Much of what I am doing right now is either "not exciting" or involves activities that don't need to be advertised.
Not Exciting
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| The sides of my light work-coat were splitting out at the pockets. |
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| I stitched them up today in an effort to get a few more months out of the coat. This and the previous picture are of the left side. |
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| The right side was more involved and had been previously repaired. |
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| More right side. |
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| More more side. |
Double-thread, #69, waxed, black polyester thread.
Not pretty enough to wear to the prom but plenty good enough for cutting wood with only the Blue Jays and squirrels for company.
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| The bottoms of the arms are the most tattered. I don't know if this damage is worth repairing. It is unsightly but doesn't impact the function of the coat. |
The ability to milk a little more life out of old equipment is a valuable skill-set. Like all skills, it is perishable. I need to keep using them so I can be sure those skills will deliver when I really need them.
A century ago this would be the norm. Now it's the exception as we have become a disposable society. And we are about to be disposed of.
ReplyDeleteTotally unable to resist a very bad sewing pun to somebody who works in the ER:
Delete"Suture self!"
The problem with worn cuffs is that they can hang on stuff. Maybe an iron on patch to make the cuff more streamlined?
ReplyDeleteI highly recomend TEAR MENDER, it's magic stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhen my sleeves on work jacket became tattered like that, I would cut them to 'baseball jersey' sleeve length (mid forearm), hem them and go from there. My work gloves (Mule brand) were gauntlet style anyway and would protect my wrists.
ReplyDeleteIron on jeans patches with some extra sewing is a pretty handy way to fit excess wear as well as adding wear patches you can replace to areas you KNOW you wear out first. Knees and elbow for myself.
ReplyDeleteCan be done with stout material from otherwise worn-out clothing and contact cement. If you have a Thrift Store around bring a box of Dunkin Donuts holes and be friendly. Ask what they do with ragged clothing and old blankets they don't sell.
Old Blankets are awesome for protecting the last tomatoes and squashes from a threatening frost. Just cover before sunset and uncover after frost is past. A light tree branch hoop helps with tomatoes.
I've gotten boxes of such for a little kindness. I've not gotten such success with Goodwill folks sad to say.
Goodwill is a private company that generates profits for the owners.
DeleteEvery molecule is utilized / sold.
We have a Goodwill wholesale warehouse / sale place in our town that sells by the pound. Every scrap is accounted for.
A local thrift store is more receptive to out of the box requests.
ARMike
I save old flannel shirts, jeans , sheets, almost anything. I can use scraps to patch worn coats or jeans, and we use sheets to cover plants when frost is predicted. My mother was a hoarder of fabric, and it rubbed off on me.
DeleteSNH
Sewing or mending is a great skill, and it is a pity it is not recognized for the life skill it is. I am not necessarily good at it, but I have certainly breathed life into my socks long after the first hole appeared.
ReplyDeleteWas at the cobblers the other day and saw two hand crank leather sewing machines- one looked old, the other new, (like an original and a chinese copy.) Just sitting under a bench of closeout stuff.
ReplyDeleteVery tempting- the idea of repairing leather.
A successful business is one people NEED. And sadly, today a business that runs under the Bureaucrats notice.
DeleteThat Chinses curse of living in interesting times is said to really translate to "may you be NOTICED by the Bureaucrats" so even back then that wasn't a good thing(tm).
Ability to repair shoes and boots is critical.
I repaired and made leather straps and such for horses for years, as well as belts, holsters, sheaths, etc. I had a hand crank leather machine that worked great when it worked. Many of the leather machines are ‘tempermental’. They go out of adjustment easily, due to the force required when sewing through leather. They need attention and adjustment when you change thread spools, or thickness of leather.
DeleteI did mostly hand sewing when I could. But it is a vanishing skill, just like sewing clothes
Southern NH
I bought a "vintage" Singer 320k semi industrial sewing machine a couple of years ago and kind of taught myself to sew last winter. I repaired probably $300.00 worth of around-the-farm work clothes while the snow flew.
ReplyDeleteSee if Mrs. ERJ has a darning setting on her machine, you can close up the holes in the jacket arms fairly easily.
Agree with Michael, the ladies at our local Thrift Store are very helpful for material. I tip well and donate good clothing that Mrs. Neck and find at yard/garage sales if we know they are looking for something specific.
It turns out my frugality and non-concern for other's opinions embarrasses my children. They bought me a new coat for Christmas! LOLOLOLOLOL!
ReplyDeleteI like repurposing. An old fleece with a knackered zip? Use as pyjama bottoms - toasty legs in bed.
ReplyDeleteAs pointed out above, Iron -on patches with stitches at the corners are a great way to get more life out of that coat.
ReplyDeleteThe current thermoset adhesives used in these patches are pretty good.
Clean the cloth with brake clean or carb cleaner and compressed air to get a good surface, then apply the proper amount of high enough heat with an old iron.
You'll be surprised how long it lasts.
I find these are the best so far:
https://irononjeanpatches.com/
For sewing heavy things I have used waxed dental floss.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the salt/rust belt, cars usually expire of corrosion related entropy before mechanical failure.
ReplyDeleteBeing frugal at the molecular level, I run the last bit of value out of the cars I have spent after-tax money to acquire.
I've use quite a bit of Fiberglass to extend the life of my tattered rides. But eventually they will fail annual inspection, and be scrapped.
I have 26 days left on the 21 year old durango, then it's done.
Happily my neighbor needs a hooptie to run on his property in the boonies. I think I can swap it for a Generator Install.
WIN WIN.
Comes from having your hands in your pockets too much, Joe !
ReplyDeleteIt is the only way I can keep the politicians from dipping their hands into my pockets.
DeleteI use dental floss or 20# test braided line for this type of repair.
ReplyDeleteRepair rather than replace is good! Like you said, it's NOT for wear in public.
ReplyDeleteSometimes on heavy work clothing it's worth adding 'wear patches' of ballistic nylon cloth when the item is new. That nylon can be sourced from bags that are given away as trade show goodies, or surplus items that have a military background.
ReplyDeleteMy mom taught me to sew. Hand and machine stitching.
I made original items in the Army for specific purposes, and modified others. If you are sewing ballistic nylon, you need a ball point needle. Trust me on that.