cooking, making a meal plan and sorting out the freezers.
I think I have reacted to something I ate at lunchtime so it's a good job I cooked tonight's dinner yesterday.

Take care everyone xxxxxx

Possession

SDG the sweet shop shall remain our little secret shhhhhhhhhh
and we won't tell anyone that we polished off a bag of strawberries and creams between us today.
Good luck with DS's room!

grandma247

thistledome it is much easier to take in a pair of pants than make them bigger

Are they tight all the way down? If they are whatever you do will probably look a bit odd.

If it is only part way then you might get away with it. You could taper them a little at the bottom so it looks like they were meant to be that way.
Here is a site that might give you an idea.

jpscloud

Difficult as it may be I think I would go for adjusting the outside seams rather than the inside, as adjustments to the inside might look strange.

The inserts grandma247 suggests (does anyone else remember doing this for real in the 70s??!!) look lovely, and you don't have to make them bell bottoms, you could insert a strip all the way down the outsides of the legs instead of just at the bottom.

thistledome

grandma247 wrote: »

thistledome it is much easier to take in a pair of pants than make them bigger

Are they tight all the way down? If they are whatever you do will probably look a bit odd.

Yes, they're tight all the way down. If they look too bad I'll just have to wear them on days when I'm not going out.

Thanks for the link, makes it a bit less daunting when you see someone else doing it.

edit:
jps cloud, I'll have another look at them. I agree it would better, but might not be do-able.

prepareathome

thistle, I have seen and of course cannot remember where somewhere selling trousers that have a contrasting strip all the way down on the outside. I know it was an expensive site so could be the next fashion thing.

I know the trousers looked good, although I didn't like the combinations I remember one was flowered main and a checked pattern in the strip and the colours did not go nor the patterns but then I am an old foggy.

With the right strip put in I think the trousers could look really cool.

Wandering off to try and find that site........

prepareathome

Malfiore wrote: »

Gosh! No offence taken! I know what you mean about illness, I had surgery in February for an ongoing condition I have that left me in agony 24/7 for the previous 2 years and doing 'basic' things were (I imagine) like climbing Everest! I had to get back in the swing of things and it's only really now that it's back swinging. I have more surgeries to come and there will be more in the future to keep my pain and problems hopefully to a minimum. I'm sorry your illness is taking so much out if you, I totally empathise and can offer advice or an ear if you ever need it

Thank you and sending you hugs, at least I don't have to have any surgeries.

I will not give up going to see if I can find any sewing circles around. Adult education is offering dress makers for beginners at a school miles away but its a 10 week course and I know I will never get there every week and its £60 + £10 admin and only concessions are for IS, JSA and ESA but work group only not support group. So they seem to think only people that are likely to work again might want to do a class. Not even discount for pensioners. So its a lot of money when I might only get there once or twice.

Doh just had a thought I have joined WI haven't I. Surely I can find someone out of the 70 other members who might be able to give me a couple of hours help in exchange for something I could do. Will phone the secretary tomorrow or ask at next meeting on the 14th.

All this time been struggling and looking for classes and I have been a member of WI since Feb..........jeepers am I thick- go on you all agree and its true I am......

Hugs and love

elona

PAH

If you are thick" then I am a banana" in the immortal words of Ian Hislop (I think).

Good idea of yours and it could start a lot of others off on a route to a new skill or improving an existing one.

Thunder and lightening here so the fond plan of lunch in the garden was literally a washout. Managed to tidy another kitchen cupboard so very pleased with myself. I did tell DH I had another AF order on the way - stock cubes, gravy granules, chopped tomatoes with garlic, cereal bars and batter mix (cheaper than flour). Hoping if everything is tidy I can sneak stuff in unnoticed;)

Hug and see you later