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Tip Store: Clothes: Sewing and Mending

​Take Care of Clothing

It is very easy to spend a lot of money on clothes, mostly because they are not properly cared for. In fact next to food, clothing is often the next largest category in a family's Spending Plan. It's easy to keep the clothing bill down (and the family well dressed) if you just take proper care of your clothes. Re-hang clothing that’s been worn just a couple of hours and wear it again before laundering (constant washing and drying is hard on your clothes and is a significant factor in it looking worn and shabby after just a few wears). Use covers to protect out of season or clothes you don't wear very often from dust. Pre-wash by hand as soon as possible any clothing that gets a stain (give stains a rub with Stain Removing Soap and let them soak until washing time). Change from your work clothing to lower cost t-shirts and shorts or slacks when you get home to ensure you get at least a few years from your work clothes. Have children change out of school uniforms when the come home – they’ll get another wear out of them. And make sure they wear their after-school clothes for the week – they’ll only be in the a couple of hours before bath time and bed. Do any repairs as soon as they are required - sew on that button, fix that hem, patch that hole in the knee - and your clothes will always be presentable and you'll get a lot more wear out of them.
​ Tip of the Day 6 March 2013

​Bra Fabric

Why not buy some cheap bras to cut up? I have seen them on sale as low as $4 . You would not have to buy hooks or elastic and you could also refresh the straps too.
​- Contributed by Michele Graham, 17th January 2013

​Bra Repair

The fabric you are after is called powernet. Try Booby Traps 02 8411 1984 ph www.boobytraps.com.au. They are in Warriewood, Sydney where they also offer sewing classes but have a great web site and do mail order as well. They sell everything you could possibly need to repair your bras or make all your own lingerie including fabrics, elastic, all the fittings etc. and even kits and a 'bra making' DVD. I have used them a few times and have been very happy.
​ - Contributed by Anita Hall, 17th January 2013

​Website: www.boobytraps.com.au

​New Bra Elastic

I have been looking for years for this type of elastic fabric for bras (I used to make large lingerie) but unless you are willing to contact manufacturers for any end of rolls or an entire bolt, which is expensive, and most will not sell even any leftover product, the best thing I have found is looking in the elastic aisle of your local fabric shop. Find the replacement hooks you are after, (1,2 or 3 hooks) and find an elastic that matches the width, and hopefully the color of the bra. Another avenue is finding out where your local gymnastics club gets their fabric from, you might have some luck there. Here in Adelaide there is a place called DK Fabrics on Port Road, with a HUGE assortment of fabrics you can't get anywhere else.
​- Contributed by Denise Scotford, 17th January 2013

​Where to Purchase Elastic to Replace Bra Backs

I have tried to purchase from the usual sources for fabrics with no luck until I found the only Knitwit store left in Australia and it happens to be in my state of WA. They have a fantastic range of beautiful stretch fabrics, including elastics suitable for bras, which you can purchase by mail order if you happen to live elsewhere. They are at 4/142 Stirling Highway, Nedlands 6009, phone 1300 852 122 or email [email protected]. They also do fabric showing tours in each state and the dates are available on the web site.
​- Contributed by Beverley Wright, 17th January 2013

​Powernet

The product you are looking for is called powernet. You can purchase it here, www.trimnrem.com.au, or you may find a better price from an overseas seller. A small purchase would likely last you a lifetime.
- Contributed by Susan Rochford, 18th January 2013

​ Website: www.trimnrem.com.au

​Dance /Calisthenics shops

If you have a dance or calisthenics supplies shop nearby, they sell this type of material for Clubs to make costumes etc. Another tip is to do as I have - purchase a bra from there , cut the back pieces out and stitch onto yours . Cost usually 20c - a dollar or 2
​- Contributed by Julie Nicks, 18th January 2013

​Colour to Dye For

Instead of throwing out perfectly fine black clothing, just collect all your faded undies, singlets, shorts etc and re-dye them. They will look like new again! Also, rather than getting rid of long kids pants (particularly pjs and track pants) just cut them off and make them into shorts at the end of winter.
​- Contributed by Kate Waller, 17th January 2011

​Gentle Machine Wash

I have an alpaca and I wash it on my gentle cycle in the washing machine with wool wash. It comes up a treat. If it has a stain you think might be difficult, just dab at it first with the wool wash.
​- Contributed by Roslyn, Forster, 26th February 2009

​How to Wash an Alpaca Blanket

Alpacas get wet in the rain don't they? If you're careful you should be successful with washing your blanket. I would put it in my large washing machine with a very mild woolwash (I use Nutri Metics pink liquid with a few drops of eucalyptus oil) and slightly warm water, and use the machine as a large tub only. Don't agitate, squeeze gently with your hands. Use the machine to spin lightly and drain the water, then rinse with warm water and spin lightly again. Dry in shade, well supported.
​- Contributed by Diana, Bonnells Bay, 26th February 2009

​You Can Wash Alpaca Fibres

I would use a pure soap such as Lux or grated sunlight soap with a 1/4 cup of vinegar to help set the dye and make the garment softer. You can also add some hair conditioner to the rinse water for extra softness. Alpaca fibres are weaker when wet so don't wring or twist the garment. Wrap it in a towel and gently squeeze out the excess water. Lay it flat in a shady, ventilated area to dry.
​- Contributed by Karen, Deception Bay, 25th February 2009

​Hand Wash in Cool Water

Try hand washing it in cold water to avoid shrinkage with wool wash and don't leave it to soak for a long period just a few minutes and dry in the shade.
​- Contributed by Gail, Albion Park, 25th February 2009

​Hand Wash Blankets in the Bath

Some things labelled dry clean only, can be hand washed, in lukewarm water, detergent, such as wool wash, and rinsed in cool water. Roll in a large towel to remove excess water, and then dry flat. I have washed such items in the bath, and found it works very well. Good luck, hope this helps.
​- Contributed by Katrina Bridget, 25th February 2009

​Only Wash Alpaca When Necessary

A friend told me that she was told to wash her alpaca jumper in cool water with either hair shampoo or soap such as Lux flakes, but only hand wash not machine and no chlorine or bleach. Then dry flat in the shade, making it into the shape it is. When it is dry you can use a low iron to bring it back to original if needed. She said they told her to dry clean only once a year if needed, but to only wash if it was necessary. She has hand washed her jumper twice a year, and it is still going after having it for nearly six years. It still looks like it has just been purchased and she wears it constantly in winter, then packs it away in a sealed bag, no moth balls, when she doesn't wear it.
​- Contributed by Cara, Busselton, 25th February 2009

​Good Old Fashioned Wool Mix

I find the quickest, cheapest, easiest way to wash anything made of any fleece is good old fashioned wool mix. gently hand wash in wool mix as per instructions on bottle, don't rinse and dry flat. this works for sheep wool, alpaca, possum wool items, anything with that kind of fleece. its cheap, easy and great for the wool.
​- Contributed by Clare, Yallourn North, 24th February 2009

​Cold Water and a Specialist Wool Washd

I find wool, including mohair and alpaca, is always washable provided the water is cold and wool wash (like Softly) is used instead of normal detergent.
​- Contributed by Frances, Blackburn, 24th February 2009

​Sometimes Specialist Cleaning Is the Best Option

I used to be a dry cleaner and the chemicals used to clean things dissipate into the air. The smell you can smell in your clothes and bedding is the detergent only. Dry cleaners smell as the chemical is concentrated in the area. As long as blankets are aired in the dry cleaners for 24 hours, they are be safe to sleep under. Washing can cause wool to shrink and knot. You can do some wool products very carefully, but you will run the risk of losing the blanket altogether. If you are risking the wash, please test a small area (on a corner). The least amount of rubbing is best as this is the action that will be sure to shrink wool. All dirt will dissolve in water, oils and other substances really do need dry cleaning for the best results. See if you get the result you want before spending the money on a dry cleaner.
​- Contributed by Shona, Hampton Park, 24th February 2009

​Carefully Wash an Alpaca Blanket at Home

Felting is caused by a combination of heat (which opens up the follicle of the alpaca fibre so there are 'scales' which can grab onto other fibres), soap, and friction. If you avoid those factors, your blanket will be fine. Manufacturers frequently state that you should dry-clean items which simply need a little more care in washing. Sometimes this is because of delicate fabrics such as silk, or because there are several different fabrics in a garment, which stretch or contract at different rates when washed. I hand-wash my business suits or put them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, and save hundreds of dollars each year. If the lining stretches so much that it shows, I simply re-sew it. I press my suits with a cool to warm iron, with a pillowcase to protect the fabric if needed. You should be able to put the blanket in your washing machine on the delicates or wool cycle, using wool wash rather than regular laundry powder. Wool wash is less sudsy than regular laundry powder. If you're nervous about doing that, put some lukewarm water and wool wash into a large bucket or tub, and leave the blanket to soak for a few minutes. Gently slosh it up and down in the tub, then rinse with cold water, being careful not to rub the blanket too much or man-handle it roughly. Remember - friction aids the felting process! Press your lump of soggy blanket to remove most of the water, rinse again, then press to remove the water again. Now wrap it in towels and press to remove most of the remainder of the water. I prefer to use the spin function on my washing machine to remove most of the water - it does a better job than wringing or pressing the water out by hand, and since there are no longer suds or heat involved, your blanket shouldn't felt. You can dry the blanket flat if you have the space, or hang on your washing line, spreading it across several lines to support the weight, so it does not stretch.
​- Contributed by Sarah, Dickson, 24th February 2009

​Brush and Air Suede to Keep it Fresh

To clean a suede jacket you need to know if the suede is actually dirty, if it is just smelly or if it has been flattened. If the suede is flattened and dusty - just use a nail brush to brush it. Leaving it out the sun and fresh air will leave it smelling better. I used to do this every time I went out to smoky pubs/clubs - I 'lived' in my vintage suede fringed jacket.
​- Contributed by Bindii B., Richardson, 21st January 2009

​Suede is Easy to Clean at Home

There are professional suede cleaners out there, few and far between, but do exist. Cleaning yourself is a lot cheaper and simple home items will do it. You will need a pencil eraser, an emery board or fine grade sandpaper, stale bread with crusts removed. You can buy a suede brush and when jacket is clean, then you could spray with a waterproofing suede spray and this will help prevent future stains and water spots.
​- Contributed by Lesley, Highbury, 18th January 2009

​Handwash a Suede Jacket

My husband had a suede jacket which I regularly aired out, until I was sick of looking at it. I ended up gently hand washing it in lukewarm water and Softly/woolwash and it was as good as new. I would only recommend this if you are willing to risk the jacket, otherwise a leather drycleaner should be able to help.
​- Contributed by Kathy, Balga, 18th January 2009

​Give Suede a Steam Clean

I bought a second-hand suede jacket last year and faced the problem of it being so smelly I couldn't wear it. No dry cleaner would touch it. I was advised by several people to hang the jacket in a moist atmosphere (in the bathroom when there was steam in there), leave it a few minutes and then use a stiff bristled brush or a suede brush and brush it briskly in the same direction all over. It works wonderfully and brings it up good as new (almost)
​- Contributed by Lois, Medowie, 18th January 2009

​Rub the Marks off Suede

If you have stains or marks on your suede you can use an eraser on the mark then use a suede brush to bring up the pile a hair brush with fine bristles will do the same job if you have a bad stain you can try using white vinegar just a small amount on a cloth.
​- Contributed by Janette, Wallan, 17th January 2009

Protect Suede

The best thing for Suede is protection initially like Scotch Guard. If it is a small stain you can try an eraser by rubbing it VERY gently. I would buy a new one for it. If it is worse than that or the stain won't come off you can use white vinegar, dabbing it on very gently. Leave it out overnight to get rid of the white vinegar smell. You could also try a suede brush initially, available from shoe repairers or maybe a good department store. If its just loose dirt it may come clean this way.
​- Contributed by Julie, Seaford, 17th January 2009

​Suede Cleaning is Easy

Cleaning suede can be easy using a suede brush (they have rubber bristles).Stubborn stains however are a little trickier. Use a damp towel (water and a small amount of vinegar),allow to dry and brush with rubber suede brush.
​- Contributed by Penny, Lilyfield, 17th January 2009

​Raise the Nap to Shake off Dirt

Rub the suede with a dry facecloth, to raise the nap and take off any obvious dirt. Rub stains with a pencil eraser. scratch off any hard stains very gently with fingernail or a toothbrush. Try water and vinegar, just a dab on a dry facecloth. BUT test first on a inside seam as water stains suede and ruins it. You never know how the leather has been treated initially.
​- Contributed by Julie, St. Kilda, 17th January 2009

​Airing and Brushing to a Suede Jacket

If suede is flattened and dusty - just use a nail brush to brush it. Leaving it out the sun and fresh air will leave it smelling better. I used to do this with my suede coat ever time I went out to smoky pubs/clubs - I 'lived' in my vintage suede fringed jacket.
​-Contributed by Bindii, Richardson, 20th February 2009

​Start a Button Box

When throwing old clothes out as rags, cut off all the buttons and keep in a plastic zip bag in the sewing box, new buttons can be expensive. Next time you are sewing or knitting check your button box before buying new ones. Also handy to replace a lost button off something you wear
​- Contributed by Vicki, 4th February 2009

​Recycle Your Old Polar Fleece Tops

Approximate $ Savings: $10-15 plus

Don't throw away your pre-loved polar fleece tops, recycle them instead to make beanies and winter accessories for the family. Children's beanies can be made with ear flaps to keep their ears warm. Add tassels of different colours to sew to the tops of the beanies. Motifs from your old polar fleece tops can be included in your beanie design (see picture). The style and look of your beanie is limited only by your imagination. Also, use the sleeves from the top to make a neck warmer (tubular style scarf), the softness and warmth of the polar fleece will be sure to keep your neck snug and the cold wind out this winter. You may even have enough fabric left over to make some simple gloves. Free patterns on how to make a beanie, neck warmer or gloves can be found on the Internet by doing a simple search on 'How to make a beanie' etc. With the cold weather just around the corner, now is the perfect time to put to good use those old unused polar fleece tops you have lying around. Keep Warm!
​- Contributed by Kathy, Highton, 6th April 2010

​Sorting the Spare Buttons

When buying new clothes there is generally a small plastic bag attached with spare buttons, beads, sequins etc. When there is a need to use these it is time consuming to find the spare you want as many are similar. I now attach the sales ticket off the garment to the bag as this usually has a description of the garment on it.
​- Contributed by Mary, Netley, 18th January 2010

​Invisible Hemlines

When my kids and their friends/family were growing up we all pooled our littlies clothes, as they grew so fast. We tried to make the clothes last longer as most of the time they grew taller but not really wider, so we all let the hems down, but often this left unsightly holes. After a bit of experimenting I found that with dampening the fabric with all equal parts of white vinegar and water and then ironing the fabric, the holes just close right up and it looks fantastic.
​- Contributed by Heather, Clagiraba, 12th September 2009

​Thrifty Repair Saves a Lot of Money

Approximate $ Savings: $60.00

​I work at a nursing home as a cleaner, and as we use bleach and other hospital grade chemicals to clean with, my uniform would often become stained and marked and I would often feel awful spending money on a nice pair of slacks/trousers (which we are required to wear)wondering how long it would take before they were ruined. So instead of buying my trousers from a retailer I found that op-shops were by far much cheaper (I would pay anywhere between $6.00 to $10.00 from the op-shop, whilst to buy a similar pair retail would be anywhere from $29.99 and upwards)and if they were damaged, well I didn't feel as guilty, as they did not cost me that much to start with. Recently the zip in a pair of trousers I had bought from the op-shop had broken, and when I went to a tailor/clothes mender at a local shopping centre I was quoted a minimum of $20.00 to fix it. This was $10.00 more than what I had paid for the trousers in the first place. So, even though I am a basic sewer, I decided to do it myself (even though I had never before replaced a zip myself) and bought a zip for $3.00. I then sat down and took the old zip out, then tacked the new one in first and when I was happy with the way it sat etc on the trousers, I sewed it in by machine. I saved myself roughly $40-$60.00 by buying trousers from the op-shop, and putting the new zip in myself. And it wasn't that hard to do at all, if I can do it, so can anyone! The uniform tops we wear which also get damaged can be bought from a uniform supplier and then claimed back through your tax return as well.
​- Contributed by Merryn, Altona Meadows, 29th September 2009

​The Little Black Dress Gets a Makeover

Approximate $ Savings: $70.00 - $270.00

I had a party coming up and with little time to organise, and very little money, I was stuck on what to wear. I took an old plain black dress from my wardrobe, that had been used on many occasions, along with a plain black pair of open shoes. I went to my nearest Spotlight and bought some pretty ribbons and beads. I sewed the ribbon under the bust to make a pretty tie up bow on the side and placed delicate little beads on the bottom of the dress. I used the same ribbon as on the dress on my shoes, by gluing the ribbon underneath the shoe, thus creating a tie up ankle shoe and added a finishing touch of beads. It usually costs anywhere between $100.00 to $300.00 to buy a dress and shoes for an occasion, and I got away with $30.00, saving me anywhere from $70.00 - $270.00. The dress and shoes looked new and amazing, and everyone commented on how pretty it all was. Truly original and nobody would ever have the same!
​- Contributed by Paola, Roxburgh Park, 8th October 2009

​Done Up Forever

When the buttons fall off your garments, sew them back on with embroidery thread. They will stay on the garment forever!
​- Contributed by Colleen, Erskine Park, 20th July 2009

​Simple Clothes Renovation Gives New Life to Old Favourites

Approximate $ Savings: $100

For this hint you don't need to leave home or spend anything. I was sorting out clothes to send to the op shop when I noticed 4 about to be donated favourite old t-shirts ($25 each) had lost their shape. Colour and decorations were fine, just horribly baggy. Five minutes on the sewing machine, side seams taken in and shaped to come in at the waistline. Whoopee, 4 like new t-shirts, saving $100. Now to check out the rest of the box.
​- Contributed by Sandie, Suffolk Park, 15th April 2009

​Stitch and Save

Underwire bras are expensive to replace and the pesky wires always seem to come astray in the wash. Whilst handwashing helps to minimise this happening, wires still seem to 'pop' when wearing. Also, machine washing, in a delicates bag, seems to clean and refresh far better than handwashing. To extend my bra life, whenever I buy a new bra I sew a series of stitches on the outside encompassing the underwire. I do this in about six spots, overlapping at least four times (like sewing a button on) using a coordinating thread. I find the wires stay put and the thread just looks decorative. Saves me a fortune over the year, not just in new bras but the time/effort/expense in getting to the shops.
​-Contributed by Chelli, Glen Iris, 27th February 2009

​Simple Clothes Renovation Gives New Life to Old Favourites

Approximate $ Savings: $100

​ For this hint you don't need to leave home or spend anything. I was sorting out clothes to send to the op shop when I noticed 4 about to be donated favourite old t-shirts ($25 each) had lost their shape. Colour and decorations were fine, just horribly baggy. Five minutes on the sewing machine, side seams taken in and shaped to come in at the waistline. Whoopee, 4 like new t-shirts, saving $100. Now to check out the rest of the box.
- Contributed by Sandie, Suffolk Park, 15th April 2009

​Old Favourite Cleans Leather

Pears soap with a soft cloth and a little amount of water (not sudsy!), followed by a damp cloth works on all my leather.
​- Contributed by Tess, Bundaberg, 4th August 2008

​Shoe Blocks Clean Leather Coats

You could try a sponge block for cleaning shoes. This is just a black sponge that comes in a container with a clear top and red bottom advertised for cleaning leather shoes. You can buy these at the cheap shops and shoe stores. I have found it very good for cleaning mildew off my partners leather jacket.
​- Contributed by Dianne, Eatons Hill, 1st August 2008

​Upholstery Cleaner Works On Leather Coats Too

I use leather upholstery car cleaner (Armor All)to clean my leather jacket and handbags as well as my leather couch. It works really well and you can get it from Big W for approx. $15.00.
​- Contributed by Michelle, Chelsea Heights, 1st August 2008

​Leather Clean Readily Available

Selleys has a product called Leather Clean available at supermarkets. If its really grubby give it a wipe over with Sunlight Soap on damp rag and then wipe off with clean damp rag. Then polish with some Armor All Car Polish it will come up lovely and clean soft and shiny.
​- Contributed by Gail, Albion Park, 31st July 2008

​Kitchen Staple Makes Great Leather Conditioner

A dash of olive oil on a soft cloth cleans my leather Chesterfield, you could try this on your coat, try it on a spot that doesn't show first of course.
​-Contributed by Elizabeth, Corio, 31st July 2008

​Elbow Grease & Saddle Soap Clean Leather Coats

Pop along to a stock and feed store or to a good quality leather supply shop like RM Williams and buy some saddle soap. With a bit of elbow grease and lots of soft rags you should be able to clean a leather coat without too much difficulty and have left overs for using on shoes and other leather goods.
​- Contributed by Jena, Mount Annan, 1st August 2008

​Buying a Sewing Machine

I was taught to sew as a little girl by my mum and never really did any for myself until I had children. My mum bought me the same kind that I learned on 20-something years ago(a 20-something year old Janome) as I can't seem to get my head around the complicated new digital ones. If you can find a sewing machine repairer in your local area, he/she may be able to recommend one or point you in the right direction. He would probably be able to get you a decent, reliable second hand one, too. The old ones are great as they are virtually indestructible and are so easy to operate!
​- Contributed by Angela, Meringandan, 1st July 2008

​How Do You Remove Old Hemlines?

First you need to buy a pressing cloth, I think they are about $8 from any sewing store and they are impregnated with special chemicals and they last ages. You only use them on one side though, which is marked so you can tell. Second, your iron needs to be on the hottest setting with steam. Third you need to wet the area, do not flood it with water, the best method is to lightly wet a Chux cloth and squeeze any excess water out, then 'dab' the crease a few times until it goes damp, then using the pressing cloth push down very firmly on the iron using two hands and hold for about 10 seconds, this shouldn't burn your fabric but if you are concerned test in intervals of three seconds and see what you think. Repeat this a few times as some fabrics are a bit more stubborn than others.
​- Contributed by Rachel, 27th August 2006

​Put a New Collar on a Shirt

Before throwing out your boys school shirts because the collars have worn through un-pick the collar and sew it on the other way round You will then get more wear out of the shirt which is still perfectly good, thus saving money by not having to buy a new shirt every 3-6months.
​- Contributed by Penelope, Coburg, 3rd January 2008

​Use Your Computer to Hide Stains & Customise Clothing!

Buy some t-shirt transfer paper (it's very cheap on eBay) and use Word or Powerpoint to design a whole page of your very own transfers. Use scrapbooking graphics, Word Art, clip art, even photos. You should be able to fit at least 9 decent size transfers on one page. Print the page, cut out the transfers and then iron them over stains or use them to customise and refresh clothes. Just a bit of your time and less than 30 cents!
​- Contributed by Lisa, Taringa, 2nd January 2008

​Hemming Tape Saviour

Save on tailor/sewing costs and purchase hemming tapes! As a mother of 5 -who also CAN'T sew, hemming tapes are my saviour. Hemming school trousers, hubby's jeans, bathroom curtains, etc. You cut it to size, fold fabric, iron over it - it takes seconds -DONE! MAGIC!
​- Contributed by Linette, Berwick, May 17th 2005

​A Bit of Dye - a Whole New Wardrobe!

I have saved myself several hundred dollars on a new wardrobe by spending $18 on black and blue dyes - and a Sunday afternoon in the laundry! I had several tops, pants, jackets and socks that were in good condition but the colours were worn out. I was about to send them to the Salvo's but decided to buy some clothes dye instead. Now they look great and I feel like I have a brand new wardrobe. In some cases they look better than the original colour! I also had several pants and skirts that had small belt loops. I don't wear belts with clothes, so I removed the belt loops. Not only do the clothes look better without the bulky loops, I also look slimmer.
​- Contributed by Kaye, Dianella, March 21st 2005

​Stretching Woollen Jumpers

Unfortunately for my husband, I had shrunk one of his very few wool jumpers. With talking to the older generation I have had success with reshaping it. In a basin use 1 part hair conditioner to warm water. Soak for 10 min and then ring out the excess and reshape. Apparently, by doing this you are unblocking the wool fibres. I had a great result and a happy husband.
​- Contributed by Samantha, Euroa, October 24th 2006

​Rejuvenate Clothing by Dyeing

I have many dark coloured t-shirts, track pants etc that have become faded through repeated wear and washing. Instead of buying new ones I thought I would try dying a batch of clothes (if it didn't work I hadn't lost anything). The results were better than I expected. With 2 packets of black dye, 24L of hot water (plus extra for rinsing) and an hour of my time I have rejuvenated 2 pairs of track pants, 2 t-shirts, 1 long sleeved wrap top and my husband's business shirt! This works best on clothes that are dark to begin with - my dark grey track pants are a deeper charcoal, my navy top is now dark navy etc Read the instructions carefully, wear gloves and use your stainless laundry tub (not the washing machine as the plastic parts will dye). The only instruction I ignored was the quantity of dye - I dyed far more than the packet suggested I could.
​- Contributed by Cherie, Bull Creek, June 25th 2006

​Hiding Hem Lines

I don't have a solution for removing iron marks from clothing when iron too hot, however, I've recently solved this problem on a pair of brown coloured ladies pants by sewing on a piece of brown fabric with a self-pattern as a trim around the hem of both pants legs (as that was where the iron mark was). Today's fashion made it very easy for this solution to work and the pants still look fashionable; this also enabled me to keep a very comfortable pair of pants, which were still quite new. Depending on where the mark is, there are lots of embellishments from stores such as Spotlight, Lincraft, etc which you can use to cover the mark and place elsewhere so that everyone will think the pants were embellished all along!
​- Contributed by Jo, Berowra, September 26th 2006

​Shirt Buttons

Out of white cotton to sew those pesky shirt buttons back on? Simply use Dental-Floss, it's much stronger than ordinary cotton and launders well
​- Contributed by Brian, Beacon Cove, September 1st 2006

​Button Keeper

​To keep buttons from dropping off: Dab a drop of clear nail polish onto the thread to secure the buttons. This will harden and make it more difficult for thread to break off.

​Scratchy Labels

​If back-of-the-neck labels irritate and itch, don't cut them out. That just produces a scratchy raw edge or a rough lump. Instead cover them with iron-on bonding tape. Cutting the label away removes important care information you'll need in the future.

​Fuzz Balls

​Nothing makes a jumper or tracksuit look older faster than fuzz balls! There are a couple of ways to deal with them and make your garment look new again. There is a commercial fuzz ball remover you can buy for clothing; it's like a little comb. If you don't want to buy one of those, just use a razor blade and carefully scrape them off.

​Recycle Wool

​You can recycle old jumpers by carefully unwinding the yarn. Then, to get the kinks out, loosely wind it around a cake cooler and dip it into water. Let the whole thing dry out and all the kinks will be gone, you can rewind it into balls and start knitting.

​Change the Buttons

​If you can sew on a button, you can instantly change the look of your clothes. By changing the buttons, you will update shirts, blouses, vests, cardigans, coats, blazers and jackets. And buttons can be inexpensive if you look around - try second-hand shops - you'll be amazed at what you can find.

​No-Sew Hemlines

For readers who do not have sewing machines or hate to sew, there is a product called 'Hemming Web' available in a roll designed for hemming. Just iron it on the fold with a damp cloth and you have hemmed your item. There are a couple of different weights, and it is sold under different brand names, so you may have to ask for it. It's available at Lincraft, Spotlight and other fabric stores.
​- Contributed by S.M., Newcastle

​Make a Vest

​Turn a jumper into a vest by removing the sleeves. Then you can bind the edges with bias tape, turn under and hem or add a band. If the jumper is of fabric, you can use the same fabric to sew a narrow band to the armhole edge. For knitted jumpers, you can pick up stitches around the armhole and knit a ribbed band. Use a contrasting yarn, or unpick a sleeve and use the yarn from that to knit the band.

​Re-vamp a Dress

​If you have a dress that you no longer wear, but still like the fabric, pattern, colour etc. why not re-vamp it into something else? Make a skirt by cutting it off above the waist, turning over a casing and threading elastic through. If you are an experienced sewer, you could split a seam and add a zip and waistband. Or cut it off just below the hip, split the side seams for about 7cm and hem the bottom for a shirt.

​Double Strength

Boys can be very hard on the knees of their school trousers and they are very expensive to replace on a regular basis. You can re-enforce the knees by ironing onto the inside of each leg an iron-on patch of similar weight fabric. Then very carefully 'ditch stitch' the edges of the patch into the seams of the trouser leg. I do this with all my boy's pants and they are yet to go through the knees.
- Contributed by Cath

​Button Savers

To save buttons on shirts (especially school shirts!) dab a little clear nail polish on the back of the button and across the centre front. This will help to stop the thread from coming undone and the buttons will stay on much, much longer.
​- Contributed by Debra, Shepparton, Vic.

​Easy Threading

​If you have trouble threading a needle, wet the end of the thread and draw it across a bar of soap. The thread will stiffen and slip right through the eye of the needle.