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Nifty Thrifty:  Now this is past thrifty  |
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Cozynana
True Blue Farmgirl
1123 Posts
Kem
1123 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 12 2015 : 7:15:57 PM
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| I was talking to my mom yesterday and she was telling how my grandma use to take the buttons off of old clothing. BUT, then she said my grandma would start unraveling the thread used to sew the garment together. She would roll this on an empty spool and save it to sew with. She also turned collars had heard about that. But saving the used thread goes to a deeper level. Of course, the fabric of the garment was used also for quilts or rags. They used everything but the squeal. I feel so wasteful, even though this day and age people would call me frugal. |
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Ozark Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
130 Posts
130 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2015 : 8:59:12 PM
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Heavens! That does take it to the next level, doesn't it? I don't think I'll be unraveling my old clothes any time soon, but this does inspire me to look around and cut out some more waste.
Steph
Farmgirl #6511 |
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6663 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6663 Posts |
Posted - Aug 14 2015 : 06:07:58 AM
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I am always inspired and humbled when I read about how people used to recycle parts of almost everything. We hardly can comprehend such ingenuity these days when everything is so cheap and we are equally wasteful. I understand where you are coming from when you say it makes you feel wasteful because it makes me feel the same way. My mother was one of those very frugal and creative people who never let anything go to waste. I should have listened more carefully how she did things!
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 |
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churunga
True Blue Farmgirl
3957 Posts
Marie
Minneapolis
MN
USA
3957 Posts |
Posted - Aug 14 2015 : 10:05:22 AM
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When I was young, we didn't live in a place in which I could get yarn when I needed it. I would take old sweater apart to reserve the yarn and reuse it. To this day I save every piece of string, rope and yarn I can. I frequently check out the dumpsters in this fair city for useable cloth. When I take apart a "liberated" piece, cut the seam allowances off and use that on my crochet hook or in my knitting needles. I plan to make some folk inspired dolls out of it. I tell my students to look for different string-like material to use.
I have been watching videos on food waste in America lately and it is amazing. One guy found more than enough to feed his whole four person family for a year in meat alone thrown out by grocery stores. To tell the truth, I would probably do this if I was in better shape and I had a vehicle. The city is a great place for scavengers.
Marie, Sister #5142
Farmgirl of the Month May 2014
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
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Cozynana
True Blue Farmgirl
1123 Posts
Kem
1123 Posts |
Posted - Aug 15 2015 : 05:25:19 AM
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Marie, I could never get a sweater to unravel right. Is there a technique that works better than others. There are some beautiful colors out there and would love to try again.
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13666 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13666 Posts |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Aug 15 2015 : 11:23:13 AM
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Growing up we saved buttons and zippers. I still do cut off buttons, but not zippers! Saving thread now that was extreme.
Farming in WI
Michele |
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Cozynana
True Blue Farmgirl
1123 Posts
Kem
1123 Posts |
Posted - Aug 15 2015 : 7:29:26 PM
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| I agree, saving thread is extreme, but my grandparents gradually increased their savings doing things like saving thread. They amazed me. No poor by any means but lived well below their means. |
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Song Sparrow
True Blue Farmgirl
1010 Posts
Amy
Talleyville
Delaware
USA
1010 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2015 : 06:20:22 AM
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Both my parents were small children during the depression, and they really knew how to save and reuse everything. One thing you don't see anymore is sock darning. My dad was the sock darner in my house, but I don't know what happened to his darning egg. I'd love to have it now!
Happy Day!
Peace in our hearts, peace in the world
Amy (Sister#6098) www.danaherandcloud.com
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churunga
True Blue Farmgirl
3957 Posts
Marie
Minneapolis
MN
USA
3957 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2015 : 08:40:04 AM
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Kem, I'm sending you a private email to explain how to do it quickly.
Amy, I have two darning eggs. One is for the heel and one for the toe. I tried to post pictures but it wouldn't let me. I purchased mine from thrifts or antique stores. I believe that, in the case of the toe one, they didn't know what it was. I didn't tell them until after I gave them the money. The writing on it says "FOOT FORM PAT. NOV obscured 07". I'll have to polish it up and get a better look.
Marie, Sister #5142
Farmgirl of the Month May 2014
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7114 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7114 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2015 : 08:53:52 AM
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I grew up with darned socks. When I was little my mother did it and she was very good at it. By the time I was ten I had to darn my own socks and was not good at it. The darned socks rubbed blisters on my feet. In high school I worked after school and on Saturdays and with my own money I bought new socks and never darned them again.
I remember a woman that was quite wealthy who she saved pieces of bath soap and sewed them into washcloths to wash her face. She had grown up in the depression and never forgot the hard times.
Years ago I had a neighbor who had grown up in the depression too. She could afford to brew a fresh pot of coffee each morning but if there was coffee left from the day before she would drink that first. She didn't like leftover coffee but she drank it anyway. She would say "waste not - want not".
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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Song Sparrow
True Blue Farmgirl
1010 Posts
Amy
Talleyville
Delaware
USA
1010 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2015 : 2:21:05 PM
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Oooh Marie, I want to see the photos! I don't darn socks, but if I had an egg I'd probably try.
Happy Day!
Peace in our hearts, peace in the world
Amy (Sister#6098) www.danaherandcloud.com
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AuntJamelle
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Jaime
South Bend
Indiana
USA
569 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2015 : 11:17:54 AM
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Unraveling for the THREAD! That is dedicated! I've heard of unraveling for the yarn before, of course, but WOW! Isn't it crazy how everything is relative? What we consider doing pretty good on being frugal/non-wasteful would probably give our ancestors fits. And on the other hand, those same things we do are probably viewed as overkill by people that don't necessarily follow the waste not/want not philosophy in life.
We throw away so much as a matter of course. I try to walk the line between wasteful and hoarder :)
I have a terrible time throwing away any sort of clothing. Even if it is too bad for donating - I have to put it aside to cut up for cleaning rags. Or bits of it might be saved for my crafts.
Another thing I've always done is to save the extra buttons that come when you buy new shirts. Or sweaters with beading will often have a little package attached with extra beading/sequins - I always save those for crafting. I also clip the little ribbons that are usually inside the shirt - designed to help keep the garment on the hanger in the store. The ribbons are always pretty and they are the perfect size to use as the hanger for the ornaments I make for Christmas. Every little bit helps! |
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Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1498 Posts
Rae
MN
1498 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2016 : 7:22:40 PM
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My mother used to darn socks too! I was just thinking about it the other day. We really do waste a lot today and also are losing a lot of skills by not repairing and reusing. I do keep buttons myself and need to start reusing more fabrics, etc. So glad I found this post as a good reminder and source of information!
Rae
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31
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rachelbee
True Blue Farmgirl
207 Posts
Rachel
Carmel
IN
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2016 : 06:34:10 AM
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We didn't have a darning egg so my mom showed me to do it (gently and carefully) by sticking a lightbulb down in it.
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Rachel, #6992 |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7237 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7237 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2016 : 11:27:03 AM
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Wow that is definitely thrifty! I save buttons off of old clothes but I would never have thought to save the thread. It really does go to show how much we waste and take for granted. I'll be sure to see what else I can do to repurpose my old clothing.
Krista |
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queenmushroom
True Blue Farmgirl
985 Posts
Lorena
Centerville
Me
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2016 : 1:22:03 PM
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Even though there is nothing wrong with saving buttons, thread, and general repurposing, you need to remember that our grandparents and great grandparents just couldn't run to the store for every little need. Most women were home, tending to kids and household/farm work/kids. Men may have had some outside work like carpentry skills, butchering etc. but in those days, especially during the depression, money was tight if you had money to begin with. They were instinctively taught to save every scrap right down to the squeal. The store run may have been once a month IF it was a good month, but more likely than not twice a year. in this day and age, with the quality of clothing (especially socks and under clothes) it's simply not worth the darning as the material that are used in this day and age are flimsy. I turn my son's jeans, that he wore to school, into shorts. I wear my clothes until there's hardly anything left to wear, including my bras.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2016 : 9:31:50 PM
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Speaking of being frugal ... my mother as a little girl growing up in war torn Germany to this day is frugal ....and she is not poor by any means..
and yet when it comes to (scotch) tape... she is very miserly
With it! Using the utmost maniscual piece ot tape... according to her... to have such a luxury such as tape was unheard off.
Bartering was a way of life.. butter for flour, etc... and periodicly farmers would shovel potatoes from their wagons onto the streets in the towns and villages for the women to go and scoop up into their aprons to feed their families. To this day, potatoes are a main stay in mom's and my kitchen.
Yes times were harder and families were frugal ... It's all about making the best out of a situation... or a "silk purse out of a sows ear"...
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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Edited by - katmom on Jul 09 2016 9:34:44 PM |
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Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1498 Posts
Rae
MN
1498 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2016 : 03:13:11 AM
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And don't you all think a whole lot less waste? We are working on that food wise and things wise. Fixing and reusing what we can, eating left overs first, etc. we have never wasted much but just being even more aware of things.
When storms wake you at 4:30 time to think #129300;#128522;
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31
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ceridwen
True Blue Farmgirl
899 Posts
Carole
New York
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2016 : 08:12:11 AM
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My maternal grandfather saved strings. It was used for everything back then. Packaging was not like it is today. They lived in the city, went to the butcher who would wrap the meat in freezer paper and tie it off with string. When we cleaned out their home, there were so many balls of strings! During the depression, women used strings to crochet doilies! And of course, feed sack was a big thing.
I find that there is so much waste today. My mother has a wonderful collection of drinking glasses all from jam, mustard and/or peanut butter. I wonder why they don't package that way anymore?
Carole
Farmgirl Sister 3610 - Nov 7/2011
http://www.carolesquiltingetc.com
http://www.fibrejunction.com |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2016 : 09:39:16 AM
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My grandmother saved rubber bands - any off of newspapers, produce...she grew up in the depression as well. But saving thread? Oh my that makes my head spin. Can you imagine how TEDIOUS that would be? Of course, I can imagine doing that if needed. Aren't we all blessed?
Thanks for sharing, love this post.
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
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Nifty Thrifty: Now this is past thrifty |
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Now this is past thrifty
