20 May 2010

Waste Not


I'm not sure how many of these strollers we've been through.  I do have five girls, you know.  Clothing gets passed down better than these, made from cheap polyester night gown-like material that is as thin as possibly feasible and rips the first time your child sits down in it, and who are they kidding if they think a child is just going to use it for their doll/stuffed animal/[insert favorite toy]?  Every time one ripped I would think, "I ought to make a new cover," but then it would get stuffed to the back of the closet until I cleaned it out and away it would go the way with the rest of the broken toys.    This is the first time I actually followed through and made a new cover.  I did have to stick with some pink, although I briefly thought of painting the frame....a bit too far, said the very small sensible portion of my brain.  I just cut the old one apart to trace two new pieces out of some really heavy duty upholstery [almost like canvas] fabric I had a remnant of, and sewed bias around the entire perimeter [adding new grosgrain ribbons for the straps].  I decided that next time I should use a wider bias tape, but so far it has held up Azure pushing Clover around and the attempt at the previous reversed scenario.


I wonder if manufacturers are taking note of this repurposing and refashioning movement?  Dresses from sheets, decor from packaging, toys from old clothes.  What do you think?  I feel like it's going on on a grand scale, but perhaps my vision is narrowed to the blogs I choose to peruse.  I don't know.  Either way,  I hope we are making a difference: demanding quality, reducing waste, and becoming a more resourceful people.

14 comments:

  1. That was a great idea. I love the difference we are making. It reminds me of the old depressions saying:
    Use it up
    Wear it out
    Make it do
    Or do without

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  2. Great idea! Funny, I have that exact stroller, and guess what...it ripped at every seam there was to the thing. I only mended it, but now you have inspired me to make a new one!

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  3. Your resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me, I've updated on the Oli front :) xxx

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  4. haha! we have that stoller too. guess where it is currently? thats right...shoved in the back of a closet after it ripped from aria insisting on sitting in it. i saved it because i figured id redo the cover but havent gotten around to it. i should get to it.

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  5. Amen sister you said it! It is definitely going on a lot more these days. I am a avid watcher of many blogs and it seems like more and more people are discovering re purposing everyday!

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  6. I like your polka dots better.

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  7. Such an awesome idea and you picked a much better fabric design!! Also, I loved your sewing machine post. A friend of mine keeps telling me she wants me to teach her to sew (which I'm completely unqualified to do!), and that she's just going to get a cheap sewing machine from Target for $99. I've cringed everytime I hear her say that. I definitely plan to share your wisdom with her!

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  8. How clever! Love the new fabric

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  9. As a beginning sewer and with my first little one on the way, I love reading your blog and blogs like yours. I am constantly amazed at your resourcefullness. Thanks for sharing your great ideas with us all.

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  10. That is so much cuter anyhow! Mine hasn't ripped, but I'm almost tempted to remake it just so it'll be as cute as yours : ) But I'm due in a week, so I think I'll put off that project.
    In my blog-hopping it seems that everyone is more resourceful, etc...but then I get together with friends and I seem to be one of the only ones doing it. Maybe a little more time and it'll catch on up here too?...

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  11. Lovely transformation! A year ago I also made a new cover for my girl's toy strollers. Kind of funny, the fabric I used is almost the same as yours, only the colours are different. Great minds think alike :)

    Here is a link to my blog post with the new, improved strollers:
    http://bagscraftsandhappiness.blogspot.com/2010/02/stroller-makeover.html

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  12. I did this last Christmas for my niece! Definitely used a heavier weight fabric and she is in love! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. It was my first time deconstructing to create a pattern. Fun and well received.

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  13. Wow I did exactly the same project as yours earlier this year! What a coincidence! I don't have five girls though. I only have two. Here's what I did: http://sewlovesew.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-seat-for-doll-stroller.html

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