My mum was throwing away some old woollen jerseys that were a little bit moth eaten…so I rescued them from the bin, felted them by washing in boiling water, then used the sleeves to make mittens and the body/scraps of the jerseys for either a matching scarf or hat…so cute!
Dust off the sewing machine because there is gold in there! When my daughters sweat shirts get a bit snug I cut then a the front down the middle add a full length zip & make a roomier sweat jacket. Zips cost at local op shop a dozen for $1.00. I also extend the length […]
Here’s a tip for buying clothes at second hand shops. Always check the clothing labels to see how worn the garment is before purchasing. Also, we find clothes can be cheap at garage sales during the summer – and especially at sales where people are moving overseas.
Buy school uniforms (especially the expensive items like winter jackets) through the classified ad’s or through a school notice board.
Wait for a sales. One oily ragger waited six months for a bumper shoe sale before buying a much needed pair of dress shoes. By the time he found a pair (down from $200 to $86) his other shoes were well past their used by date. – Ed.
Make the most of buying opportunities such as sales and factory seconds. If it coming up to winter, buy for next summer. If its coming up to summer, buy for next winter.
Take up knitting as a hobby. It’s a great way to better utilize time that would otherwise be wasted in front of the telly. Knitted garments make excellent gifts (like knitted underpants!). You may even find and tourists shops will stock uniquely New Zealand creations.
I buy good quality knitted items from second hand /church shops. Unpick the garments and wash the wool. You need to wind the wool around the legs of a chair or something similar, like someone’s hands if you have a helper to make a skein. Tie it loosely. Wash /soak for a while till all […]
To clean rust marks from clothing simply squeeze lemon juice on the stain then liberally coat with plain salt. Then place out in strong sunlight. You might have to repeat the process, but most times once does the trick.
I only buy the cheapest flannelette sheets, and they can be prone to pilling/fluffing. I put them – while still in their plastic wrappers – into the freezer for at least 24 hours, then wash as usual. They wear evenly, with no pilling, and are lovely and warm. It works with kids’ flannelette pyjamas too!