Darn You Sock!

[robinsnest]

I just darned my first ever sock. It's perhaps not the most glamorously darned sock ever, but I feel very thrifty, industrious and proud of myself.  

My Grandmother has always been amused that I seem to be trying to revive a lot of the things she went to college for. Her "home economics" degree. For example she gave me her canning bible and canning pot for my bridal shower gift. She got such a kick out of the time Victoria and I made our own laundry detergent to save a couple bucks. So on Thursday I open my mailbox to a packet from Granny. She sent me a copy of How to Sew a Button: and other things your grandmother knew. Which I proceeded to read in the car on the way to MA. It's a very neat book, I highly recommend it. It's filled with little tips from cleaning, to cooking, to clothing care and budgeting. I probably have a leg up on some people, I skipped the chapter on how to sew a button for example. But there were lots of little tips I enjoyed, and more than that it reminded me on a ethos that's lost today. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" I'm unemployed, Rob's works slowed down, we're in a bit of our own little economic depression...

A few days ago I realized that the vast majority of my socks have holes in them. I grumbled as I didn't really feel like buying new socks...then this book shows up and I started to think about what would my grandmother have done as a kid. Well she'd darn it! and wouldn't you know there's a chapter on darning? So I darned! I'm pretty pleased with myself. I call it one small step towards running a household my Grandmother would be proud of...I've got a ways to do..but someday I'd like to picture myself running a tidy, thrifty, little house....or at least I no longer have a cold toe.

Comments

[curiouschilde.livejournal.com]

Do you remember me at faire, darning socks that were in my basket during the weekend? I should really do some repairs on my stuff..lol

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

no actually I really don't. I've always wanted to learn so I suspect I'd have bugged you to teach me.

[curiouschilde.livejournal.com]

Well poo... i was doing it a lot.. maybe in secret. I dunno. Those socks were so expensive that we were buying :D But i'll look today to see if i have an extra egg.

[fiofiorina.livejournal.com]

Make Do and Mend... works well, and darned socks - who is ever to see them. I even managed to darn my fancy stockins (striped wool stockings, not nylons. Though I'd love to know how to mend nylons)

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of starting a blog. "What would Granny Do: applying the lessons of the depression to our own great recession" Not sure if I'm a good enough writer to write a blog though.

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure we need to see this darned sock. Such a useful thing to know!!

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

hmm when Rob gets up I'll make him take a picture of my foot :-p

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

When my grandmother passed away I grabbed her wooden sock darner. Not because I knew how to use it, but because I loved it, and I knew no one else would want it.

Now you make me want to learn how to use it! *adds your book to my Amazon list*

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

It's really pretty simple, and as you already know how to sew you'll pick it up in seconds. But I do highly recommend the book.