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Show ( It Makes Cents By VI JUDGE BLAKE When I hear women say they can't afford to sew these days because be-cause of the inflated price of patterns pat-terns and fabric, I think of how my mother used the good parts of discarded dis-carded adult clothing to make serviceable ser-viceable outfits for her children. "Made-overs" we called them. Quite often, the fabric would be reversed re-versed because the color underneath was brighter and newer looking. Today a plethora of good, new-looking new-looking material can be found at garage sales and second-hand stores for almost nothing. (Our modern man-made materials don't fade as did the cottons and wools of yesteryear, and most of them seem to wear forever.) Children's pants from the legs of a man's (or woman's) wom-an's) pants; lovely Sunday-best girls dresses and blouses from the yards of material in evening or bridesmaid brides-maid dresses; can often be found at garage sales for as little as $2 or $3. Jackets from coats purchased for pennies, the possibiliues are limited only by one's imagination and creativity. And the zippers, buttons, trimmings, accessories that add considerably to the cost of a garment, are an extra bonus. Quite often, for example, I will buy a garment just for the buttons, long zipper, lace, and trims. "Made-overs" look brand new when the fabric is still bright, the old garment is ripped apart, and the pattern pieces cut just as you would from new material. However, you can sometimes save time and effort by utilizing existing ruffles, cbllars, cuffs, belts, sashes, plackets, and so on. For example, place the new shirt front pattern piece of a girls blouse upside down on the buttonhole button-hole panel of an old man's shirt to make use of the existing buttonholes. button-holes. In going through some old leaflets I wrote years ago, I found instructions for a pinafore made from a pair of kitchen curtains. The two panels with the ruffles on the bottom make the skirt, the length is adjusted from the top. The curtain valance provides enough material for the bib, shoulder ruffles, and sash. With the ruffles already made for you, an adorable pinafore takes very little time to complete. You probably won't need further instructions, instruc-tions, but if you do, I'll provide them if you'll send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Look for good, used clothing that you won't have to make over, I v 1 I too. I know resourceful mothers with young children who buy all of their children's play clothes at second-hand stores and garage sales. Practical! A great way to save money! Children, especially toddlers, tod-dlers, grow so fast their clothes will usually be almost new by the time they've outgrown them. My babies were so husky, they outgrew some of the newborn outfits given them before they were old enough to be dressed up and taken out. Dear Vi: I take great pleasure in my collection of miniatures, except for the dusting. Most of them are so intricate in design you can't get the crevices with a duster or dust cloth so that the dust must be washed off. Is there an easier way? Lucy Devry Put an old stocking over the soft vacuum cleaner brush, crevice tool, ' or hose nozzle. Hold the stocking tightly in place as you work so that it or your precious miniatures don't get sucked into the hose. This way, you can dust them in no time at all. Take along cassette tapes of books to listen to when traveling a long distance. This keeps you from getting sleepy, bored, or becoming mesmerized. You can probably borrow taped books, anything from non-fiction to mysteries, from your public library. This makes traveling travel-ing fun. When else, in this busy life we lead, do we have time to enjoy good books together as a family. Economy Tip - The next time you're tempted to buy bacon, remember re-member these figures: If the price is $1.60 per pound, you'll eat about 36 cents worth and throw out about $1.24 worth of grease. Or course, you can use the grease for frying or in corn bread or muffins, but that's still mighty expensive shortening. Readers: This is your feature. Send your ideas or requests for help to: It Makes Cents, 328 S. 300 East, St. George, UT 84770. If your letter let-ter is used here. I'll send you $2 or one of my money and time-saving booklets, "Kitchen Tricks" or "Discard "Dis-card Tricks." Please state your choice. |