thrift shopping with my nieces

[Contrary Housewife]

OMG teenage girls are a handful! So the background is they are on a 3 week vacation with Grandma, and one of them didn't pack appropriately (and why is another story) and I suggested the local thrift shop as an option. That went over well enough with everyone I was glad to find out.

I've never had so much trouble finding one pair of jeans in my life. Do they just not put size tags in jeans any more or what? It seemed like 8 out of every 10 pair didn't have a tag. And it wasn't like they'd been cut out. I just didn't see a sign of one. So we were guessing for the most part, too small, too small, too small, ok forget the girls section move into ladies. No tags. Too big, too big too big, about the 10th pair of jeans almost fit and then it was a hunt to find a pair just a tad smaller.

Then the drama. Grandma wanted to put her in little girl tops. (The ones she packed were too low cut for grandma's taste. ) Eyes rolled. Words were said. There was huffing. I sent grandma to sit down and told the girl if she found something she liked better than the pink top, and it had a neckline grandma would approve of she could get that instead. We eventually found something that wasn't "gross" that she actually liked.

She also wanted a cute skirt. A cute skirt about 4 sizes too small. It was denim with ruffles and a print fabric ruffle on the bottom. I told her if she found a denim skirt that fit, I would put a ruffle on it when we got home. At home she practically climbed over me to get to the sewing machine and then asked me to show her how it worked. I'm proud to say she took to it like a fish in water, and with a little help has discovered the joy of turning 2nd hand finds into custom-designed clothing. She did all the sewing, had to be pulled off it at 10pm so Grandma could go back to the hotel to sleep.

I finished the hem on the skirt and jean shorts after they left. They look great. But what a trial finding anything that fit in the first place!

[BlissMommy]

Great deal! You have taught her a neat new skill.

[Spirit Deer]

Maybe the thrift store has a sewing machine you could send home with her.

[Contrary Housewife]

Actually, I unloaded one of mine on grandma. She does charity quilts with the church now and was bemoaning the lack of one so I 'decluttered'. The girl will get to use it when she visits.

[frugalfranny]

I think it is just super that she liked sewing...........a nice skill to have. Create more projects for her..........maybe she will stay with it!!

[Sue Anne]

How awesome that you got her excited about repurposing! Stress the whole "green" thing to her and she will be converting her friends in no time! lol

Another suggestion I have after raising two daughters. Tops that are too low cut and many many are, even for me. Tank tops/mens white t-shirts work great and look cute layered. That way she can wear the styles she loved but be modest while doing it!

[GirlBoyGirl]

Oh my, sounds like I have something to look forward to when my girls get older! Shopping with lots of eye rolling and huffing!

About the tags, I think in kids' clothing, sometimes the tag is a stamp (like in tshirts) so maybe it wore off? Thats annoying though for us second-hand shoppers!

[Nana2two]

My daughter will be 17 and she buys clothes at thrifts and redoes them. She does it all by hand. No sewing machine. Does really well at it.

[Sophiasmama]

That's awesome...She must have felt great learning to sew...Your a great Aunt!