When Was The Last Time You Sewed A Button On A Shirt?

[barry1010]

When I was little my mother seemed to be sewing buttons on every night. The mangle really did mangle them and later the spin dryer had a good go.
I don't think I have lost a button on anything for at least 30 years.

[eleanor2]

Hand seeing isn't my favourite pastime I must admit. I do have a sewing machine for small alterations though.

[ubasses]

No, in fact he has lost nearly a stone in the past 12 months. These are trousers that he wears for work around the house, a lot of bending and squatting, and washing/tumble drying which I think ruins the cotton thread.

[eleanor2]

*sewing*

[Spicerack]

I'd get him to take the trousers off first, ubasses.
(that's how vejazzeling started)

[barry1010]

Arrrggggh! Turning collars, Khandro. When my mother wasn't sewing buttons back on, darning socks or knitting them she was turning sheets. Something else I would never do.
When the sheet has worn thin in the middle, cut in down the middle length ways and so the edges together and hem the new edges. Fabulous, there may not be a hole in the sheet but I was lying on a seam. :(
When the sheet was too far gone for that she would cut them up and hem the better pieces to make handkerchiefs and use the rest as dusters.
She never sat in front of the tv or radio without knitting, sewing, darning, polishing or preparing the home grown veg for pickling or salting.

[barry1010]

Good for him, ubasses. You'll be patching the knees and reinforcing the backside next - on his trousers.

[ubasses]

He was getting laundry out of tumble drier, found the button first, then the trousers. No danger of him wearing them with me wielding a needle . :-)

[ubasses]

I am definitely not going that far Barry!

[douglas9401]

You can get self-adhesive Velcro, emmie.

[TonyV]

emmie, I've got some iron on Velcro, sometimes a better solution than sewing e.g. turning up new trousers.

[Apc2604]

When I was young I made all my own clothes and clothes for others. Now I can't remember when I sewed a button on anything, let alone shirt buttons. My sewing machine is sold and I rarely get anything out of my work asked. Buttons turn up on the floor and I put them aside, then throw them away.

[eleanor2]

Loved heading all that about your mum barry, wonderful old skills.

[eleanor2]

*hearing*

[piggynose]

Sewing isnt the problem its threading that bleeding needle.

[eleanor2]

Yep, I think there comes a time with age, when it just becomes easier to replace.

[piggynose]

I seem to end up using an oversize needle cuz it has a bigger eye.

[barry1010]

So right, piggynose. I'd have trouble getting the needle threader through the eye of the needle these days.

[satprof]

Piggynose 13:09

Perhaps you should invest in one of those thingys with a flat metal handle and a very narrow wire loop. I think they're called needle threaders.

[satprof]

^^^ oops 13:14

[Spicerack]

That's what they can't thread, prof. ;-o