Make Do, Mend & Minimise in 2025 (and 2024)

Moorviews

Thank you, it’s great to see a new thread for this. I enjoy using handcraft and diy skills so will be doing as much as I can this year to make up for lost time in the last few years. I am busy continuing to go through all our stuff and definitely looking to reduce what we have and to bring less in. I am a mender by nature and find it very satisfying to fix something or breathe new life into it. When cooking I also prefer to improvise with whatever I have rather than go out shopping for specific ingredients. 

annieb64

We serviced my 1955 Singer with the aid of Youtube. 

flamingo747

Thanks @annieb64 I'll take a look

Florafauna

@flamingo747, where I am in the Midlands it's £40 for a service which is reasonable. I do small service tasks as I go eg cleaning.
Never thought to look at YouTube and do the service myself.

Have a fab local sewing shop where I live so am going to use them. 

Katiehound

I think a machine service round here is about £50.

oystercatcher

Hello,
I followed the old thread and occaisionally posted. I love mending things and crafting. I do have a weak spot for buying things too though so I need to concentrate on the make do and minimise a bit more this year . 
I have joined the decluttering thread too. 
So I am aiming to only buy things I really need, which could be really difficult. I am hoping to lose weight so can alter some of the many clothes I have. I rarely need to look smart these days !

Florenceem

I am in for this thread. Just need to find time to mend and craft.

YorksLass

suzeesu2000 said:

If you can, watch some YouTube videos on crochet. Watching is easier than reading and you can progress at your own pace

Thanks, I've tried that but still can't get it!     Maybe I'm just not meant to crochet!

My last sewing machine service cost £30 but that was a few years ago.  The service chap told me it was a good machine but I'd neglected it.  As suggested by Florafauna, regular cleaning, oiling etc is the way to go, as are new needles.

My first MMM today is our evening meal of sweet & sour chicken with noodles that I would normally buy a sachet of stir fry sauce for but instead I've made it myself using existing stocks of ingredients - really easy/quick and a fraction of the cost of ready made.  I'll not be buying sachets again.  

Katiehound

If you want to crochet it is usually the easiest if you can find someone to teach you- or at least someone who can sort out your problems!
When I first started I couldn't get the turning on a row correct- always longer or shorter rows!! (I had made 2 blankets from granny squares, but then you don't need to do straight rows!)

maybe you can ask on FB, Nextdoor, or maybe a local shop has lessons or a local knit & natter group? Worth having a look around. Crotchet grows so much quicker than knitting- and only one stitch to 'drop'.

flamingo747

YL can we have your sauce recipe please?