Clothing Repair For Dummies

Replace missing button with a safety pin.

My sewing kit is small. So small that it fits into a plastic container that used to have dental floss in it. A tailor I am not.

But I do what I can to keep my small, functional wardrobe wearable for as long as possible.

As a result, I could write the "Clothing Repair for Dummies" version of the popular series.

Here are some recent examples from our research in the Not Buying Anything Clothing Repair for Dummies Workshop. 

Pull button through button hole.

Lose a button? Safety pins are an alternative that can work. 

Temporarily. 

Or permanently. 

I am an experienced clothing repair dummy, so it's mostly permanent in my case.

Repairing a plastic collared shirt with a stick-on patch.

Tear in your 100% polyester shirt? 

I used the must have item from every Macgyverer's toolkit - duct tape - to fashion a repair.

I rebranded a small strip as an Easily Applicable Adhesive Patch. 

Results may vary, but why not try it if it extends the usefulness of something? 

Easily applicable adhesive patch placed on the inside torn section of shirt.

Wearing a hole in the heel of one of a pair of cotton socks presents a challenge.

It's a small flaw to doom a pair of otherwise wearable socks to the rag bag, or compost.

Don't throw that pair of socks out yet.

Turn that sock frown upside down.

I discovered the easiest "just for dummies" fix ever.

Flip the sock over so the hole is at the top. On the top of the ankle the sock wrinkles and closes up. 

What hole?

On your heel, where all the action is, you are covered.

Not really a smile. More like a smirk.

I will learn to sew and do my own repairs the way they have been done for thousands of years. 

It would also be good to have a sewing machine, and know how to use it without losing a finger.

Until then I will continue to use the NBA approved dummy method, and look forward to upgrading my tiny sewing repair kit, and the skills required to use it.

Having a repair issue with with a "fibre and textile material that is worn for style, safety, and protection from the elements"?

Want to fix it properly and are not sure how?

Learn more at this iFixit Clothing Repair page.

Out Of The Closet

It's out of the closet: a minimalist wardrobe is enough.

The pioneers of one planet wardrobes are coming out of the closet, and they are clean, adequately clothed, and content. And they have some great ideas.

What a pleasure to see the discussion going on in the comments after our post on the serious global clothing clutter conundrum. There are many experiences shared that show that simplifying ones closet is the way to go for a multitude of reasons.

Linda and I have been de-clothing for many years. After reducing our possessions to what we could carry in our van in 2014, we have since reduced further, and are enjoying a more minimalist wardrobe than ever before.

Recently we have laughed about our "uniforms". Each of us have been relying on two sets of clothes since the winter started. One set is worn, while the other is to be laundered. We usually wear the same set of clothes for a week, then do laundry along with bedding and towels.

At the same time we do laundry, we have our once per week shower (more or less depending on the time of year and what we are doing). And let me tell you, if you are only having one shower a week, each and every one feels like a major spa treatment.

There is nothing like living in simplicity to heighten your appreciation and enjoyment of all aspects of life. The same goes with having too many clothes - how can you appreciate the things in your closet and drawers that you don't even know you have?

Our tiny wardrobe, coupled with our shower and laundry routines, help to make our life more simple and efficient. In simplicity, such routines become an enjoyable part of life, not something to avoid, or do in hurry rather than in savour.

And do I even need to say it saves resources and money?

In closing, let me say how satisfying it is to be able to have this discussion with such sensible readers. No fashionistas making fun of wearing last season's colours or clothes. No oversanitized hygiene hysteria. Just simple, frugal, enviro-friendly ways of living happier with less.

How refreshing.