What would Grandma do? Make do and mend
I must confess that I’m not entirely skilled when it comes to making do and mending. Sure, I can bumble my way through sewing on a two-holed button, but I’d sooner take a dropped hem to the dry cleaners for mending than do battle with a needle and thread. There’s also the time factor – why spend so much time when someone more skilled can do a better job than me for around five quid?
But over 12 months, those “five quid” visits can easily add up to £30 – money that could be saved or put to better use. And it’s so ridiculously easy to do your own mending, especially when there are so many fabulous free video tutorials online. Here are my top picks:
How to hem your own pants:
How to sew a button on:
How to darn a sock:
And if you really want a piece of what Granny actually used, invest in a copy of Make Do and Mend, which was first published in 1943 by the wartime government. Learn old-fashioned remedies for washing silks, mending clothes and repelling the “moth menace”. £4.99 from the Imperial War Museum Shop.
[insert smaller image of the book into post - can't do this right now]
Total spent: Nil – I’ve already got my own sewing materials.
Total saved: £30/ year
Posted in Fashion
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