Prairie Eco-Thrifter
APRIL 3, 2013
Learning to sew takes time and equipment. A super short history of sewing. In many parts of the US, people learned to sew as part of their life skills – from parents or family or schools. Although Mom didn’t sew much (she did mend), she made sure I took Home Ec in high school. Clothing is cheap, sewing is not.
Prairie Eco-Thrifter
SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
We do put up decorations (ones I buy at garage sales or thrift stores and reuse each year). If you sew, take off the buttons, zippers, lace, netting or whatever to use later. Once the kids left home, we ended up with zero trick or treaters at our house on a state highway. No kids = no parties or haunted houses = money saved.
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Prairie Eco-Thrifter
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Learn to hem and patch and sew on buttons to repair minor issues with clothing. There have been countless times I have seen nearly new, decorator pieces being sold for pennies on the dollar at garage sales because the homeowner decided to re-decorate. Learn how to remove spots and do it as soon as the clothing gets dirty.
Prairie Eco-Thrifter
FEBRUARY 27, 2017
Along the way, on one of my garage sale shopping expeditions, I stumbled across a matched pair of wing backs (non-reclining) for $20 each. I was able to find the material for one chair on clearance – for $40 total and on sale for the other. All told, I think I paid about $100 for the material for both chairs.
Saving Cents With Sense
JANUARY 19, 2013
Buy a dated, smooth-gliding rocker at a garage sale for next to nothing and customize it with several yards of fabric and a staple gun. Buy several wicker baskets a craft store and sew a few loose sacks out of your favorite fabric that you can use to line the baskets. Reupholster Second-Hand Furniture. Order Last Year’s Themes.
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