Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

sashanut

joedenise wrote: »

Personally, if they're cheap on Eb*y for the universal set I'd take a chance on them. If they don't fit you won't have lost much and you can always sell them on or pass on to CS for someone else.

I wouldn't have thought Brother presser feet are any different to any other basic sewing machine feet.

Denise

Thanks very much - I was torn between getting the 'proper' one from Brother or the cash-saving MSE one, so that really helps.....

sashanut

culpepper wrote: »

Check on brothers website to see if your model of machine takes low shank or high shank feet. The low shank ones wont fit the high shank machines and vice versa.

Thanks very much - I will do that 'before' I order

vhalla1478

Hi everyone, i'm late this morning as I had an 'order 'from son's family - mum and dad and six children 250 yards from me on the farm, so I can't escape! - for lemon barley water/orange barley water and a large pan of tomato sauce. everything is now simmering nicely so thought I'd post this recipe for puff turnovers filled with chicken and herbs. The recipe says it makes four, but I normally get a dozen out of a pack of puff pastry and they freeze uncooked extremely well. Also you can do them with left-over cooked chicken and they are just as nice.

250g puff pastry, 4 rashers bacon, or equivalent in bacon bits, 6 basil leaves, salt and pepper, 250g chicken, an onion, and an egg yolk.

Chop chicken into small pieces, peel and roughly chop the onion, chop up the bacon and tear up the basil leaves. Roll pastry out thinly and cut into circles - I cut round a small glass bowl about 12cm across - and brush a little whisked up egg yolk round the edge of each one. Put about a tablespoonful of the chicken mixture onto each circle, fold over the pastry and press and crimp to seal. Brush over the top of each one with egg yolk, put them onto a baking sheet and bake at 200 centigrade for 20-25 minutes or until risen and golden brown. They're a great stand by, uncooked, in the freezer and they're extremely filling.

Right I must start the granddaughters' sewing and try and finish at least four garments today. Not as impressive as it sounds, it's only hems and threading elastic into the leggings. And then of course, there's the rug to do..... Viv x

sashanut

Sorry to be such a pain but I can't see where it says whether my machine is a high- or low- shank machine........


Here is the link to it http://www.brothersewingshop.co.uk/sewing-machines/sewing-machines-only/brother-uj417-union-jack-jubilee-limited-edition-sewing-mach?search=BROTHER UJ417&description=true&sub_category=true

good_advice

Good morning make do, mend and minimise people.
Roll on spring! on the 20th March and hopefully warmer weather.
Fed up with having to shell out on the gas CH.
Last week according to the LOOP energy monitor we use £19.83 on CH & HW. £9.27 on electric. Total spend for last week £28.83.
12% of fuel was electric and a whopping 88% on gas.
NO! the CH is not on all day! On the timer for just 4 hours and then when it is really cold or grandbabies visit I override the switch for a short while.
I dread to think the cost if we had a 24/7 warm home.

Back to basics and make do. When was the last time anyone opened a can of meat with a key?
I opened the can of corn beef yesterday that had been sitting around in the fridge. It had a key on can.
It was bought last autumn to take on a SC caravan mid week break and never used. We prefer sliced ham, but bought this as a back up for packed lunches. NEVER buy from camp shop at inflated prices.

Last week to use Boots treat street. It closes on 31st January.
Offers have now to be preloaded onto your advantage card from your computer at home.

This nicely leads me into FREE treats from the freebie sites.
Several I have signed up for and am well chuffed when postie brings me a free sample. Every little helps :0)
Freestuff.co.uk
freestuffsearch.co.uk
HUKD FREEBIES
MSE freebie thread
majic freebies

I hope to minimise my grocery shopping this afternoon with the help of my shopping list and coupons.
Save up on collecting Tesco clubcard points.
Have looked on "My Supermarket" for Savvy buys.

Making do = I have a small list, written on a strip of cereal box of the meat contents of my freezer.

Craft = sewing. Now completed 3 out of a set of 4 large draw string bags out of recycled sheets/duvet covers bought mainly from CH at low cost. Rope tie out of my stash of sewing things saved over time.
All bags have names on. Will be gifting when I have completed the set.

Mend - I have sewen up a pocket on a coat. Coat owner would not ware it "because it was ripped".
This cold weather we should be thankfull for all coats. Brr......

Just going to peg the washing out on the line for a few hours and do some housekeeping. Dance with Dyson and mop the kitchen floor.

Remember! to say something nice and pass on a smile today:0)

PS - OK! spell check says try again later...

Miami

Hello Just finished reading through this thread and currently feeling very motivated to pick up sewing again I used to sew when I was a child but gradually stopped doing it, I always meant to pick it up again though so 2015 shall be the year!! Currently got a pair of badly-ripped work trousers (they were a size too small and I didn't realise until I was leaving for work, I thought they would last an evening but clearly not ) that I was going to throw away but after reading this thread I'm thinking of making a draught excluder or two instead. I have some felt shaped in butterflies and flowers that I bought from Poundland which I can use to decorate the excluder...

The trouble is, I've just moved into my own place and can no longer raid my mum's needles and thread to use. Where would be a good place to buy quality needles and thread for a budget price? I tried buying some cheaply and they snapped as soon as I started to use them

Thank you in advance, all

taurusgb

sashanut wrote: »

Sorry to be such a pain but I can't see where it says whether my machine is a high- or low- shank machine........


Here is the link to it http://www.brothersewingshop.co.uk/sewing-machines/sewing-machines-only/brother-uj417-union-jack-jubilee-limited-edition-sewing-mach?search=BROTHER UJ417&description=true&sub_category=true

This might help

https://www.anniescatalog.com/pages/which_foot.html

tooties

Hi everyone,

Just living out the freezer and pantry for most of the time. Obviously had to have 3( i think) online shops but im sticking to the meal plan.

I am crocheting a blanket but its slow going as i only get an hour or so and my silly wrists and hands start playing up.

These seem nice recipes will give them a try, thank you

regards

jackyann

Tip on "darning". I was brought up to darn socks and thick tights, but some years ago I realised that darning cheap socks was a waste of time - another hole appeared very quickly, as it was the yarn perishing rather than a hole made through wear.

We now (and admittedly, our kids have long fled, so just 2 sensible adults!) buy decent socks (Falke are excellent) made of wool, cotton, or a mix (good socks still make a very good Xmas gift IMO!) and I do darn them and they last for ages.

I make aprons & bags from left over / re-used fabric. Some for my own use, some to donate to charities (they cost me next-to-nothing & make decent money for the charity)

silvasava

Hi All

Frugal day today - 2 chicken & mushroom pies made with YS pastry and Sunday's leftovers & some ham in the fridge that needed using. Frame simmering for stock.

I've ripped the curtains apart & 3 widths are in the washing machine with the other 3 widths ready when they've finished. I'm just wondering as I've noticed the curtains have faded a bit in stripes in some areas - not too badly,I think I could get away with it. I've dyed plenty of stuff in the past in my washing machine so I thought I might dye them as near as I can to the same colour - would it cover the 'stripes' or would I be left with just different colour stripes?? Any feedback much appreciated.