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| A living room in Virginia, 1929. LOC |
On our walks throughout the rooms of home, it is important to see that things are in order. A clean and tidy house is a restful place to be. There may be a bit of clutter on a desk. There may be books on the table. Toys on the floor may also be a common sight. But if things are clean and decently mended, it brings a sense that there is a beloved housekeeper doing her part.
Sometimes I will notice old paperback books are starting to deteriorate. This often happens with children's books as well since they are handled frequently. I use clear packing tape to hold the binding and covers in place. This is part of mending in the home. It makes things last longer.
If a ruffle or hem in a curtain is coming undone, put that on the chore list. Or, if you have a few spare minutes, use a hand-sewing needle and put in some stitches to make the curtains nice and pretty.
Older towels and washcloths eventually begin to unravel around the edges. We can fold up the fraying ends, folding them over twice, and hand-sew a new hem. This will prevent further damage as we put them back in good shape.
When making the beds, we are careful to notice any holes or tears. These can be repaired quickly with a hand-sewing needle and a little thread.
Worn carpets and rugs can even be mended when necessary. In our old 1800's house, there are thin carpets in some of the rooms. They were here long before we became the current residents. Around the perimeter of the room, it looks like whoever originally installed them, used some scrap pieces which are not attached to the rest. This makes it difficult to clean when vacuuming. The options include installing a metal strip to hold the two pieces down and in place. Or one could simply hand-sew the carpets together, which is what I would rather do since there is no additional cost for supplies. It is also a discreet and almost invisible method and will help retain the beauty of the room.
We certainly do not need to spend all of our time mending and fixing or even thinking about such things. But there is a tendency to put off repairs when we think it might take too long. We are often too tired to manage it all and just need tea-breaks and rest! It is not possible to accomplish everything in a day or even in a week. This is why it is always good when helpers are available.
We have an old fabric couch-cover on a small sofa in our parlour. Hidden away, across the entire back of the fabric, is a large tear. I know how to fix this but have put it off for a long time. One day, as I was straightening the couch, I showed grandgirl the large tear in the back of the fabric. I told her, "One day we will fix this." Looking for something new and interesting to do, she responded with, "Why not right now?" I told her I thought it would take years! She just smiled and asked for the fabric. I set her up at the card table with my sewing box. She had a lovely time with the rest of us all around reading, playing, and enjoying the day. Soon I noticed she was ready to draw and color at the table. I said, "Have you had enough? Or are you taking a break from sewing?" She smiled as she told me, "I am all finished." I could not believe it as I looked at her work. There was not a single tear anywhere on the fabric. She laughed, "And you thought it would take years!" I was so thankful!
Getting help from the younger generation is a lovely way for them to experience thrift, old-fashioned values, and the cheerful joy one feels when doing good things for the home. I am also incredibly grateful for their help in homemaking!
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
My Mother's Example - Housekeeping All Day.
Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.
Unwanted Advice for the Family - Quieting Myself for the Good of Others.
- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -
Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."
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"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."
Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!
115 pages, paperback.
2 comments:
What a sweet story with your granddaughter. You have taught her well!
Just this morning I did some mending in my bedroom. I had an old doll whose leg had come undone, and the linen cloth over our dresser top also had a corner that needed reattached to its edging. I had waited way too long to get to it but today I finally did it. It looks so much nicer now.
The children have a habit of sitting on the arms of a particular sofa and by doing so the fabric has torn where it meets the wood under it. I did some darning on the one side and now the other side needs it also. It does a good job blending in and it is hardly noticeable. It will last until we should have to replace the sofa.
Thank you for your lovely encouragement to keep the home mended. It is nice to know others are also doing some of the same things. 🥰
Thanks for inspiring me to mend the rip in my comforter that I've been ignoring and hiding for weeks! What a lovely granddaughter you have. I don't have such a helper, I'll have to do it on my own. :)
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