The heart of being frugal is using things that you already have to make do. Make do and mend is an old saying that goes back at least until World War II and maybe even further back.According to the Oxford Dictionary: "Make do and mend means: Manage with and repair the possessions one already has rather than buying replacements: the austerity of the war years taught her to make do and mend".
Make Do and Mend was a pamphlet issued during World War II by the British Ministry of Information. It included tips on mending, re-purposing and reusing old clothing. It was a time of extreme rationing and shortages.
Nowadays, I find that I, as well as many others, have little money to spend for clothing. My primary way of clothing my family is through purchases at thrift shops and yard sales. Clothing is often found for a tiny fraction of the original purchase price, and it's usually in very good condition. My daughters even buy things with the idea of altering them.
Altering an item or remaking it is a thrifty option. Mending what you already have by sewing on a button or sewing up a hem or seam can give weeks, months, or even years to a ready to discard item. Patching is another option to extend the life of a pair of jeans.
Personally, I've let my mending basket overflow again. I've got to get busy and do some mending and sewing. I'm going to keep track for the month of January. Care to join me? I'll bet you've got some sewing to do also.
A stitch in time saves nine!
Blessings,
Laura
Happy to Be Home Again
No Rules Weekend Blog Party
Yes I will be doing some sewing this afternoon and all year. I need to hem some athletic pants for my dad, sew up some burp cloths with thrift store receiving blankets and I want to cut up some thrifter vintage-y tablecloths that don't fit my table and make them into napkins.
ReplyDeleteHappy sewing to both of us :)
oh I have some pants that I have to hem just staring at me. Your so wait just get busy and sew.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day
More of us really should be getting back to this mindset. While going through stuff in my home this past week I found so much "stuff" why in the world do we keep purchasing things!?
ReplyDeleteMending is on my list. I agree it a great way to save money.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have having a fabulous New Year!
I had allowed my mending bag to overflow and during the month of December I changed that! Sewed on some buttons, did a patch job and now we are good to go again! Enjoyed this post!
ReplyDeleteYes, Wendi.
ReplyDeleteI've got to get my mending pile organized into hand and machine sewing. I hope to do that this week. I'm thinking about listing everything I get mended at the end of the month on the blog for incentive. It's like getting credit for my work! ~smile~
I'm always surprised how quickly some of the little jobs go if I just do them, Dianna! I'll be over for a visit soon.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Vickie. I'll visit soon.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Laura
I know, Joyful. I like to go to yard sales, but more and more, I just stay in the car and let my kids hunt. I need to avoid temptations!
ReplyDeleteI'll visit soon.
Laura
When you said you'd be sewing this afternoon, Rhonda, and all year, it gave me a thought. I would like to plan a regular time to sew if not daily, then weekly. It's one of the things I like best in the world. I rarely do it. I always think I have so many other things to do.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Laura
I find the older I get, the more things I choose to mend. I too buy clothes in thrift shops. Once you do that and find nice things it's hard to go back to buying things full price! I mend socks a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Shirley. I had a terrible time buying Christmas gifts. Fortunately, my family doesn't mind second hand. The few things I bought new about sent me for a loop with their prices!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try to lose weight this year so that I can find clothes for me second hand more easily.
This reminds me of that old saying - part of which I've forgotten.
ReplyDeleteWash on Monday
Iron on Tuesday
Mend on Wednesday
Market on Thursday
? on Friday (Clean, maybe?)
Bake on Saturday
Rest on Sunday
Great Idea... I happened to add a few things to my basket today.. Blessings.. xo
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week, Faye! I'll visit soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, Laura, and such a good reminder! My son got a new jacket three months ago and just the other day we found a large tear in the arm. My first thought was that I should find another jacket for him, but then I realized there is nothing else wrong with his coat and what a waste of money to buy another one! So I shall mend it just like you encouraged :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, sweet lady! Hugs!
I love the idea of this little booklet. I do agree with it! We can have so much more in the rest of our lives if we take the time to follow its creed.
ReplyDeleteI just finished some altering for my husband. When we buy things at a thrifty resource we generally have to change a hem or mend a small seam problem But it is so worth it.
My sewing machine is getting ready for a workout because I have some quilt projects started that I NEED to finish!
I enjoyed my visit.
Just 2 more pairs of jeans to mend in my stack (which had gotten out of control!!!)... I can't wait to finish and it feels so good to put a piece of clothing back in the closet that otherwise would be tossed in the rage bin. Great reminders here!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays! :)
You're amazing, how did you know I had heaps of mending to do?? I will keep tract with you this January. I want to finish my mending and make some clothes for the children. I let you know how I am going with it all. Keep me updated on your journey with it too. Thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays, always a blessing.
ReplyDeleteI do make do and mend with alot of things, but must admit that I don't darn socks. lol! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
So glad I learned to sew this year so I can finally make, do and mend myself. These really are great skills to have. Found you on Mom's Morning Coffee link up! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteIt takes time that I don't always want to take. ~smile~
It helps a lot, though.