Corks - what can you do with them?

Corks - such a shame to throw them away. I keep mine. Then I wonder what to do with them. Framed Corks I saw a set of corks in lines in a picture frame in a charity shop. I had to buy it. Then I thought I could do the same with my own corks. They cost nothing. I also have picture frames with broken glass. I'd been wondering what to do with them. Stick corks onto the backing. What about those thick double display frames? You can buy empty ones in craft shops. I bought some in Spotlight in Singapore. It's the sort of frame you often see in charity shops (which Americans call Thrift stores). Cork Doorstop At the Fulham Wine Rooms, in the Ladies toilet, I saw a cork used as a door wedge. You can also display corks in bottles. Make them as backgrounds or surrounds to clocks. Angela Lansbury, author and speaker. See my other posts on blogger.com More about Angela Lansbury on Facebook, LinkedIn. See me perform on YouTube. Read about Angela Lansbury's books on Amazon.com and Lulu.com

Converting shirts into cushions and cushions into bags

Re-using Shirts as Cushions with Pockets
A video on YouTube (Credit Menudo Menurito) shows you how to cut up an old shirt to make a square (or oblong) cushion. 

You have a straight edge to cut and a straight edge to seam. If you are sewing by hand and don't sew neatly or don't have matching cotton, sew a seam with the item inside out. Then turn it the right way around and the seam is hidden. Most shirt material is both strong and washable. 

When the collar and cuffs are frayed, your item has a second use. 

A smart white dress shirt can be turned into an elegant ladies' bag.

I have another thought. Great for cushions and pillow cases for men, students, sons, military, who don't like flowers. Pocket for pillows for an afternoon nap or bed time - paper tissues, phone with alarm, pencil and notebook, other vital but unmentionable items. Alternatively, use it as lining for a bucket bag which lacks a closure; or an old tote bag or shoulder bag which has an old fashioned size phone holder pocket too small for an iPhone or iPad. 

Other uses for an improvised bag:
Bag for storing scarves in drawers at home, on a shelf, or in a suitcase for tidiness and quick finding when packing for holidays. 

Bag for a man's handkerchiefs. 

Bag for keeping or carrying a barmitzvah boy's or Jewish man's prayer shawl and skull cover cap.

Does he have two shirts in the same pattern, or same pattern and different colours? When the first shirt wears out, make it into a bag to match the other shirt.

Turning Cushions Into Handbags
Fold finished item in half along the button side with buttons at the top, sew on a ribbon as a shoulder strap, to make a beach bag or tote bag filler with two sides, one for beach shoes, the other for a drink of water or towel. Sew lower corners together, or attach with shorter ribbon to look neat but allow for expansion. 

Use two or four safety pins inside to secure cut up bin liner or replaceable kitchen bin liner for waterproof lining. Or use as Dad's or Grandad's tote bag filler for baby's nappies on one side, baby food on the other side. 

I also converted a wine coloured satin cushion into an evening bag to match a wine coloured skirt and jacket. I left it as a large square tote bag. 

For an evening, if you are petite or want to look neat, fold cushion horizontally for a high or wide bag, with small ribbon for a pouch and long one for a shoulder bag, attached, or detachable using D rings from an old bag or bought from eBay sewing suppliers or Hobbycraft. 

Cheap satin cushions, unfilled or filled, from supermarkets or department stores are often cheaper than evening bags or are just the colour you need. Many of them already have zips which saves your contents falling out and is some protection agains pickpockets.

All you need is a pair of scissors, a need and thread, and a running stitch.

If you don't have these, what can you do?

No knife?
If you don't have scissors, you can cut with:
a Stanley knife in an office, or from a tool kit, or a razor blade cutter, or a sharp knife, fold fabric in half along cutting line and cut away from you; or nail scissors, or sewing scissors, or large wallpaper cutting scissors. Best cutters are serrated pinking shears which help stop fabric from fraying.

Angela Lansbury, author of How To Get Out Of The Mess You're In. Buy from the author. Get a signed copy.

Widening a skirt hem

I have a second hand Ann Balon three-piece outfit (bought on eBay) with a long skirt. I love it. I have worn it all week. Standing around at a meeting, or walking slowly at home, the tight skirt was no trouble. However, when I travelled into London, galloping after companions who raced for trains, I found the skirt was too tight around the ankles.

It was an annoying nuisance. More importantly, I was in danger of falling.

I had to pull it up to my knees to climb steps on the London underground stations. Most inelegant.

I worried that I would fall into the gap we were told to mind as I ran towards the train. It was equally stressful when I rushed to get off a train before the doors closed.

I nearly fell over trying to step off a bus in Singapore. I nearly didn't make it, leaping from the bus platform onto the pavement a foot or two away.

I had looked at the inside seam several times. It was very highly sewn. The edges were overlocked. The seam had two rows of very tight and short stitches. You could hardly prise the tip of a pair of nail scissors underneath. I could not find my seam ripper.

My initial preference was for cutting the original seam. The part you haven't yet cut is strongly sewn together. You might sew a horizontal stitch across it, plus some reinforcing if you like upwards, vertically, following the original sewing.

I considered the alternative. Cutting with pinking shears along the material beside the seam.

Disadvantages? The stretchy crochet might fray. I might end up with a wobbly line instead of the original edge cut by the garment maker.

In the end I gave up trying to prise open the original seam. I had delayed days, now hours. Minutes were ticking past. Nothing was happening. I had to start. It was quicker to grab my pinking shears and make a small exploratory cut.

No instant disaster and fraying. So I cut a bit further. To my surprise, although I'd had to pull my skirt up to knee level to climb up steps, a mere hand width slit, to my lower calf, was enough to enable me to climb steps. I tested walking up steps in my home.

What if you don't have indoor steps because you live in a one storey bungalow or ranch house or flat? I considered using a step stool. Even climbing up to a dining chair. (I wouldn't want to risk falling off. I visualised what I or you should do. We must have somebody nearby to grab or do it beside a table with a cushion on the floor and no sharp edges nearby. I had steps to both the back and front of a one story bungalow. Amazing. The small cut is sufficient. Maybe the garment is stretchier or wider higher up, once you have released the tight horizontal hem.

I had considered preserving the elegance of an ankle length skirt by inserting an A shape plaque of matching material. The technical term for this is a godet.

I looked at my ribbons for edging. Shiny brightly coloured ribbon looked out of place against the matt crochet. I looked at paler bias binding. Could I dye it? My dyes were not a good match.

What if the garment had colours which run? Eventually, after washing once or several times, the leaking colours of the garment would run onto the upside down V shape patch.

In the end I found in my jars of ribbons and bias binding an edging strip of bias binding.

Now the great news, the good news. The part I had cut had only one seam needing overstitching with the bias binding. Because I had cut close to the original vertical seam, the original strong maker's stitching was sufficient and neat enough to hold the left hand seam. Only one cut edge to bind!

Also, your eye does not look too closely at the hem of a skirt when you are standing nearby. Especially if the garment has eye-catching detail at the top. The skirt has an inset of crochet lace on the opposite side.

I have now learned a new trick for making a slit. Cut next to the original vertical hem. You have only one edge to bind.

Angela Lansbury, author and speaker.
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