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Make, Do and Mend


The cyber-diary of what this homemaker makes, does and sometimes mends.
My motto is "if you do stuff, stuff gets done"

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Sewing and thinking about my Aunt Bernice

For our wedding, 33 years ago, my very sweet Aunt Bernice gave us several gifts. Some were expensive but the gift I remember and used the most cost her no money,  just a little time. She said when she got married and set up homekeeping, after World War II, she only had her nice wedding gift linens and had no rags for cleaning.
So, she made us about a dozen rags. She used squares from their old bath towels and hemmed them all so nicely.
We used Aunt Bernice's rags until they were worn out. By then, our wedding linens were starting to wear out. I've been copying my sweet aunt ever since, cutting up and hemming our old towels into household rags.

Here is my latest batch. From 2 big bath sheets, I got 16 nice squares. I used a machine zig zag stitch to bind the edges. I rounded off all the corners just to make the sewing go faster. Aunt Bernice mitered her corners!
Mine are about 12 inch squares,  but I just cut them and did not measure.



I added a little rick rack just to pretty them up a bit.

I will use these mostly in the kitchen.  When my grand children are here,  their little faces and hands need cleaned often.  I like to use a clean wet rag for each child each time I wash one.  It does not add much to my laundry load and just seems like the nicest way to keep those sweet children clean.
 These will be perfect for that.    I put them in a basket beside the kitchen sink for now.



Linking up with some of these sweet parties
Sunday
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Friday
Saturday



24 comments:

  1. Those are some super cute rags!

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  2. Very nice Rhonda....and thanks for the light bulb moment...round the corners. Good grief I do not know why I never thought of that.

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    1. Jilly, those rounded corners really do make the machine sewing go fast.

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  3. Nicest looking rags ever; what a great idea as a shower or wedding gift...
    Love the basket, too!

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    1. Thank you, the basket is a Longaberger, a gift from a neighbor when we lived aboard a Marine base.

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  4. These are the prettiest rags I've ever seen! My rags are just Brian's old cut-up t-shirts. :-)

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    1. Meanie, having old t shirt rags is better than using paper towels. Old cloth diapers are great rags too

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  5. I love that idea! We use a lot of rags at our house too...so much nicer than paper towels...and you're right..they don't make much laundry in the long run.

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  6. My grandmother always said 'Waste not, Want not' ~ your post is delightful, creative and practical at the same time ~ Lovely idea and so useful ^_^

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    1. thank you, this really is a waste not idea, isn't it?

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  7. What a thoughtful and useful present from your Aunt! I keep a basket of cloth rags handy to wipe up the grandbaby ~ so much nicer than paper towels.

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  8. What a thoughtful Auntie you had!! I have been cutting up old undies and bath towels, and tea towels for years. However, I have not been so tidy and careful. I just cut them and use them with a raw edge. But I never buy rags. Ever. And all of those stray socks become dusters too. I especially love those for cleaning the blinds!
    Fist time here.....I had a nice visit.
    xo Kris

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  9. I have my kitchen rags too. They really make clean up mess really easy without using paper towels. Such a great and smart use of old towels/linens

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  10. WOW...thank you for sharing your aunt's ideas! And your pretty embellishments are just right...to make them functional and pretty too makes any job more enjoyable.
    I have towels just now that I am thinking need replacing and some odd rick rack to "copy" your idea. I will try to remember to post and give you credit when I do.

    Oh, like that Longaberger basket too...I have one of those.

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  11. All of your projects and sewing ideas are so cool! If only I could sew. Maybe when I get back to OK, you can give me some entry-level training :)

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    1. of course I will! I sew a lot and I like easy things anyway.

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  12. Those are adorable. Much prettier than my rags.

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  13. What a great way to repurpose old towels and they look so pretty too! I bet those grand children love to come to your house for the fun and face wiping!
    Thanks for linking these up to Think Tank Thursday. I have featured you today!
    http://www.saving4six.com/2013/04/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-27.html

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    1. thank you Carrie! how fun to be on your blog

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  14. I love your "rags"...I'm with you on that it is so much nicer to have a handful of rags for wiping off little people than paper towels.

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  15. I limit the use of paper towels, we've been using old towels for cleaning in the house and cleaning off the dogs. Maybe people would be more inclined to use them if I made them a bit pretty like yours in a cute display...Thanks for the idea.
    Janet

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  16. Jumping over from LMLD and...what a wonderful wedding present idea! I would have loved to receive a bundle of these!

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  17. that is such a touching story, and a great way to be thrifty, love it! thanks for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday and wonderful to "meet" you!

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I am so glad you came for a visit today! To answer your question or to reply to you, I will do them here with the comments.

your comments are very much appreciated!