KonMari 2017 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

GreyQueen

Welcome in, lottie!

Loving the ironing talk. I do iron a few things, mainly blouses made from cotton and linen. I like the fibres a lot, they are joyous to me and I don't mind caring for them. Bedsheets, tea towels, towels etc are left to their own devices, however.

I do sew from time to time and pressing as you go is critically important to achieving a good result, so I'd keep an iron for that, if for nothing else.

My Tefal Ultraglide was a present in about 1987. There may well be people on this forum who weren't even a twinkle in someone's eye back then.:rotfl:

Went to the lottie for an hour after w*rk to identify which of the fenceposts are going to be replaced with ones from the shed. Have tied scraps of rag alongside the offending parties to speed things up on Sunday.

I also had to harvest my pumpkins (5) and butternut squash (9) because something, prolly rats, had chewed up every single marrow/ courgette in the same bed since Sunday and I was fearful the others would be next.

Hey-ho, it has at least freed me from the chore of chowing through even more marrows, lol.

Oh, and I just noticed that the socks I'm wearing have started to go thin over the back of the heels. These are one of a few pairs which have been on heavy rotation and I'm astonished at how long it has taken to get them to this stage. Once they're gone, they'll be laundered and in the rag bag. Can't wait.

Hope everyone is having a great week. GQ x

Slinky

Are butternut squash easy to grow GQ? I had a seed sprout in the trap in the kitchen sink but it disappeared when I planted it out. I wouldn't mind growing them, I love love love BS soup. Happy to eat it several days on the trot when I make a big pan.

GreyQueen

All the squash family are easy to grow, as long as they have space to sprawl, fertile soil and plenty of water. They like the sun, too. I was given the plants when they were a few inches tall, just dug a little hole in the ground and shoved 'em in. They were watered when it was very dry but otherwise left entirely to their own devices.

The thing to be wary of when planting seeds from veggies you bought as groceries is that many plants grown commercially are F1 hybrids. F1 means that the seed was hybridised from two different parents and the seed it produces in turn isn't going to replicate the plant it came from.

It could resemble one parental strain, or the other, or neither and still be something completely different from what you saw originally.

I've already bought my butternut squash seed for 2018; Butterly F1, was £1.50 from Wilko but I got it on a 50% off deal a few weeks ago.

It would be better to buy some seeds rather than save what are probably F1 hybrids as you might end up with something unpalatable after several months on the garden. HTH.

Charis

GreyQueen wrote: »

I do sew from time to time and pressing as you go is critically important to achieving a good result, so I'd keep an iron for that, if for nothing else.

I second that, particularly crucial if you have to inset sleeves or use darts in the garment. For the majority of women, a dress that had neither would probably resemble a modified oversized pillow case.

Also, thanks for the info about not reusing seeds from bought veggies, GQ. Something I hadn't thought about. I did try once but the butternut squashes resembled peanuts (in their shells). That may have been why. :rotfl:

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firebubble

Thanks for all the ironing comments...my board is going, that's decided!

When I bought it I had to wear shirts for work, so every Sunday night was spent ironing them, but I don't do that any more, and I've gradually steered my wardrobe in the no-ironing direction.

I also specifically bought 100% cotton bedding, duvet, even mattress so that none of it would melt if I ironed on it!

Keeping the iron, but the board is off to the charity shop!

Pooky

A tip for those who need to iron the odd thing and don't want a board is a couple of layers of towels on a table or worksurface to iron on...as thick as you can so you don't transfer the heat through to the surface of the wood/worksurface (which are mostly laminate and will bubble up with heat)

My nan used to have one of those 70's orange pine tables with bench seats in her kitchen and always sat at it to iron with her layers of towels underneath. That table top then got sanded down to rid it of the orange pine and was made into a decorative hearth in my first house ��

PollyWollyDoodle

I can't cope with towels, I find I need a firmer surface to iron on, especially if pressing seams etc for sewing. My ironing board has a matching sleeve board and I sometimes use that for small items, or you can buy mini ironing boards for patchwork etc, although they're disproportionately expensive! I remember seeing a kitchen once where the ironing board slid out from under the worktop, I'd love that.

Mine lives on a hanger thingy behind the kitchen door, which is never closed. I rarely iron clothes but I'll be keeping the board, I also use it for wrapping presents as it's easier on the back.

GreyQueen

I use mine for present wrapping, too! Thought I was unique in this habit. I'm very tall and tables are too low for me.

I'm also wary of ironing on carpets; a previous rented home had a melted spot on the bedroom carpet the exact shape of an iron - predated my tenancy but I still lived with the ugly thing for years.

I've seen those small ironing boards (bigger than sleeve boards) in chazzers before now and been tempted but I have a full-sized ironing board, it sits neatly in the broom cupboard alongside the Henry vac and I wouldn't gain any usable space by getting rid of it, so she stays for now.

Righty, off to earn my daily salad (don't eat bread ), hope you all have a great day. GQ x

[Deleted User]

welcome Lottie :T

I use my board for present wrapping too, I couldn`t do without my board for sewing, using a ham, sleeve board, clapper and for ironing interfacing neatly. It makes it all much more accurate, also for making bias binding while standing at a comfortable height

I am still in KM mode but only on an as I see it basis, I am not turning any more drawers and cupboards out. I may well get rid of a couple of bannetons, I don`t need four but they will have to be thrown out as they are not new and maybe an oblong baking cloche for bread, I have 2 oblong and one round. I cannot see me making that many batons these days. That will go to the cs. Lol, I am bread making today hence the bread making stuff, that is the way it will be in future

greenbee

I need to remember to get rid of my currently-in-use PJs when they have been washed. They are old and comfy, but the elastic has gone and they don't stay up...