Don't Buy It - Make It

wendym

In today's Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2050199,00.html

We OS people will soon be the cutting edge of cool!

tru

wendym wrote: »

We OS people will soon be the cutting edge of cool!

We already are, the rest of the world just doesn't realise it yet

They're a bit slow, I think :rotfl:

Newday_2

Hi

this is my first post on these forums although I have been reading them since the new year and have been inspired. My bread maker is now used, I have star drops and I use a micro fibre mop!!

But I have been thinking about clothes and shoes. I have a lot too many and have decided it's time to cut down so..... I was wondering about no new clothes for 12 months too drastic?

Well my step sons wedding is in Aug so might need something for that. But having read thois article I could go for 4 months or two. I have looked at their web site and you make a pledge.

Anyone else thinking of doing the same thing?

Newday

Jayar

I already have Newday. I'm pretty sure I haven't bought any new clothes for around a year. But that could be more because of a distinct dislike of shopping than being OS.

Oh and welcome to the board

Hardup_Hester

The last item I bought new was a suit for my DD's wedding & she's been married 6 years, even that was reduced, I have to alter everthing I buy, so I rarely buy anything new & often buy stuff from charity shops just so I can cut it up & make it in to something else.
When my DS was a toddler & I couldn't afford to buy him any new clothes I made him 4 pairs of dungarees from 2 pairs of old trousers. I used to have an old wartime book about making new clothes from old & I used the patterns from that.
Hester

Queenie

:hello: Welcome Newday

In principle, that's a great idea ... however, a word of caution

The more you use your bread machine and the more you cook from scratch, temptation rises and before you know it, your waist line measurement rises too :rotfl: Now, if *that* happens ... you'll need to learn how to let clothes out if you want to avoid buying altogther

scrimperjan

Hi Newday! I have enough clothes to last me a lifetime, so what I decided was that, for this year at least, if I wanted something new I would have to sell something I already have, on eBay, to raise the money. I'm also 'allowed' to buy things from charity shops as long as I donate something of mine first. I must admit I have deviated from my rule slightly (Tesco sale - spent £3 on two tops) so now I am trying to get ahead by building up a fund from my eBay sales. I don't know if I'll make it to the end of the year, but I like a challenge. Also a great way to declutter!

Three_Dancing_Dragons

I'd like to learn to sew but finding that 'basic dressmaking' class is almost impossible. I know that some of the larger John Lewis-es down south do classes through their habadashery departments, but in Edinburgh they not only don't do classes, they've only just reopened the habadashery department! (Obviously the news that EVERYBODY is doing it, hasn't got through.)

dolly_day_dream

When the children were younger I used to make clothes for them from old clothing all the time. Partly it was because of the cost and partly because I just couldn't get hold of the fabric that I wanted. It was very hard to find a good weight denim back then but I used to cut up old jeans and make them new ones all the time. The same went for waterproof fabric. Many times I took a really awful grandma mac and made a new winter coat for my littlies.

As they grew into strapping youngsters it got harder and harder to refashion clothing and it just wasn't cool. When my DD started secondary school and I had made her a new coat I had to find and sew in a Top Shop lable so that she wouldn't be embarrassed. But she soon appreciated the fact that I could re-create the expensive fashions she saw in Camden for far less. Pretty soon she was back letting people know that her's were original designs created by her mum.

I still make a percentage of my daughter's clothes and yes some of them are recycled fabric. My sons are not into home made clothes any more and I wouldn't dream of foisting it on them but then they are 27 and 25. As for me I still wear either home made or charity shop clothes. Have done for years as I think it is the most ethical form of clothes buying. This summer I am planning on making a selection of cotton tunics with 3/4 length sleeves to wear. The fabric - old cotton sheets, duvet covers and curtains - rescued from charity shops. The scraps are put to good use in my patchwork quilts and other craft projects. Come to think of it the very first thing I ever made to wear (I was 11) was a very fetching skirt made out of one of those candy stripe flannelette sheets. I am glad to say that 40 years later people don't recognise the origins of my clothing any more.

the_optimist

Queenie wrote: »

... however, a word of caution

The more you use your bread machine and the more you cook from scratch, temptation rises and before you know it, your waist line measurement rises too :rotfl: Now, if *that* happens ... you'll need to learn how to let clothes out if you want to avoid buying altogther

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Martin never puts that warning on his emails - I think I sue him!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

i bought some new clothes about a month or so back.....

only becuase we were going to butlins on a 70's weekend with our bike club......and the tizzz i got into just buying a new bra....:eek:

before that i think the only new clothes i bought were my knickers.......

i know this is going to sound wired.... but my hobby is buying /collecting/selling old clothes.... so i automatically go into charity shops..... and if i do go into a high street store.. just to have a look at the latest trends.... and see what they are charging for VERY POOR QUALITY items.....i just cant get over it.....a trendy top for about £30.. and to be honest it is soooooo thin that it wouldnt even be good as a rag....:eek: and then when you are out you see loads of people dressed in exactly the same clothes.....:eek:


i could quite easily not buy new clothes for a year..... excluding charity shops of coarse;)

oh.. ye and my knickers......