Why throw out a sock just because it has a hole in it? Or maybe it's too stained to be used. Besides making puppets for the kids, there are many ways to reuse a sock. One of the most popular ways to use an old sock is as a reusable Swiffer pad. Just cut a sock open lengthwise & trim to fit. I'd put it on the Swiffer & then trim leaving about 2 … [Read more...]
The 30 Minute Jacket to Sew
This is an amazing method to make a high fashion jacket that's almost more of a shrug. It's an unlined jacket with lots of draping, so choose fabric that is soft & will drape well. You can make it a lined jacket with 2 different fabrics & you'll get a reversible jacket! Just attach the lining to the rectangle first & you're good to go. … [Read more...]
Is Central Heating Making Us Fat?
It seems that we'd weigh less if we didn't keep our homes so warm. I guess the body uses up more calories trying to keep warm in a cool room. Makes sense.Then again if you are in a cool room you would be wearing more layers of clothing to keep warm. So I don't know about this one. It will help save on your fuel costs though to keep your … [Read more...]
Sew a Wool Beret
If you have a little bit of wool fabric you can make a nice beret to wear. It's great for those who can sew, but not knit or crochet. Click the title to link to the directions at MarthaStewart. … [Read more...]
How to Knit a Beanie
This is simple enough for a beginning knitter and the tutorial guides you through every step of the way. Make a beanie in subtle colors like gray or fern green to blend with your wardrobe. Or make one in a bright contrasting color to be an accent that draws attention to your face. Or make one in several differnet colors just for fun. These make … [Read more...]
Sew Easy: Strip Quilt of Many Colors
This is a pretty easy quilt to make because you just sew random strips of fabric together. It's not high art, but it is kind of fun. You can use whatever scraps you have (even old sheets or old clothes) or choose specific colors to get the effect you like. You could do all black and white or black, white, and red. Or use denim (easy to cut … [Read more...]
Just Saving More Isn’t the Answer
This is an excellent article about saving IMHO. It's geared towards retirement savings, but most of it applies to any kind of savings. Key points include:1. If you are in your 30's or 40s and your retirement savings isn't in the 5 figures range, you need to change what you are doing.2. Have a real plan, not just an attitude of "save as much as … [Read more...]