Preparing for Winter

aimless_2

Have bought a couple of bags of rice, found some old cotton T shirts but haven`t a clue what size to make the rice bags or how much rice to put into them......help!!

aimless

[Deleted User]

Horrible weather today and it feels cold and damp, very like autumn. I have dropped the tieback from the thick front door curtain. It`s a double layer of thick tapestry and its hanging from a portiere that I had to find on the internet. It works really well because it moves with the door and I just put a tieback screw on the door for the summer. The door is wooden and not efficient so the curtain is essential

I also made a new draught excluder roll and it took all of 5 minutes with no sewing. I had 2 spare picnic blankets in the airing cupboard, freebies when I joined the NT. Wool or acrylic with a smooth polyester or nylon quilted backing in dark green. I cut off the sticking out flaps and rolled them both together smooth nylon side out and tied with several pieces of string. It`s excellent as I can unwrap to wash and it is bendy enough to curve in and out of the door recess. TV is on for the olympics and you should feel the warmth coming out of it, in spite of it being a 32" lcd screen. That warmth is staying in this house!!!

trying-very-trying

aimless wrote: »

Have bought a couple of bags of rice, found some old cotton T shirts but haven`t a clue what size to make the rice bags or how much rice to put into them......help!! aimless

It depends on how you want to use them. The ones that you buy are usually about 14" or so long, and maybe about 5" wide. You fill them about 1/2 to 2/3 full of rice or wheat. Having said that, if you just want to make like a hot water bottle type thingy, then just make it to your required size and fill as before.
I did have a proper pattern for making these because I used to make them up for the Brownies to sell at their coffee mornings, but for your own use just choose your own sizes.

Edit; forgot to say that I used to buy a whole bag of wheat from a farmers supply shop for about a fiver. Now that price may have gone up during these recent price hikes, and you do get a very big bag, so you might want to ask a few people to share the bag and split the cost.
If you use some pretty fabric and add a few drops of lavender oil or your fav ess oil these do make an excellent gift, especially for the elderly.

pigpen

I have oodles of wool so have decided I shall spend a bit of time knitting some fabulous warm snuggly socks.. the children love thick fluffy socks so it will be appreciated.. and save money too keeping them warm.

Weekend 1..

Measure up for carpet for the hall and landings
Measure up for carpet for the middle room (don't need it yet but may as well do both while the tape is out)
Measure up windows for double glazed units for the back room
Find the undercoat and gloss for the middle room.
Find the undercoat and gloss and emulsion for the landing.

I want to see progress this weekend!

Larumbelle

Whew I've finally read through to the end of this thread! It took me a few days... I now have alist of thirty things to do or check :eek:

Regarding lining curtains, some people here have mentioned using cheap duvets?! Has anyone done this? How did they attach them? How did the curtains look? I imagine they look funny. But most importantly, did they make a difference?!

BTW I can second that using a washing-up bowl really does save on money. My bowl needs about 1/5 of the water than the sink itself would; so I save on washing-up liquid as well as gas to heat the water!

zarazara

how would you draw the curtains with cheap duvets attached?

Scarlett.1974

What a great thread, have just read it all from start to finish

Well, this winter's going to be a LOT different to last year when I was happily in credit with the gas & electricity and the heating was on almost all day every day with wild abandon :rolleyes:

Fast forward to this year - am in arrears with both (due to stupid suppliers not sending bills for ages after we moved house, despite me calling almost weekly) and am worried about them getting bigger this winter

Luckily we live in a new build house which I assume is pretty energy efficient - double glazing, loft insulation etc...

We've made a pact not to put the heating on until the 1st Nov. at the earliest <brrrrrrr>, so in preparation I have:

1. Bought the children lovely new fleecy dressing gowns from m&s - not the chepest but I thought it was worth paying a bit more for them
2. Bought them new slippers too.
3. Starting to stockpile a cupbard of extras so hopefully can throw any extra money at the bills.

Need to:

1. Buy fleecy pjs for the children from primark (figured I could get away with cheaper pjs because of having the 'good' dressing gowns)
2. Buy another couple of fleecy blankets for use on the sofa/computer. Already have a couple (which I need to dig out soon and wash) and the children already have a couple each to go over their beds.

<sigh> bit depressing talking about this in August :rolleyes: but needs must eh?

[Deleted User]

I can vouch for the washing up bowl method too but don`t forget the mat for underneath as it will scratch stainless steel sinks

We have just been for a cuppa with a neighbour and she has the ch on. Not high I suppose but dh and I were boiling. Lol we must be getting acclimatised to being cool :rotfl:

Its nearly dark. Oh heavens it feels as though it is going to be a long winter

sammy_kaye18

Its dark (not night) but dark here in south wales at the minute and it is going to be a hell ova long winter

Its done nothign but rain here all day and although ive had the water on briefly for a bath for littlie, nothing else has been on - he seems quite well aclimatise to the cold - hes been runnign round half naked all day! :eek: and im just in a top and trousers. Its nice so im hoping that the heating wont need to be on till november 1st.

Im hoping that once school starts the rain will hold off a bit because i can see me having to put CH on on the way out to pick up little one so that when he gets in he will be warm when i have to strip him off as i dont think our rain is goign to let up now

queenb1981

I am in south Wales and the rain hasnt stopped at all today. Capped my energy prices so far and thats it for mo. I need to get cracking with those dark early nights starting.