Mending

A too much loved purse that used to be my grandma's is now able to hold things again!

This is a semi-obvious mend job.  In day to day use it's much less obvious.  Just put some fabric behind the hole (depending on the size of it) and then sew over top.  Sometimes I use a zig zag stitch, but this looked a little nicer since it's so obvious.

There was also a photo of a pair of pants that I mended.  I also dyed them darker to combat the ugly washes they do to cheap jeans these days.  I guess they probably warrant their own post anyway!

Book Band

While this might not fall under the category of "remake" it is stuff I have lying around in my stash and the purpose is to save something that I have from getting destroyed in my purse, so I guess it counts!
I love reading.  Like I LOVE it.
One of the issues that constantly happens to me is that I take a book in my purse and it gets destroyed since my bags are usually just big black holes full of stuff.  I came across this and realized HEY!  I can bring my books around and they won't get ruined!

Here is what you need!

 Basically you just measure your book with the elastic and then baste it together (I used a zig zag stitch) and then you make a ruffle with a ribbon or some fabric scraps and sew it on!  Super easy.

This is the finished product!

Making a Case for What I Am About to Undertake

Meet my newly compiled mending/project pile.  

Welcome to "In the Name of Thrift".  This post marks the beginning of a project that I have started to make the most of what I have, and to never send anything to a thrift store because it is something I've used to bits (and likely no one will want to buy anyway).  I am a big believer in making the most of what you have so this is my public attempt to practice what I preach and share my successes and failures as I go.

Reasons why:

1. Dumping what you don't want on Third World economies is bad and that is usually what happens to stuff at a thrift store that doesn't get purchased.  I do not want to add to that problem with my personal junk.  (Here is the most helpful thing I have read about charities or companies that do that.) 

2. Getting rid of stuff so you can get more stuff creates an attitude of dissatisfaction with what you have.  Obviously when stuff wears out beyond being used again it should be replaced if it's essential, but I hope to stay away from the unhealthy cycle of buying things to feel like my life is fulfilling.

3. Wasting what you have is bad.  Enough said.

4. Mending and sewing techniques are something that are gradually disappearing from collective knowledge and I hope to continue in that long line of tradition and pass what I have gained down to my own future generations.