A few weeks ago, mom asked me for thread since I'd borrowed (consigned for emergency use) all her old threads when I was sewing masks with a limited supply last spring.
She showed me what she wanted to repair and I was appalled. My daughter and I have bought her lots of blouses through the years. They seem to disappear in her closet and only worn when going to the doctor, shopping or visiting friends and relatives.
When I looked at the blouse she wanted to repair I told her that it was much too worn out and should be thrown away. I'm not even talking about her worn out underwear which we have also bought lots of. Her drawer is stuffed.
I finally told her that if she ends up suddenly having to go to the hospital, everybody will think we're not caring for her properly. That got her thinking, so that she's now wearing many of the nicer blouses we've purchased for her. Tiffany will be happy to hear that too.
I had to secure the collar and sew the sleeve together.
Sigh...
The bottom hem had come apart and he wanted me to reattach it. Then I noticed that the sides were also fraying apart because it had just worn too thin.
"Why?!?" I asked him. "You have lots of other shorts."
He insisted he liked the feel of this pair and that it was the perfect size. He doesn't have to wear a belt and it's just comfortable.
Sigh...
So I did. And I told him I was going to write a blog post about it. "Fair is fair," he said.
Oops!
I rotate my clothes so I eventually I wear them all.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I TOTALLY get where your mom & Art are coming from, I have a drawer with around 20 LL Bean polo shirts yet I always go for the same two, why is that! I'm making a Kay-vow today to add a couple more shirts to the rotation!
ReplyDeleteFirst Time commenter and I also totally get this subject. I am working from home and wearing an old LL Bean T-neck that I shortened the sleeves (constant hand washing caring for the senior Dad even before the pandemic). I have holes in the front of my shirts in the exact same position. So I took the sleeve parts I save and made a patch. Its not pretty but its a shirt I only wear at home. I have worn it for so many years in the cold weather , along with an identical shirt that acquired the same hole in the front) that I don't think it will survive another winter season. The same can be said for some of my warm weather clothes. I wear the comfortable and familiar. Time to sort thru the closet and cedar chest and see what treasures I can use or donate if they are no longer something I want to wear.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I 'had' to do some shopping for Dad and stopped by a small local store to see if they had any men's shirts. He really needs some and I need to do some repairs on the current long-sleeve shirts. The store had closed after 40 years in business at various locations. They have 2 other stores in other states at big outlets, but that doesn't work for me.
I recently found your blog by following some links in other blogs.
I really enjoy your pictures of Hawaii.
M in NC
Aloha M in NC! It's so nice to meet you. Thank you for your visit and comment. Hmmm... I shall have to dig out some photos to post one of these days about Hawaii.
DeleteA fun and unexpected ending.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Art, my favorites are the ones that are worn out. In fact, when I find a favorite, I will look at the tag and order the same thing in a couple different colors!
ReplyDeleteI have lost 30 pounds during this pandemic. I have closets full of clothes that do not fit me anymore. They are treasures and favorites and I might have to regain my weight to wear them again.
ReplyDeleteJust had fun this week, going shopping with my friend Caryn after social isolating for 4 months. Loved buying two new blouses to wear as it's spring and time for NEW. Give old stuff to thrift stores and help others while you recycle your clothes...
ReplyDeleteha! At least Art and your mom have the gumption to mend their old clothes. I just wear mine with holes and tatters!
ReplyDeleteIt is the environmentally friendly thing to do, wear out clothes before replacing them. And we do have our comfy favorites.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother had an old pink housecoat that was full of patches. She always got new ones for Christmas or birthdays but no one ever them being worn. After she died, we found drawers full of the housecoats (and other gifts as well) all labeled with "Return to ____ (whoever gave it to her).
It is said that we wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. I agree. I exclaim over the clothes that have worn out, then do the math and realize that they have been in heavy rotation for 10+ yrs! I've finally figured out that hole in the front; it's where it rubs against the kitchen counter when I'm at the sink.
ReplyDeleteWe do tend to wear our favorites into the ground don't we. Got a giggle when Art pointed out your tees. I have a couple of those.
ReplyDeleteWe are the same hahaha. Dont start on shoes.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I wonder what happened to my comment. I'll try again: I love this post, Kay, and I learned even more fun facts about you and your family. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've been having the same problem with comments suddenly disappearing on some blogs. I don't know what's going on.
DeleteYes, yes! It's hard to get rid of "old friends" who are well-worn and fit well. I have issues throwing away holey tee-shirts that I've bought on trips. There are so many memories tied up in them!
ReplyDeleteLOL I splurged. I replaced one blouse that had a hole with one from Landsend. Another holy shirt got replaced with one from JCPennys. I feel virtuous.
ReplyDeleteI am also in charge of repairing clothes for others but I am not as conscientious as you. I put them in a pile of "to be done" and don't do them until I feel like I have to (which is very rarely). I gave away half of my clothes and my closet looks decent now, but in the past year, I have only used one item in it. Instead I use the same old tshirts and shorts/pants and same old denim skirts when I go out. If you patch your comfy tank tops, they become boro - and that is quite the trend in my world.
ReplyDeleteMy old favorite tees have been recycled into my pajama drawer. Who cares if they're tatty when I'm sleeping plus they are soft. I, with my daughter-in-law and some others in similar size ranges did sort of a clothing exchange with bags of clothes. I took out a few things and put in lots and lots in decent shape but I never wore. Now I can see what is in my closet. The rest went to a free clinic here that has a nice used goods shop to help support itself. But yes, I kept several favorites. A tee that I have been embroidering small things on around the stains on it. Another tee from my youngest son's high school wrestling team that I doubt I'll ever fit in again but my eldest son did all the design work for the shirts. I also have my Dad's Aloha shirt from the 40's and his military green wool jacket from his days with the forest service, etc. My closet is probably hopeless.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I think many people will see themselves in this post.
ReplyDeleteI think we are all reluctant to replace favorite, comfortable, worn out clothing.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. You are so much fun!
ReplyDeleteI used to save my nice outfits for my client visits. Since pandemic, I realized how badly I was dressing. Now, I've been putting on some nicer blouses when my grandkids are here, at least. There is nothing to save them for now!
When something I wear starts getting holes or quite worn, it goes.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this. I'm not as fashion conscience as I used to be since pre-you-know-what! I don't sew that much any more. Not that good at it. My fingers just don't want to seem to work that well any more. I remember Gregg asking me to patch up his jeans. There was a hole in the knee. I found the prettiest embroidered strawberry patch in my sewing box and gave his jeans back to him. He took one look - we were newly weds - and he told me as diplomatically as he could that there was no way he was going to wear those old jeans with that on them. I don't think I ever saw them again and he didn't ask me to patch anything after that!
ReplyDeleteI don't let things get quite that worn before I pitch them. Except my jeans.
ReplyDeleteI stay home nearly 6 outta 7 days. When I worked, I was a fashion plate. Now I don't care. I wear a Boro Boro flannel shirt for Dog walking daily. It has several holes and a big ripped hem. I don't care what the neighbors think. I am old, no one looks at me. All my shorts are long faded with knit balls. I wear knitted tanks. When I go shopping I just throw a flannel shirt. All old, but who cares. If I go to the doc, then I wear a nicer top. I still have nice clothes, but they are just collecting dust. Funny how retirement changed my views.BB
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. The pandemic really changed my dress. I figure no one really sees me anyway... especially with my mask on.
DeleteWE do get attached to certain garments even though they are worn. I used to do that as a child.
ReplyDeleteThis is funny. Some folks' comments make me feel like I'm too dressed up at home. I almost always wear nursing scrubs 3-pocket tops, even at home. The pockets are great for carrying my cell, pen, and chapstick. The pen pocket gets a hole: that's what nursing tape is for. Some day I'll drag out my sewing machine. The necks start fraying next: those become for-home wear or in the garden. My jeans are worn until they wear out and I start with real jeans without any intentional holes and tears.
ReplyDeleteI got my son a cotton/polyester WAY oversized hoodie when he was in elementary school. It was to keep his entire body warm between swimming times during swim meets. He wore out the knit wrists; wore it to grubby Scout camping, wore some more holes into it. He grew into it, then at 33 grew out of it. He won't let me repair or patch it. I've tried to replace it. It's his favorite; he's hidden it from me. He says he's going to be buried in it. Linda in Kansas
I do the same thing, Ms Kay. I don't want to throw my old clothes away. Sometimes, I do re-design them.
ReplyDeleteI do my best to rotate clothes ... but inevitably there are good old favourites that seem to be worn more often than others :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan