Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Mrs_Cheshire

Hi all, have loved reading through the thread and seeing all the great ideas.
Love the apron you made OP.
I'm trying to live as frugally as possible this year so will join you all and see if I can save any more!

cheerfulness4

GreyQueen wrote: »

Hi cheerfulness,
If knitted sleeves have gone baggy, thread shirring elastic onto a large-eyed needle and run it around the cuff, through the knitwear. Each circle will need to be knotted off separately and a fresh one started a little up from the previous one (about a centimeter). Depending on the cuff 3 or 4 circles of shirring elastic should hold it.

If you're a skilled knitter, you can also pull out worn cuffs and re-knit them with fresh yarn; I've known Mum to do it but then she has had over 60 years' practise. HTH.

You know I thought there was something to do with shirring elastic but I didn't know if you knitted it in with the wool. Now it makes perfect sense. I'll add it to my shopping list or better still ask mum to search her drawers.

Broomstick wrote: »

I was taught to turn sock heels by a male friend when I was living in Scotland.
B x

'Turn sock heels?' What's that Broomstick?

Thistle-down wrote: »

I have read all the Tightwad Gazette books and own the Complete Tightwad (3 books in one) I was actually on the $1 mailing list too, back in the day. Some of the info is outdated or doesn't apply to the UK but there is plenty that does and just reading it gets you fired up to be frugal.

I was wondering if it was very Americanised. So you think it would still be worth buying today, Thistle?


Elaine, how lovely your life sounds. Especially I like the idea of duck eggs! I love those.

Thank you Merrylegs and Mrscheshire for the apron complements. Can't wait to make another now I've got the hang. :j

I'm fascinated with this idea of reknitting my cuffs now. So in principle I could reknit the ribbing round the waist too.
I love knitting.

I knit a poncho in huge cable a few years ago, before they were in fashion. The knitting needles were like coffee table legs. So quick to knit and amazing look. I'll pop a pic on tomorrow. I'd love to make one in a deep red. I got my wool from Kemps wools in their sales about 3 years ago.

Thistle-down

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

I was wondering if it was very Americanised. So you think it would still be worth buying today, Thistle?

It is very Americanised. If you could find it cheaply then I think it would be worth it.

GreyQueen

You can also knit the shirring elastic in with the cuff as you go, if you expect not to be able to make a good cuff. But it's all extra money to buy the stuff.

It drives Mum nuts watching me knit as I'm one of those knitters who takes her right hand off the pin with every stitch but I still maintain a good tension. She doesn't get how that's possible and I don't get how to do it by sliding my hand up the pin as I knock all the stitches off the end.

The trick for me is whenever I start a fresh row, I give the yarn a tug to keep the edges neat. I mostly only do very basic knitting (stocking stitch and garter stitch) as I get ratty when following patterns. Can execute a simple sweater, hat. mitttens, hot water bottle cover, blanket.

ginnyknit

I have decided to make my own clothes again as I cannot seem to buy what I want for a reasonable price. First job is to unpick my favourite jacket and use it as a pattern for a new one, preferably in a better colour - it was pale green now its faded green I have fabric so no excuse.

I already make as much as possible but theres always room for improvement and I have the time. I retired to care for hubby so have endless hours to fill :j

the Pennypinchers book by John and Irma Mustoe is a good read - friends of mine and I used to write articles for a lovely magazine they used to publish - ahh the halycon days of being a published writer paid with free copy of the mag, heady heights :rotfl:

Broomstick

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

'Turn sock heels?' What's that Broomstick?

It's the sneaky clever transition where you go from knitting a downwards tube for your leg and ankle to adding an extra bit at the heel so that the sock turns at an angle for the foot to point in a forwards direction. I'm not sure that makes it any clearer!:eek:

B x

Ches

tru wrote: »

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]cheerfulness4 Love the apron! 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].[/FONT]

I have a top that did this so I ran some elastic through the bottom hem to turn it into a blouson style.

Belated hello.

Catcherupper14

GreyQueen wrote: »

It drives Mum nuts watching me knit as I'm one of those knitters who takes her right hand off the pin with every stitch but I still maintain a good tension. She doesn't get how that's possible and I don't get how to do it by sliding my hand up the pin as I knock all the stitches off the end.

The trick for me is whenever I start a fresh row, I give the yarn a tug to keep the edges neat..

I do this too. I learned to knit your mum's way, then when I came back to knitting after a break I started knitting the "right hand off" way. No idea why, but the end result is fine with even tension.

fairy3

Hi there another one loving the apron - as someone who has some rusty skills will be decluttering various stashes in 2015 and sorting out exactly what projects are doable rather than aspirational! Currently trying to source a sewing machine service as mine is not working (foot thingy refuses to go up and down). Can knit, sew and do a bit of embroidery and am in the process of framing a beautiful piece my mother did many years ago which has been waiting til I got a 'round tuit' so that will be number one.
will be following with interest x

cheerfulness4

Hi Fairy, I wonder if there are any answers to the stuck foot on the net. I'll try and have a look round for you later. I know I get more time than most.


I'm a right hand off knitter, too. Mum does that lovely, elegant, 'Miss Marple' way of knitting but I can't work that out. I just pull and tighten the wool too and it works out ok.


Talking of knitting, here's my favourite piece I've ever made myself.




I'm learning the old saying 'a stitch in time saves nine' is most definitely true when it comes to saving your knickers. One pair only had a few parts still attached to the waist. (the shame of it. Don't hang those ones out. )
Anyway, after toying with the idea of throwing them, rationalising that I could easy buy a cheap pack from George, I did the right thing and worked through the frustration.
I've got a third left elastic to secure on this pair and one last pair left to do when I find my blue cotton but there's only a 2" piece needs resecuring. Phew. That was a job and a half but no money spent and nothing in landfill.

At least it gave me time, while I was basking in the sunshine flooding the room, to let my thoughts turn to my garden this year. I spend silly amounts at the garden centre and I'm even ashamed to say that some plants don't make it into the ground before the sun bakes them dry.
I love a garden full of flowers and veg but I don't want to spend anything.
I've amassed a very large seed collection so its time to use them all up. I've recently bought a load more from Parks Promotions at silly prices (starting from 5p a pack!)
I've loads of Sweet Peas @ 25p a pk. My garden will smell a dream. This years ones I grew only just finished with this cold spell and were stunning.

I had a quick flick through and they need planting up along with some chilli, peppers and tomatoes next month. My best years for Toms' was when I started them all at the end of Jan rather than late Feb/Apr. I do tend to make my own rules with sowings but they seem to come good mostly. (few failures but hush about those. ) First time I'll have done Sweet Peas this early but I'll do some next month and some in my usual March. Lets experiment!

So my reward for getting these undies finished is a large hot chocolate and a delve into the seed box. Its the size of a cat carrier. :eek:

Love that there's so many others joining in. So need the company to stay on track. Tomorrow begins my £3 a day budget for groceries. I'm really excited after Octs trial but a whole year of it? Ohhh. :eek: