Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

mothernerd

Very rainy today and feeling under par. I am recovering from an operation, did quite a bit of physical stuff yesterday and the cough/cold/sore throat I had before Christmas keeps trying to come back. Have had a spoonful of cough medicine - my usual one ran out but had this other bottle, wondered why I was going dizzy, found it's nearly 50% sugar (I'm diabetic). So very sparing with the cough medicine but determined not to cave and buy a bottle of the usual until this is all gone - If I'm lucky that might not be until next Winter, so deferred spending.

So plan for today is to stay upstairs where it's warmer (under the bedclothes if necessary) to avoid putting on the heating and to get on with my sewing. I have a box of small embroidery projects I do in between large items and a box with all the odds and ends of 'use-up' threads. I have problems with waste - have to use up every last length of thread so all the unlabelled bits and odd strands go in the 'use-up' box. If a cat only needs 5 crosses to make up it's eyes (or 3 -5 of 3 slightly different colours) it's usually somewhere in the box. Had to force myself to bin a couple of lengths yesterday when they were only slightly longer than the needle.

This is an on-going task for January but hoping to complete 30 by the end of the week (including mum's birthday and Mother's Day cards, possibly gifts) - having fun making Christmas baubles. They are lovely intricate designs, bit of a challenge but with some bits I can do automatically when I get into it so can follow a tv programme at the same time if I want to. Have just completed 3 in the suggested colours (must have had shades of purple to use up a while ago so added the contrast colours yesterday) and now want to try some in colours to match my own decorations and maybe try some designs of my own (thinking filigree butterflies in black on a background of jewel colours). It's all using up what I have (oddments from bigger projects) and everything ends up 'tidier'. Plus I get thinking time and it's almost like meditating when you get in the rhythm.

Have a good day everyone.

Swampmonster

I have bought a knitted jumper from the charity shop.

I absolutely love it but didn't notice till I got home that the ribbing at the bottom has stretched.

Is there anything I can do to make it tighter?

Many thanks :beer:

GreyQueen

Swampmonster wrote: »

I have bought a knitted jumper from the charity shop.

I absolutely love it but didn't notice till I got home that the ribbing at the bottom has stretched.

Is there anything I can do to make it tighter?

Many thanks :beer:

Go to the haberdashery and get shirring elastic. It's a thread of elastic, ususally only in black or white, but I don't know if it ever comes in colours. With a large-eyed needle, thread the shirring elastic through the ribbing, making a complete circle, and draw it up until the desired tautness is achieved, and knot the ends together. You will need several circles of this but because of the tensioning, each one will need to be done individually.

It does work but it won't result in the jumper looking as good as it did before the ribbing went. you can also do jumper cuffs like thid. HTH.

Prinzessilein

I have just spent a VERY productive afternoon!.....I haven't left my rocking chair...(well only to make a cuppa for Mum and me!0....BUT....I have managed my very first success in using those devilish DPNs!...I now have a small but even tube knitted!...I will continue practising....and hopefully by the weekend I will be ready to knit the eyes for my owl pyjama case!


Mothernerd...I don't know how severe/well-controlled your diabetes is...but if you get DLA/PIPs for it you may be entitled to some extra help with your heating bills....you can check the eligibility here...
https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/eligibility
(Also look at things like the Cold Weather Payment eligibility)


Back to knitting...I need to sort through my wool supplies...after the PJ case is done, I want to make a start on Operation Christmas Child knitting...I like to get going nice and early....I think I have enough odds-and-sods of wool to do a few puppets without looking for any 'new' wool.

I_want_a_baby

Making do today by:
turning off lights
spending ages removing the cover to the baby's car seat to wash it, now drying on airer in front of fire.
checking my £2 car boot bargain electric steriliser works (it does)
double checking my meal plan and shopping list for week ahead
packed my hospital/baby bag - worried I don't have enough clothes but going to make do and only buy more once the baby is here if I need more!
Made two banana cakes to use up brown bananas, put wrong amount of flour in but still edible so will still get eaten.


Mending today:
Need to fix holes in my dressing gown, maternity pj bottoms & all in one snowsuit.

Minimise:
Started a bag of things to sell, will try a few things on Facebook if they don't sell and we have enough stuff hubby can do a car boot sale, if not it can go to charity.
Removed about 10 old magazines from magazine holder into recycling.
Removed lots of cardboard from bedroom from Xmas bits and the odd new baby thing we have bought put it all in recycling.

IWAB x

Swampmonster

GreyQueen wrote: »

Go to the haberdashery and get shirring elastic. It's a thread of elastic, ususally only in black or white, but I don't know if it ever comes in colours. With a large-eyed needle, thread the shirring elastic through the ribbing, making a complete circle, and draw it up until the desired tautness is achieved, and knot the ends together. You will need several circles of this but because of the tensioning, each one will need to be done individually.

It does work but it won't result in the jumper looking as good as it did before the ribbing went. you can also do jumper cuffs like thid. HTH.

Thank you GreyQueen.

You're a genius. :T

GreyQueen

Nah, not a genius, just a case of having done a few bits and bobs in my 50 years. Plenty more to learn and only one lifetime to do it in.

[Deleted User]

Hi chums I was supposed to sort out a trim at the hairdressers today but decided it can go another week without me looking too much like a wild woman from Borneo Keep my neck warm as well There is always a way to look on the positive side :):)when it comes to hanging onto your cash
JackieO xxx

HOWMUCH

Hello everyone, finished my DGS snood today I decided to put a twist at the front, so it's single band not a long one that goes around his neck twice. I thought that would be alittle too much for a 2 year old. I must say I'm very pleased with it and it looked very smart on him, my daughter loved it too.
Not been shopping to day, I normally find Monday evenings are good for YS shopping as most supermarket have dates on thing to get past the weekend. At the moment I do not have much room in my chest freezer. I need to make a small cushion for a Ikea swivel chair I got preloved for DGS bedroom http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90264218/

I have some yellow gingham left over from a duvet cover I made for him, his room is green,yellow and orange.

cheerfulness4

A quick piccie of my finished sausage dog pin cushion.


Had to giggle when the kit envelope says 'Get results tonight!'
HUH! Not if you're me. Took 3 nights, although saying that I did sew it by hand.

Quick record of spends after adding my £3.

DAY 12
Money Spent Today - £8.17 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £34.02 Vouchers Spent in Total - £5
Money left in purse - £1.98 - Float left- £0/£15
Jan non-foods left- £6.63/£15


£8.17 from grocery budget on 3x milk@ £3, Hot oat cereal @ £1.79, 1lt lemon squash @ 33p, French loaf @ 75p, pk 4 ww yoghurts @ £1 and 2x chilled puff pastry reduced @ 65p each.

£2.23 from non-foods budget when on loos rolls and personal hygiene items.

Apart from eating a huge cheese filled French roll sandwich we didn't feel like much to eat. I'm hoping we're not going down with yet another cold.

Off to bed now with thoughts of what to choose as my next project in my make do, mend and minimise challenge. So many possibilities. :j