I have been thinking about making the most of what I have on hand to use when wanting to buy an item such as clothing or linen.
I have been knitting dishcloths using knitting cotton I had in my knitting supplies. They are far superior to brought ones and last 10 times longer.
Also I have been knitting warm hats,balaclavas and mittens for Winter (we are coming into Winter here now and have already had frosts) and want to get a sleeveless jacket knitted too. Socks have been other things I have knitted in the past. If one has the wool- why not use it?
Then when wanting ( note I did not say needing) to maybe make a blouse or skirt I look in my material pile to see what I can use. Just yesterday I was given quite a bit of fabric and when looking at one lot I thought : "I would never make that into a dress" but after thinking about it I probably would as it is not garish looking. I was just reminded how people use to make clothing etc out of flour bags in the Depression and War days and how prideful we have become in our outlook these days.
The other thing I was thinking is how the pioneer women, Amish women etc have often made do with 1 (or if they were blessed 2) dress for wearing during the week doing dirty chores quite often and 1 for wearing on a Sunday. They "saved" their dresses by wearing aprons- something that is very easy to make. A friend commented recently "why do we need 10 times of every clothing when you can only wear one at a time" Another friend has decluttered down to having 2-3 skirts for home and 1 for church.
My dear mother used to say this was a rule of thumb-- one on your back, one in the wash and 1 in the drawer.
Do you have towels that are worn in the middle-- cur them in half and then re-sew them into hand towels. -- or if you only have a little towels that is not worn make them into face cloths.
Sheets- worn in the middle? Cut them down the centre then join the 2 side seams together using a flat seam so you do not get a ridge and then hem the edges you have just cut and they will last a little longer.

Yes at times, I too have a yarn stash and have recently knit up more dish cloths. (they make excellent x-mas gifts) I am knitting a sweater. Though I wouldn't recomend it as being cost effective it cost $56 for enough wool yarn for a sweater but if you didn't have to buy it. Think parents used to knit a sweater for the eldest child and hand it down to the younger and when it no longer fit they would add yarn to it and re knit it for the eldest again.
I agree that our society in general is too materialistic. I thing people just need to ask if things are a want or a need and have the will power to leave the wants at the store.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

I know what you mean Ember15. The price of wool here in New Zealand is shocking--and we have all those sheep LOL.
Seriously though - I have often advised folk to go to the Thrift stores and buy pure wool, hand knitted jerseys and unpick them, wash the wool and re-knit into something else.
The other thing is buying wool on places like e-bay. I had $100 for wool and ended up getting over 200 balls of wool-- some was fantastic and some wasn't. You have to be very picky with what you are willing to buy. If I had taken that money into a local store that sells wool I would have come home with 12 balls of wool!!!
Good on you with your comment on needs versus wants and , Yes, you were correct about parents handing down clothing from 1 child to the next-- a lot of our friends still do