Make Do and Mend - 4 new skirts

the finished skirts

I made the first one, the shorter one on the right, in less than an hour.
I liked it so much that I looked in my fabric storage
and found fabric and elastic to sew up 3 more.

I know 3 of the fabrics were bought at yard sales,  I can't remember where the last one is from but it  is probably from a yard sale or thrift store too.  

they all have simple elastic waists

and simple machine sewn hems.  

have you done any make do and mend projects?
then tell us about them
and join Heidi at 

http://thecranberrychronicle.blogspot.com/

this is the pattern I used,  I am pretty sure I bought it at a thrift store
a while ago for 10 cents.  I only made the skirt but I do like patterns
that offer more than one garment like this one does.  

This project is about using what I had to make something I need and want.
I will be wearing these skirts often this summer and am very pleased that I did not have to go shop for them or spend.  

what a difference a year makes

Granddaughter Elizabeth
12 months old yesterday! 
or 1 year, however you want to say it

just one year ago - it went by very fast. 



My brother Rex shares the same birthday with Elizabeth,
he is a few years older. 



Make Do and Mend Monday

 I made these patchwork potholders almost 2 years ago.
 You can read about them on my old blog if you are curious :)
I usually cook several times everyday and those once cute potholders were getting worn, you can even see the insulbrite batting poking out in  one corner.
I used the last of  my potholder batting for the pair of bird potholders yesterday. 
Make do and mend is about using what you have - and since the insides and back of the potholders are still serviceable,  I just made them over. 

 I like the robin fabric on the back and it was still in good shape so I found a scrap of heavy weight checked fabric.  I cut it a little larger than the potholders, turned under the edges to just fit on top and pinned them down to cover up the worn patchwork.

Then I just machine stitched around the edges to seal them up.
I tried out several of the decorative stitches my machine makes but I could of just used a regular straight stitch. 
Now, I have 4 more very useful potholders,  I think I spent just 30 minutes on this project. 

I used up 2 little spools of thread on this project. 

Can you see the original price was just 30 cents for a spool?

Thread costs at least 8 times that now.

I look for bags of thread at thrift stores and yard sales and have found some real bargains this way. 

thats my finger,  got that burn when I moved a pan of full of corn on the cob in boiling water to drain it.  The  pan was really full and the lid was not tight fitting and some the water splashed on my hand and the floor.  

I put it cool water right away and sprayed it with Bactine several times, and after the Bactine, it never hurt again. 

So, if you boil some fresh corn this summer,  use a potholder and a tight fitting lid. 

I hope you will join the Make do and mend party at Heidi's Cranberry Chronicle.   I think you will like seeing how another blogger posted about the cutest sewing basket that she lined with old blue jeans.
 http://thecranberrychronicle.blogspot.com/