Old sayings + wise words

B said:

I'm curious about whether anyone under 50 mends (eg sews) their clothes to make them last in these days of cheap throwaways items

(This is reference to this part rather than the sayings)

I have my sewing box to fix things, mostly my husband's trousers as he can never find new ones he likes so I keep having to patch them. Fixing seams, re-sewing buttons and the latest is I need to give them new pockets. I've also mended tops and others, though my stitching is more practical than good! 

My daughter is also quite small in the waist, so I normally have to buy leggings that fit for length, then re-elasticate them so they actually fit her! 

It probably helps that we grew up on the poorer side, so my mum was always fixing things too.

Cinnabar_wing said:

though my stitching is more practical than good! 

My generation (in my 60s) were taught sewing in school.  Only females of course!

Clothes (and other goods) relative to salaries were much more expensive than these days, so the ability to knit and use a sewing machine was a great advantage in making rather than buying garments.

I think that to encourage younger people not to throw stuff away, mending skills of all kinds being taught when they are young would be good.

Cinnabar_wing said:

though my stitching is more practical than good! 

My generation (in my 60s) were taught sewing in school.  Only females of course!

Clothes (and other goods) relative to salaries were much more expensive than these days, so the ability to knit and use a sewing machine was a great advantage in making rather than buying garments.

I think that to encourage younger people not to throw stuff away, mending skills of all kinds being taught when they are young would be good.