Last year, my friend Lorea and I were learning how to crochet hats. Our friend, Kathleen, gave us directions during a Farm Women Exchange meeting, and we were attempting to put those lessons in practice. While sitting there, I questioned whether or not we could learn to make dishcloths similar to the ones I knit. A day or two later, Lorea had crocheted me a dishcloth. It was too cute!
Not So Fast…
I only used it once as what it was meant to be. The Country Boy found it in the towel drawer one morning, and pulled it out to use as a draining towel for his freshly washed coffee cup. Next thing I know, he had knives, a thermos and other just washed odds and ends all crowded on that tiny square. So asked Lorea to make me another one (her crochet skills are SO much better than mine!), only I wanted this one bigger. She amazes me. Instead of grabbing a fresh skein of yarn, she went searching for all those bits and pieces of yarn that were left over from other projects. Next thing I know, I have a colorful, perfectly sized new draining mat – and I get to use the other one for its intended purposes!
Get Creative
It got me to thinking. How often do I use bits and pieces of things around the house to create a single item? I know quilters don’t throw away even a square inch of fabric. Lorea and I use the strips of fabric left over from cutting squares for throws to make woven rag rugs. Break a plate? A glass? Save the larger pieces and learn how to create Mosaic masterpieces.
As of this moment, I cannot honestly think of anything else that is used so much around here that there is enough to do anything with. But you can bet I will be keeping an eye open to possibilities. I love the ‘waste not, want not’ school of thought, so I will be thinking.
Do you have any ideas for using the bits and pieces of your daily life? I would love some fresh ideas, so be sure to share them in the comments below. In the meantime, do you have a lot of scrap yarn? Join me over at the DIY page and see how Lorea made this great draining mat. If you don’t know how to crochet, this is a perfect one to learn how!
