We all have a favorite pair of jeans. The ones that look great and fit just right.
Unfortunately, well-loved jeans don’t age gracefully. The culprit: holes in the knees, pockets, or back. If your favorite jeans start to look “holier than thou,” don’t despair.
With a needle, some thread, and a little love, you can turn dying jeans into designer jeans. (DIY difficulty level: Easy)
Several years ago, I was working on a baby quilt from a book of designs inspired by Amish quilts. The pattern I was using included an applique border which I was going to skip because my hand stitches look awful. I was intrigued by a note that the author had included, though, about how traditional Amish quilts rarely include applique. The technique of applique was believed to be wasteful of fabric.
It turns out that wise use of resources is a hallmark of Amish quilts even beyond avoidance of applique. The Quilter’s Ultimate Visual Guide has this to say about Amish quilts:
Most quilts contain bits of fabric left over after dresses and shirts have been made for the family [...] Mitered borders are rarely used, since they require more fabric. In keeping true to their faith, the quilts the Amish make are simple in design and fulfill a utilitarian need of providing warmth.
With the exception of automobiles, we don’t often take things in to be repaired. Instead when something breaks, we throw it away and buy another one. Unfortunately this leads to a lot of excess waste and more money spent in the long run. Next time you make a purchase consider the quality of the item in addition to the cost.
Well-made items are usually sturdier, more durable and will [...]
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