Preparedness for when

dragonette

Caterina wrote: »

Just an idea in my mind, don't know if possible, but will air it anyway. How about an OS Preppers weekend? In a cheap youth hostel, in the middle of the UK where easily reachable by all, to spend a couple of days getting to know each other, do skill-swapping etc? If any of you is interested please let me know and I can start the ball rolling. I have organised OS meet ups before and we have had much fun but this would be especially geared to SHTF issues.

I love this idea I lurk on most of the tougher/preppers threads on here but don't feel I have much to add to other peoples' suggestions. Tbh I'm not sure I have many skills to contribute other than crochet (just about to start making actual clothes rather than blankets, hats, scarves n mitts). One recommendation for stocking up on patterns is ravelry.com - a kind-of social network with loads of patterns for crochet and knitting (plus tunisian crochet/blanket and knooking).

I also recently got a drop spindle as its the only way I know how to spin, and I use chunky yarns so it shoukd work for me.

I'm now remembering my mum has a treadle singer, no idea if its usable or not. Would love tto repair and use it! My modern little sewing mackine !!!!!!! terrifies me

thriftwizard

Gigervamp wrote: »

I would really love a treadle sewing machine. I used to use one in my teens and I loved the rythmn that using the treadle created. I do have my mums old Jones hand cranked machine though, and if I only need to do straight stitching, I use that one instead of my electric one.

May I politely enquire which end of these fair islands you inhabit? If you're anywhere near me (south end, near the centre) I may be able to help... it might help me be able to walk from one end of the garage to the other, too!

I have a 1909 Jones Medium long-bobbin treadle that I use just about all the time. I love treadling; total body involvement, total control and it can't go any faster than my legs! And there's virtually nothing to go wrong with it. I'm not a complete Luddite, I do have two electric Berninas, one of them only a couple of years old (a 1008S) but I'd rather use the treadle any day.

Occasionally I have to field the odd snide remark like, "Where's your thread going to come from, then?" Apart from the facts that a) I have a good stock & b) I can actually spin my own if desperate (there are fields full of flax around here, though it's not the ideal variety as it's grown for animal fodder; the stems are too short, but it'd work. Cotton's a whole lot harder & doesn't grow well in Dorset!) I don't see all international trade coming to an end. Things may be in short & unpredictable supply, & they may be very expensive, but I think we would still be able to get things like thread - and coffee, and spices - at a price.

mummyroysof3

thriftwizard wrote: »

Occasionally I have to field the odd snide remark like, "Where's your thread going to come from, then?" Apart from the facts that a) I have a good stock & b) I can actually spin my own if desperate (there are fields full of flax around here, though it's not the ideal variety as it's grown for animal fodder; the stems are too short, but it'd work. Cotton's a whole lot harder & doesn't grow well in Dorset!) I don't see all international trade coming to an end. Things may be in short & unpredictable supply, & they may be very expensive, but I think we would still be able to get things like thread - and coffee, and spices - at a price.

tell them that while people are looting electrical goods you will be only one looting shops that sell wool:rotfl:

Gigervamp

thriftwizard wrote: »

May I politely enquire which end of these fair islands you inhabit? If you're anywhere near me (south end, near the centre) I may be able to help... it might help me be able to walk from one end of the garage to the other, too!

Thanks, :beer: but the reason I don't have one is lack of space. A few have come up on Freecycle over the years which I really wanted to go for, but there's not one bit of wallspace that isn't already occupied by other furniture, bookcases etc. Maybe one day, when (if!) the boys move out....

valk_scot

Caterina wrote: »

Val how do you charge your mobile on a treading machine please? I have one, just need to put the leather strap on as it was serviced and never reassembled, but this would be my incentive to reassemble it! Thanks.

I saw a gizmo for sale that you basically leaned against the drive belt that made something in the charger turn. Let me go and see if I can find it..it wasn't any different in principle to a wind up charger.

valk_scot

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

tell them that while people are looting electrical goods you will be only one looting shops that sell wool:rotfl:

Nahh, Thriftwizard and I will be the ones out in the fields chasing the sheep around while armed with a good old fashioned set of hand clippers....

thriftwizard

The only problem with the "boys moving out" scenario is that somehow, other boys seem to just move straight in... I thought we'd have DS1's room for a workroom when he went off to uni, instead of which we acquired his best friend as a lodger. Then DS3 went off but I seem to be letting his room to foreign students, in order to afford having students of my own! And DS2 has quietly installed his girlfriend, instead of moving out to be with her, so that they can save up for a place of their own eventually... Don't remember being asked about that, but she's easy to get on with, a willing worker & happy to learn OS ways, so we'll go with it for now.

Laughing about chasing the sheep - it's alpaca that are in the most danger from me! But I'd quite happily stalk a Shetland or two... And very interested in the charging device, too; I could use that to charge up a light for the machine, rather like an old dynamo bike light. I think Singer actually used to make one, but I've never come across one yet.

Off to update my emergency supplies in a mo... reading this thread has made me realise I'm rather low on one or two essentials like salt & sugar.

mardatha

Valk Scot I think I know who you are -I was with the soap maker
The prepper lady was from a farm up at the top of Ettrick, I wonder if she might be on here too. She was pretty clued up.
Very good idea Cattie but a lot depends on how down south it is, I don't drive so if it's not near a train/bus station then hubby would have to be hauled along and he's not into prepping at all.

valk_scot

mardatha wrote: »

Valk Scot I think I know who you are -I was with the soap maker

Hah...you're not that woman who (allegedly) ate nine cakes, are you? Small world, lol!

Caterina

Dragonette crochet is a very good skill to have, I can do it but never attempted clothes. Made a few shawls and hats, also a giant granny square blanket (like just the one square, round and round) for DD's bed and am in the process of making another one for DS, but would love to be able to make clothes. I find knitting very difficult, always dropping stitches and never finding my way back, so crochet would be great to have as a skill.

I do not have any manual skills that I can transfer such as crafts though I have a lot of experience in downshifting as I have done it over the years, quite successfully, it is more the case of meeting up and swapping ideas, being with kindred spirits (what a relief, not to be taken for a paranoid lunatic when you talk about SHTF issues! heehehe) etc.

Val I am curious of what you mean by the gadget. If you can post a pic or even a link I would be very grateful. Thank you! Then I shall need to have a go at putting the leather belt on the machine and see if it still goes, of course!

ThriftWizard (and others) I keep meaning to get a bulk buy of salt, but prefer the coarse sea salt, any suggestions where to order online? Thanks.

Mardatha re. meet up I was thinking of places like York, Hebden Bridge (there is a hostel there supposed to be very nice) or North Wales, or Chester, or there is a place I know near Swindon that could do for us. Or just even organise something in Scotland if you have suggestions? I am easy, open to any suggestions, for me this is just at the (FORGIVE ME FOR WHAT IS COMING NEXT) brainstorming stage.