Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

A few days ago, I turned a $1 opshopped flannelette pillowcase (all cotton) into four kitchen cloths. I was inspired by our electrician Daniel, who mentioned that he’d been making them out of his daughters’ old pyjamas. It was a fun project using 100% rescued materials, including vintage sewing machine thread and embroidery floss from an old craft kit.

I subsequently learnt that this style of cleaning cloth is common in Japan, where it’s known as “zokin”. Google turned up this interesting article about them, and I loved this quote…”the Japanese used to say that we should keep using the fabric until the fabric dissolves in the water.”

Serendipitously, that evening, my friend Carol gave me her old flannelette sheets. I used them to make her and Kevin a set of zokin, and embroidered them with some of the phrases that bring instant laughter after nearly 40 years of friendship.

Each one has a story, but this one – “test of friendship” – is a particular favourite. When we were 21, Kevin and I were at university together. He lived in Stanmore, I lived in Strathfield, both stations on the same train line. After lectures, we’d sit chatting on the platform and an express train (stopping at Redfern – Ashfield – Strathfield) would arrive.

“No no no, wait for the all stations train with me!”, Kevin would say. I’d object that it would take me an extra 45 minutes to get home, and he’d ALWAYS say.. “test of friendship!” So I’d wait, get on the train, and after four stops, Kevin would get off…and I’d ride another seven stops to Strathfield. This happened almost every day. It’s a memory that never fails to make me laugh.

And it was totally worth it, because I’ve been able to tell this story at countless dinner parties for 35 years. I was smiling a great deal when I embroidered it on his dishcloth. When I presented it to him, he grinned and said “we were always in deep conversation, and I don’t think you ever complained!” Even at 21, I knew we would be lifelong friends, and that his company was a gift.

If you’d like to have a go at making these dishcloths, they’re a very easy and forgiving project. Cut up any old, absorbent fabric into 25cm/10″ squares and sew them together. I machine stitched around three edges with the right sides of the fabric together, then turned them out and stitched the opening closed. Old embroidery thread can be used to hand sew running or decorative stitches to hold the two sides together. I picked this bundle up for $3 at The Sewing Basket in Balmain.

Then…use them constantly until the fabric dissolves in the water. I toss them into the washing machine with my tea towels and they launder perfectly. It’s an end of life use for these precious materials, and one which simultaneously reduces the need for disposable cleaning cloths or paper towels! 🌿💚♻️

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Craft, or “quaft” as it’s known in our house (you can read why here), has always been an integral part of my life.

It really is my therapy and over the years, I’ve spent some serious dollars on buying supplies. These days I’ve learnt to find joy in making things from rescued materials, which has the double bonus of costing very little, and more importantly, keeping valuable resources out of landfill. It’s mentally soothing, creatively satisfying, sustainable and frugal, all at the same time.

Since retiring last year, I’ve deep dived into quaft big time. I try to make or mend something every day, and seeing my handiwork, even if it’s just the tiniest darn, has been incredibly satisfying. I have several projects on the go at the moment which I’ll show you over time (my slow stitch journal needs its own post), but let me share just a few of them with you today.

Remember the little $3 secondhand book I picked up at the end of last year?

I not a huge cocktail aficionado, but the Kat Macleod illustrations in this book were delightful, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed turning them into quirky gift tags…

I framed three of the pages and gave one each to my girlfriends Anita and Jenny. The frames were all sourced secondhand from the Salvos warehouse in Rockdale…

My obsession with old sheeting continues, and I’m always scouring opshops looking for a bargain.

I picked up a locally made cotton Actil sheet in near perfect condition and used it to make a pair of sleep shorts for Small Man. He put them on and wore them for two days straight, so I knew I was on a winner! Luckily the vintage flat sheet was queen sized, so I was able to whip up another four pairs for him, and then turn the offcuts into napkins. It was a pretty good result for my $6 investment, but more importantly, it gave all those precious resources a second life. And I find heavy cotton sheeting very addictive to sew with…

The following week I found a beautifully thick Sheridan doona cover and matching pillow cases at the Salvos for $12. But it was seriously stinky – we suspect it had been stored while damp. Instead of throwing it away, the Salvos staff were happy to let me have it at a reduced price of $7. I soaked it in Napisan for four hours then gave it a 60°C wash. It came up beautifully clean and odour-free.

I’ve learnt over the past few years not to give up on beautiful textiles because of stains or smells. Most of the time (definitely not always), the resources can be rescued and repurposed. This morning I turned the pillow cases into four tea towels…

I’m also a bit obsessed these days with vintage fine needlework – this piece of Chinese silk languished in my stash for years until my clever friend Mark suggested a way to use it. The delicate hand embroidered design lay in the middle of the strip, but Mark suggested carefully cutting it in half, sewing the opposite ends together, and creating a pashmina with border detail…

It worked a treat! Now I just need a place to wear it…

Finally, I made a paper dragon for Chinese New Year! I’ve wanted to make one for years, but I could never figure out how to do it. Then last month I came across rolls of industrial adhesive reflective tape going for a song at Reverse Garbage. On the same visit, I also found red corrugated cardboard and assorted cutout circles, and a project was born…

I cut the base from cardboard, then covered half the discs with reflective tape…

Big Boy and Monkey Girl were roped into helping over dinner. They made the talons, mane and tail, I hot glued all the discs in place…et voila! We’ve named him Falkor after the luck dragon in The Neverending Story…

Here’s what he looks like photographed with a flash…

Pete took a low light evening pic…

. . . . .

So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! Plus lots and lots of mending, but I’ll spare you more pics of my darned tea towels and socks.

Can I segue for just a moment and share my thoughts about frugal crafting? Retirement, coupled with a growing awareness of the environmental impact of overconsumption, has meant that I buy all my craft supplies these days from charities and NFP corporations. My favourite stores here in Sydney are The Sewing Baskets, Reverse Garbage, The Bower and the Salvos warehouses.

It has led to a different sort of making – one which is reactive rather than proactive. I don’t head out with a long list of materials I need to buy for a project; instead I search for resources which can be repurposed or given a second life. In this way, my spending no longer puts pressure on new resources – cotton, for example, is one of the most environmentally harmful fibres to grow, but I absolutely love it, so by only buying secondhand, I’m able to use it guilt-free.

I’ve learnt to look past the original use of an item and see its future potential – torn jeans can be remade into aprons, vintage sheets become beeswax wraps and napkins and shorts, a book on cocktails is turned into gift tags. Old linen shirts offer beautiful fabric for masks, patches and drawstring bags, even if they’re holey and therefore unwearable.

Now that I’m no longer earning a monthly salary, it’s important that my “frivolous” expenditure is carefully managed. Sustainable quafting is a joyous and easily affordable pastime. Furthermore, by only buying from charitable or community organisations, the few dollars that I do spend help benefit others. It’s a win all around!

Are you a maker too? If so, I’d love to know about your craft hobbies or latest project! 💚

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