2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

£170 an hour!! Good grief.

Nelliegrace

That was more than a month’s gross pay when I started Nursing! For an hour!

PipneyJane

Nelliegrace said:

Does’t it seem daft to have to buy another product to remove the gunk which builds up clothes from modern detergent and fabric conditioner?
I loathe the chemical smell of fabric conditioner, and the way it rots elastic. 

I remember seeing Ruth Goodman grating a bit of carbolic soap into a hand-cranked washing machine in The Wartime Farm. 

The helpful person at Miele talked me through getting my washing machine to work again. It didn’t like having a programme interrupted when I thought it had finished. It didn’t work the first time, but I left it unplugged overnight and tried it again in the morning, running the drain/spin cycle with the machine empty. Then the short programme worked. We cancelled the repair man, £170 an hour or £285 including parts, (the shock gave me angina, so I hadn’t been able to pay immediately, they allow 24hrs!) And yesterday the adjust temperature worked. My last Miele was simpler and lasted well over 25 years. 

Oh @Nelliegrace!  I hope you feel better.

If you’re anywhere near West London, I have an excellent Washing machine repairman, that I can recommend.

- Pip

Nonnadiluca

I haven't been on this thread for ages due to various life events that I won't bore you with, but have now spent a bit of time catching up.

 Firstly, Pip, I'm sorry that you've been so unwell and delighted to hear that you're okay now.

When I delivered DD's weekly shopping today she was upset that her Ugg boots had a tear about 5cm long, vertically, next to the back seam and she asked me if I could sew it up for her, (she can't sew a button on or a name tape in school uniform!)
I'm worried that making needle holes in the suede close to the edge might result in a tear that would make the situation worse. I'm not sure what I should do so thought I'd ask the hive wisdom, (that's you lot!) if you have any experience in this kind of thing and can offer any advice. Thank you 

Cherryfudge

Welcome back, @Nonnadiluca! This is an actual tear rather than a cut? So the suede is already weakened? Can you put a backing patch on it, stitch in place but large enough to take all the strain off the weak area? I think you might need to make the repair then add the patch. It's not something I've ever done but I understand sashiko works on this principle.

I had a local shoe mender fix a split in the front of leather boots once - not an invisible mend but strong and neat. Is there someone who does similar near you?

I hope someone more experienced can chip in!

Nonnadiluca

Thanks @Cherryfudge, I hadn't thought of a backing patch, I'll give it a coat of thinking and have a rummage to see if I have anything I could use 

thriftwizard

@Nonnadiluca, I don't know whether this applies to suede or not, but there's a special kind of needle for stitching leather; the point is diamond-shaped, which apparently makes it less likely to cause tears. Suede is so much softer though...

Nonnadiluca

Thanks @thriftwizard, I've a feeling I may have one if those somewhere, the rummaging continues....

Cherryfudge

Is this any help @Nonnadiluca? I see you can also buy suede patches to help with repairs.

Nonnadiluca

That's brilliant Cherry, thanks so much . I shall get onto it at the weekend. DD loves her boots: I got them in a charity shop for £20 but there's not much chance I'll be that lucky again and no way can she afford a new pair so I'm on a mission. Thanks everyone for your help