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I did it because I could

November 18th, 2008 at 07:25 pm

I have this very old shirt, blue button down, soft fake denim.

I also have a red flannel given to me by my brother.

The blue one has holes in the sleeves so the cuffs are nearly a separate item, plus holes by the pocket so I had to button the pocket flap to the collar to keep it sorta up, and a few other holes to boot.

The flannel had a huge rip up the back rendering it into two separate sleeves, not worth wearing.

So I took the two and started stitching the flannel to the blue one...why on earth I would rescue this shirt when I really can afford a new one (and/or new to me) is...well because I can.

Or rather because I wanted to know if I could.

Can't very well knock something until you try it right?

So far the shirt is half fixed, and yes I think I can do it. I only hand sew, machines bring out the worst in me, by hand is a bit soothing, so I had a relaxing evening fixing some fond memories...but I sure will get some funny looks if I ever wear it out of the house.

I wonder just how much I save over the years repairing things rather than buying new...I have patched pants, 3 pair for GMC this year alone, and pillows, and bedspreads. I don't have a clue how to do socks though, that certainly would have saved me money, GMC is terrible with holes in socks. Should I add up the cost of new pants or goodwill price? just how much is a pair of pants anyway? Most all of our kids items come as gifts or hand me downs, I really don't know the cost of dressing a kid.

Rather fortunate that way. I actually usually have more clothes for the kids than dresser space...the only trouble is all boys tend to wear holes in their pants Smile.

Posted in Complaint department | 6 Comments »

6 Responses to “I did it because I could”

  1. mom-from-missouri Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 07:30 pm 1227036604
    1227036604

    Socks are easy!! Get yourself a sock darner and a curved needle and go for it. If you don't have a sock darner, use an old lightbulb (slide it into the sock) and stitch. The curved needle makes it easier.

  2. princessperky Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 07:33 pm 1227036789
    1227036789

    but easier to do what?

    I really have no idea what one would do to a sock to repair a hole...you can't just stitch it shut you would lose some sock room, plus have an odd bulge in your shoe, and adding a patch would make for uncomfortable feet.

    Dumb question I am sure, but just what does 'darning' a sock mean? What do you use on (in?) the needle?

  3. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 08:59 pm 1227041968
    1227041968

    When you darn, you are creating a bit of new fabric. You put the sock on the darning egg to expose the hole, holding it relatively still and open. Then you use the thread to form a grid of fibers going first up and down, then side to side. You weave the needle through your vertical threads as you add the horizontal threads. Then, because a sock gets stresses in it in all directions, you add in all sorts of diagonal threads. You just keep adding in threads across the hole until the hole is all filled up with new thread. In my opinion neatness doesn't count. In the old days, you might have used thin wool threads to do this, as wool will have natural stretch and give. On the rare occasions that I have darned, I used not a darning egg or light bulb (good idea!) but a smooth rock like you see used in hot rock massages.

  4. nanamom Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 10:03 pm 1227045827
    1227045827

    Please don't use a light bulb! They shatter so well. People used to use eggs, hence the term darning egg. I wouldn't rec that either but maybe a fake egg from the kids kitchen stuff. Darning is like weaving, remember making potholders? Same idea.

  5. swimgirl Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 01:55 am 1227059709
    1227059709

    Plastic Easter eggs!

  6. princessperky Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 06:25 pm 1227119106
    1227119106

    Oh cool I can prolly do that. Thanks, I have plastic Easter eggs too Smile

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