When did you last pull out the thread and needle to fix something? Do you toss items if they get a rip or do you salvage what isn’t ready for the landfill? Let's revive the lost art of using the needle and thread and here are 3 fantastic reasons why you should do it!
Easy access to materials makes it easy to toss items when they get a hole in them. You can run out to Walmart to replace socks, order new jeans online and grab a new sweater while grocery shopping. In many ways, it’s easier to replace than to mend.
But what about the art of using a needle and thread?
It doesn’t take a degree to mend something. It’s a basic skill that even children can learn! Using a needle and thread is a great way to keep things in good working order with minimal effort. But there are other reasons why you should be mending items!
3 Reasons to Mend More Items
Satisfaction of Fixing Something
There’s something about fixing an item, giving it new life or renewing the life it has, that gives you satisfaction. You might get instant gratification from buying something new, but if you mend an item, you will be reminded of your skill every time you wear or use it. Whether it’s a simple pair of socks or your child’s favourite stuffed animal, saving an item from the garbage is better than replacing it!
Recycle and Repair
Instead of a mindset of replacement, we should have a mentality of repair. If a diamond ring starts to lose its sparkle, that doesn’t mean it’s time to throw it out! It just needs a little care.
Same with other items. Just because there is a hole doesn’t mean a jacket or shirt has lost all use. A needle and thread can solve many problems, from lost buttons to rips in the seam.
Recycling and repairing will keep things out of landfills and back in your closet!
Save Money
The thing we all are trying to do is save money. If the item still functions, still fits and for the most part, still has life, save the money and grab the needle and thread! You likely can fix the piece in the same amount of time it would take to go out and buy a new one.
Keep the cash in your wallet, and sew up those items that aren’t ready to be replaced!
Get Yourself Some Needle and Thread
The next time you find a hole in your shirt, reach for your mending kit instead of tossing it in the trash. You'll feel more accomplished sewing up a tear than putting another purchase on your credit card!
Teach your children the value of making items last. Help them be independent by learning the skill of mending so they can care for their clothing and toys!
At Generations Marketplace we want to offer people opportunities to learn new and useful skills. Being self-sufficient also means repairing instead of replacing. Check out the availability of our family mending class so you can learn the basics of this useful skill!
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