Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

skintmum2012

Cheerfulness 4 :Hey so its not just an age thing with the not coping at x mass poo thought we might be able to enjoy x mass one day. I think when the decs go down it will be pretty much the same as when they go up eaiser to cope with though as you know as soon as your through it it won't happen for another year or that's what happens with our kids. Apron looks really good well done you really good hubby enjoys his job it makes all the diffrance.

Second nsd in a row I need to get some wool as going to be starting friends daughter's birthday present soon.

meritaten

just read through this thread and couldn't help noticing how many people have a sewing machine they don't use!
Are you scared of it? Can I share how I was taught to use a machine? I was trained as a seamstress by a factory which made clothes for Sparks and Marks. in the olden days when their buyers were the fussiest people on the planet!
the very first day on the machines we didn't even thread it up! We were given a pile of scrap paper and told to stitch straight lines! two days later most of us had got the hang of that, and then we were told to sew the 'wavy' lines on the paper handed to us. only when we had the lines perfectly aligned with the printed lines on the paper were we allowed to thread up the machines! from there we went to circles and squares.
it taught us how to control the machine, how to control the line of stitching (even at high speed) and how NOT to put your fingers in the way of the needle! without wasting material and thread. I highly recommend doing this with beginners and with new machines (they all behave differently)
When I teach the grandkids how to use the sewing machine I do this .
btw - I hate sewing - but I can do it when necessary, and to a very high standard.

cheerfulness4

I love rug making. I remember when I was 18 buying a Readikit rug and my friend and I spent hours making it. They keep your knees lovely and warm while you're doing them, perfect for extra winter warmth.
When my boys were young I made a wall hanging one for their bedroom.


I'm glad my apron is liked. I'm thrilled that the £2 curtains I bought from the hospice charity shop turned into 2 x aprons (mum made my a different type that I've mislaid in the move) and a knitting bag. I'll post a piccie of that tomorrow.


I think I have enough scraps left to make one of those peg bags that looks like a little dress. I love those. Have to research the internet again for help with that.


My next challenge is sorting my undies. I'm really annoyed that my knicker elastic is already parting company with my waistband. I'm hoping its not the tumble dryer that's making rubbery 'strings' hanging down, too.
There's nothing wrong with the fabric but at this stage I normally cut my losses and chuck them away. Well that's got to stop.
Has anyone else dealt successfully with this problem?


Skintmum - splitting myself laughing because the first thing I spotted in your post was the phrase 'mass poo.' Now that got my attention. :rotfl:


Suzie's eyes are amazing! Beautiful cat.




meritatan - what a clever approach. I think I'd enjoy my machine if I learnt to use it more. I want to understand how to problem solve when the tension is out. I know what to do in principle but I don't seem to quite get it right. I'm going to have to download the manual again.

Winter_Phoenix

Great thread; and, Cheerfulness4, a terrific apron. I think that, by saying that it was to be finished TODAY, you've hit on the great secret of getting things done - deadlines!!

Meritaten, many thanks for the tip re: learning to use a new sewing machine without wasting fabric and cotton. Definitely one to remember.

Running_On_Empty

Can i suggest that if you are making aprons from curtain fabric that you wash the fabric first on a hot wash to pre shrink it? i made an apron last year from a remnant and wide tape for the ties and halter neck... did not pre shrink and it all shrank but by differing amounts. Apron went in charity bag.

dianasnan

[QUOTE

My next challenge is sorting my undies. I'm really annoyed that my knicker elastic is already parting company with my waistband. I'm hoping its not the tumble dryer that's making rubbery 'strings' hanging down, too.
There's nothing wrong with the fabric but at this stage I normally cut my losses and chuck them away. Well that's got to stop.
Has anyone else dealt successfully with this


If you have sewing machine with a 3 step zigzag stitch you can stretch the elastic and fabric in place and stitch it back in place. Not sure if a regular zigzag stich would work as well as the 3 step one as this has a bit of extra give.
Rescued several pairs of sloggis this way . Hth

tru

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]cheerfulness4 Love the apron! I have a sewing machine, I've only used it to make cushion covers, curtains and tablecloths though. Plus one alteration, several times I have a top that gets a bit wider each time it's washed, every now and then I turn it inside out, pin straight lines from under each arm to the bottom, sew along the lines twice then cut the extra material off It looks nice and neat for a while, then it starts growing again, lol[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I've started writing a list of things I already do. I'll write two more – one for things I could do but don't, one for things where I can't see how I can do them differently but must be able to so will research. That third list needs a shorter title [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The Complete Tightwad Gazette has been taken off the bookshelf and is now on the coffee table, staring at me accusingly and daring me to open it.[/FONT]

Bobarella

Hi Cheerfulness - I am number 80 on the roadkill rebels thread which is people out there hunting for lost coins and then counting them up each month. I am nearly up to £5 this month which is brilliant. I don't save them but use them straight away when paying for my shopping. I am kind of doing the sealed pot challenge in reverse. But it makes sense to me to not hoard small nomination coins that can be working for you every day and keeping those in the bank working harder for you. But that's just my view.

SailorSam

This is an interesting article about make-do-and-mend, it's written by one of the Professors that are doing this years Christmas Lectures on the Bbc. In it she says young people today don't know how to fix things, they've grown upin a disposable society.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11298927/Young-people-are-lost-generation-who-can-no-longer-fix-gadgets-warns-professor.html

fuddle

I think he's completely and utterly correct. Had I not needed to come to OS in order to try to survive a good few years back, then I wouldn't have the skills I have today.

I was brought up with convenience foods, microwave 'cooking' and cheap supermarket clothes that when they were no longer ok, got binned and replaced without a bat of an eyelid. Add to that the credit card era of 'emergency' have it now, or worse still 'desire' I deserve it now, then it's no surprise that 35 years and younger are a couple of generations facing tough times without a clue. :cool: Generalising, of course.

Not in my house! Because I see the value of skills I have been on a road to learning. Making do, mending and minimising is something I am passionate about. My children are encouraged to crochet (eldest is crocheting a blanket at the moment as well as having part of a sock on her knitting loom) youngest is keen on cooking and baking and both have a desire to use the sewing machine. It's important I feel, and it's character building... like I say to my girls "a creative/practical mind is a mind that is always busy, always useful and never bored!". Makes for happiness