Oh Boris ...

[blamebrampton]

I have long had a very disturbing thing for Boris Johnson. I rationalise it away by saying that he's a cyclist, so aside from his questionable use of his penis and occasionally nutty policies, he must be a decent chap underneath. [Poll #1480605]

Comments

[carnadosa.livejournal.com]

I picked "should be taught widely" because 1) I wish it was something I had been taught (making a pillow in home ec that one time in eight grade seriously doesn't count) and 2) I'm looking for a job right now after graduating with a masters and kind of wish I had some tangible skills. It would make me feel better.

My opinions on repairing, to be perfectly honest, have been mostly informed by my family (I kind of find it weird it wasn't an answer in the poll). My grandmother has knitted me many awesome blankets (and despite the fact that I'm 26 she's completely tickled by the fact I still sleep with the baby one), built us a wooden dollhouse, painted some china dolls and made me many awesome sundresses. I only wish I was that cool.

Also: you have to have something worth repairing. I mean, if I spend 200 USD on a good suit, I'm not going to chuck it for a hole. If I spend 5 dollars on 2 thin cotton tees and they get a hole...I'm going use them for rags.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I always forget to put in at least one obvious answer ;-)

You know that there are lots of good basic books on mendind, especially sewing out there? Readers Digest has a few fabbo ones that I always see in second hand shops around the English-speaking world, or try a public library; it's certainly not a hard skill or I would not have been able to learn it!

And yes, I have some things that just get the boot; though to this day I live in hope of finding the pairs of some of my socks ;-)

[carnadosa.livejournal.com]

I tried to knit once by learning how from a book (many books). Lets just say it didn't go well. Much as I love the book, I can't quite make the jump from understanding in 2D to understanding in my hands.

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

maybe youtube could help you?
I read instructions on how to darn but couldn't figure it out 100% with my hands either, until I found a real good short video on youtube. I sat down in front of the PC, watched it a couple of times, and then simply started.

[azurelunatic]

It speaks to your upbringing that you'd think to use them as rags. Most people our age would bin them and use a paper-towel instead. (And even before I finally do chuck a rag that's really seriously in rags, I use it to take a swipe at something that needs it. No use throwing away something that's clean.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

*Grins at your delightful practicality!*