make do and mend for tougher times

annie123

valk_scot wrote: »

On the subject of rugs, peg looming is very fast and you can use strips of scrap fabric or in my case, thickly spun yarn from even coarse fleeces. Some folk have even made full width mattress toppers from wool on an extra wide peg loom, that must be so cosy!

So thats what was in the CS a few weeks ago, wish I'd bought it now. Looks like a really easy way to make one.

rosieben wrote: »

I remember in the 50's we had daily doses of Cod Liver Oil and Malt, not sure if that was a government thing like the orange juice etc we used to get sometimes, to improve the nation's health? I think Virol was a brand name of similar stuff but the big jars we had were just labelled 'Cod Liver Oil and Malt'. I'm the youngest of a large family and we would all line up for a large spoonful

I have a spoon full every day its stops the pain in my knee joint. I buy it in boots when it's on 342. I love the taste, I could eat a jar in a day:o
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Pharmaceuticals-Malt-Extract-Cod-Liver-Oil-900g_1139854/

D&DD

Fuddle that quilt she made was lovely trying to think what you may have laying around you could use...how about clothes the kids have outgrown for the fabric squares and do they/you wear tights? Laddered/old tights are a very handy thing lol you could use those for stuffing or when you have old pillows which have seen better days wash the filling and re-use or the same for old quilts

speaking of malt can you still get malt extract at the chemists? Want to start making my own malt loaves again,have been buying the MrT value ones for convenience and they've shrunk so much its untrue and they've removed most of the fruit :rotfl:

edited as crossposted THANKS ANNIE!!

fuddle

There's a maltloaf recipe on here somewhere D&DD,only a few weeks back. I'm finding it difficult to source the basics malt loaf right now too. they are so small aren't they. My two adore malt loaf. You can http://www.healthysupplies.co.uk/barley-malt-extract-meridian.html?gclid=CMfqiabZyLICFUdvfAodggcASA (I hope that's the right stuff)

How is malt beneficial to us?

suzybloo

Yes D&DD you can still get jars of Malt from the chemists - up here you can anyway. Cant remember the makers name on the jar though. We were given the spponfuls of Malt and Codliver Oil every morning too, and that was in the 70's!
On the clothes dying front I have dyed three pairs of black trousers this week for work - they were faded but otherwise fine, so I tried the new style Dylon Machine Dye where you dont need to add salt - costs £5.50 - and these trousers look like new again and will see the winter out! In the machine at the moment are the two thick cotton bathroom sets - they were a lovely colour when bought - now faded but once they are dyed they will look as good as new again. Give it a go - so easy now you dont have to faff about with salt etc.
I looked at these readicut rugs kits in hobbycraft, they were really expensive, but they did have the mesh and hooks to allow you make up your own designs. Would it work if you cut up thin strips of t-shirts etc and make it like a rag rug possibly?

D&DD

They are tiny now Fuddle when we first got married I used to be able to slice them into 8 (with butter yum) then it was 6,now I could eat a whole one as a sandwich

My mum used to say it was good for building you up,quite how I don't know,I've always been such a skinny whippet she was forever feeding me up with malt,glucose,complan lol ...still skinny!

fuddle

Peg looming looks brilliant.

I have some black jeans that are really faded but so comfortable and fit correctly. The Dylon sounds like the route to go down. Thank you The trick is finding it on Amazon with free delivery. Fingers crossed.

fuddle

Horlicks is malt isn't it? I used to get a horlicks every night as a kid. It's something I've continued but only in the colder months... now I know why lol

D&DD

suzybloo wrote: »

Yes D&DD you can still get jars of Malt from the chemists - up here you can anyway.

I looked at these readicut rugs kits in hobbycraft, they were really expensive, but they did have the mesh and hooks to allow you make up your own designs. Would it work if you cut up thin strips of t-shirts etc and make it like a rag rug possibly?

Thanks Suzybloo

Yes theres a youtube video I was watching last night and she did just that an english lady let me check my history will add you a link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ID-y3SahFo there you go...turn your volume down

fuddle

Aw a blast from the past. My grandma had a bath mat just like this

Now I know how it was done.

suzybloo

thanks so much for the link to the rag rug - can feel another crafting project coming on, and the rag bag being raided! Might even dye all the old rags first before I start, the t-shirts are different colours so will get different shades after they are dyed, as needing rug for our hall way.

this is they new style dye (and its cheaper than I paid for it and has free delivery)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DYLON-BLACK-MACHINE-FABRIC-LARGE/dp/B0030FWBCM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348301274&sr=8-1