sewing tips...

**winner** · 11-09-2008, 10:18 AM

Hi there,
I not a seamstress, but learned something from my mom. I always made sure I had a sewing mashine. I just finished a few projects which will help me with my giveaways. I had fabric (from a Thrift shop 0.50) a beige/white like a tic, made 4 wine bags, 8 bags for bath bombs and salts. I made 8 mini approns to dress up a bottle and a cut a circle (as a cooks hat) to tie on the top with raffia. Turned so cute, so now I can give away oil, and vinigar bottles dressed up as a cook.
I read a few messages, that you ladies clean up your closets and get rid of staff you are not wearing. I stopped doing that after I read an article about how some of the stars keeping their closes. I am wearing suites at work, and I need my semi-casual as well, so I am storing all my closes I am not wearing in suitecases in the basement's storage room. Since I am not a designer, I am learning from magazines. I have an old photo album where collect pictures from the magazines how to wear outfits.After a couple years I go through those forgotten items in my suitecases. It is like finding a treasure. I know some light alterations, but it is not hard to change the buttons, cut a skirt which is too long and out of fashion, or add a broch or a scarf. I just pulled out two nice cardigans one gray and the other one is gray and black. Boy, was I happy, now I am going to put as an outfit with black skirt, white blouse, black big belt and big costume jewlery. I am sure it will look good and hopefully will get some compliments. I always try to look good, neat and proffesional, it makes me feel good, laways did, even there were times when my walet was empty for one straight month. People wow my outfits, they don't ask me what label I am wearing, or how much paid, even almost all my closes come from thrift shops and Value Village. It saved me lots of money over the years, Being practical I am able to travel, last year we were in UK, but most of the time we were touring my husband's homeland, Scotland.
Next destination is France and Monaco or Pacific cruise.
I hope my tips inspire you.

**peanut** · 11-09-2008, 02:08 PM

This is so true. I keep some of the better made old clothes I have had given to me or picked up along the way. It's amazing to see patterns and styles come back in fashion after awhile. Every now and then I go through them and see if I can remake them into something else. No point wasting good fabric!

I still take a lot of my old clothes to goodwill though. I wear clothes till they die for the most part. Pilled turtlenecks just simply have to go, or shirts wearing through on the cuff. Though, now I think of it, I could simply cut the cuff off, rehem the sleeve for a 3/4 length sleeve...hmmm...

Jean

**winner** · 11-09-2008, 04:18 PM

Hi there,
Aren't we practical?
Did you know that turtulenecks are back in fashion. the other day I say on Oprah, that every woman has to have this latest trend (black and white along with a trench coat. Imagine that and high boots. I dug mine back from my suitecases.

**DonnainME** · 11-09-2008, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by peanut

Pilled turtlenecks just simply have to go
Jean

I have a clothes shaver that gives pilled clothes a new life.

It was pretty cheap too and I got it from Avon.

**peanut** · 11-09-2008, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by DonnainME

I have a clothes shaver that gives pilled clothes a new life.

It was pretty cheap too and I got it from Avon.

Really?! Okay, I've gotta get me one of those things. I know a few Avon dealers... I generally don't worry too much, as I pick my turtlenecks up for $5 from the thrift store and wear them for years after. Usually by the time they pill on me, I'm ready for a change of colour!

You know, I don't know if you gals have tried it, but the other thing I do to make clothes last longer is to re-dye them with RIT dyes, or whatever they need (depending on fibre content). I did a load of black clothes one year in the washing machine - jeans, turtlenecks, shirts, etc. - and they came out great!

**DonnainME** · 11-10-2008, 12:09 PM

I haven't thought about dying clothes. I usually wear my clothes until they are falling apart anyway. i might mention the dying to DD though. she's 12 and has problems finding things she likes in the right colors.