Make Do and Mend

As part of my efforts to say Goodbye to my Magpie self, I am looking at every line of my family's annual spend and finding ways of reducing it, while at the same time unleashing (I hope) my creative side, which has been stifled for too long by the lure of the high street.

Last year I spent £631.89 on clothes, so Challenge 7 is to spend absolutely nothing on clothes for the next year.

Thankfully I am becoming a dab hand with the sewing machine.  My family clubbed together and bought me a lovely Brother sewing machine for my 30th birthday a couple of years ago.  The machine sat in a cupboard for more than a year and then as soon as I gave up work it became a regular feature on the dining room table. (Magpie Alert: I would love a craft room in my house, so that I could keep all my mess and materials in one place!)  I finally had the time to take sewing classes, which gave me the confidence to get making my own clothes.  But, I will begin this challenge by looking after the clothes I already have.

Last week my only decent pair of jeans became obscene, as a big threadbare rip developed over the backside.  I have already made a few adjustments to these jeans, with elastic stirrups sewn into the legs to keep them straight when wearing long boots, (I find it so annoying when skinny leg jeans bag around the knee in long boots, don't you?).

Hidden Elastic Stirrups Stop Legs Riding Up in Long Boots

I have also cut into the waist band so that my muffin top is not constricted into a really unflattering shape! (Magpie Alert: Desire for Muffin Top Surgery is Strong).  My legs are really skinny, but my waist doesn't match (legs are size 8, stomach size 12), so trying to find skinny leg jeans is impossible.  When I bought my current pair of Levis the shop assistant had almost every pair of jeans in the shop in my changing room!  But I have found that if you chop into the waistband and wear a belt, no-one sees your handy work and your jeans suddenly fit!

Chop into Waistband

Add a Belt; No-one Sees

So my latest repair to these jeans has been to patch the bum.  If I hadn't been saying Goodbye Magpie I would have been tempted to buy myself a new pair, but I am really glad I spent 20 minutes repairing them, as they are my favourite pair and I hope they will last me another twelve months at least!  (I must get round to fixing that belt buckle though, what a mess it is!)

Patch Magic; You can't see it when jeans are on, unless you are a perv!