2021 Frugal Living Challenge

-taff

Deleted_User said:

@Marghirl those socks are absotutely brilliant. I have been browsing online for knitted wool socks but they seem so pricey on Etsy and the like. If you ever make to sell, please PM me as I would love to purchase some xx

I hate to tell you this but they're pricey because of the time and skill it takes to make them. It's not likely you'll find them cheaper unless someone is willing to give you their time for cheaper. You might not have intended your post to sound like that and my apologies if it seems I jumped on your comment. I used to make things for people when they asked but  the people who used to ask, quite a lot of them wanted to pay much less than the going rate because they didn't value my skill and thought I could just knock off a painting for fifteen quid [ not joking, that's how much someone wanted to pay for an A3 painting of their boat ]. Crafters love crafting, but carfters also like a to be paid commensurately...

Siebrie

I'm always in awe of people who can knit! I can only knit concrete patches....

Last week I cooked up a cupful of soya chunks with a cheap stock tablet. I used about a third, frying it with the ground beef to make the beef go further. Covered in gravy, my family never noticed. The other two thirds are in the freezer for later use.

Our washing machine stopped pumping out the water last Saturday; I looked online for a solution and got it working for another 2 loads, and then it stopped again. I got it working for another 3 loads (it was nice weather and I wanted to clear the pile!) and then it stopped again! It probably needs a new pump, which the website tells us, we should be able to do by ourselves. Husband has promised to do it together with me this Saturday. Luckily, all important items have been washed (gym and brownies uniforms).

Marghirl

I usually get about 9 portions of bolgnese sauce out of 550g mince by adding green lentils and chopped veg to it. Makes it go a bit further. You can’t tell there are lentils in it

willow_loulou

I used cotton yarn to make them before - I don’t remember what sort I was given the yarn and it was just a ball without a label. The tutorials will say though. 

My !!!!!! Willie cuttings have arrived, they’re in water. I will have a decent hedgerow eventually! Prolific paid for them, it really is so useful. 

YorksLass

Marghirl said:

I have some mercerised cotton, would this be ok to knit up for washcloths?

I have a big gap under my living room door so I wedged an old pillow under the door to act as a draughty excluder. It only me in the house so it doesn’t matter what it looks like. I did put a pillow case on it so I can take that off and wash it

Yes, it would be fine - just give them a wash first before using to get rid of any "fluff".  I've made some in different colours from my yarn stash for stocking fillers for you-know-when  to go with some nice soaps.

I've also knitted dishcloths from any kind of (white) cotton yarn - not necessarily cheaper than shop-bought ones but last much longer and you can customise the size to your preference, plus they bleach well.  Not difficult to do, even when watching TV.

     

skogar

Need to get on with some Christmas knitting and crafting - have just ordered a pattern for something that will be ideal for my Mum I think - but it is going to take me quite some time so I'm thinking that some small knits like washcloths and silly things like little christmas egg cosies and things may be the way to go. If anyone has some ideas for immensely quick knits (I am extrodinarily slow - keep getting distracted) it would be a great help.

Marghirl - really need to get my first pair finished. Still messing about with the heel on the first one - it's almost right but not quite - still a couple of holes where I don't want them - it's better but not good enough. Once I crack the technique it should be OK but some way to go yet.

skogar

Mrs Cheshire - Would buying some time switches work better for the nightlights. Then you could use the existing ones and they would turn on and off at set times. The advantage being that when you don't need them for the nightlights they can be used for other things. We have some a bit similar to these.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/masterplug-tms24-mechanical-plug-in-plug-through-timer/25518

skogar

Asparklyblond - You mentioned a kelly kettle but also mentioned that you have a stove. My parents used to boil kettles on top of their multifuel stove so that might be an option if you have a suitable kettle - would be cheaper than a kelly kettle - but perhaps you were thinking of using the kelly ketttle when you didn't have the stove on. Apologies as I've probably stated the obvious and you've already considered it but thought I'd mention in case it's useful.

Marghirl

skogar said:

Need to get on with some Christmas knitting and crafting - have just ordered a pattern for something that will be ideal for my Mum I think - but it is going to take me quite some time so I'm thinking that some small knits like washcloths and silly things like little christmas egg cosies and things may be the way to go. If anyone has some ideas for immensely quick knits (I am extrodinarily slow - keep getting distracted) it would be a great help.

Marghirl - really need to get my first pair finished. Still messing about with the heel on the first one - it's almost right but not quite - still a couple of holes where I don't want them - it's better but not good enough. Once I crack the technique it should be OK but some way to go yet.

I just darn the holes at the heels! I am getting better at picking up the stitches. I tend to go in a row and not pick up the stitch right at the edge when working the heel if that makes any sense!

Marghirl

What about knitted slippers. Just search ‘cloud slippers pattern’ on internet. They only take about an hour to make a pair