Rinse Cycle
November 12, 2008|Comments (24)
Nothing says lovin’ like clothing scrubbed by hand on a washboard. I mean it. Laundry is one of the surest ways to get to know someone. Think about it. On CSI, what’s the first thing they get court orders to search for? Shoes and clothing. Why? Because your clothes and shoes tell a story about who you are and where you’ve been. As I walked Westville Village, I couldn’t help but notice the laundry paraphernalia and feel comforted by its presence. The surest sign of hard working people is a full clothesline.
We could all stand to learn something from the pre-industrial era. Perhaps the idea of stepping back in time doesn’t hold any lasting appeal to you or it holds lot’s of appeal (as in my case), but the simple living aspects of life in the 1850’s are a lesson in conservation that we should not ignore. Even if the very idea of living off-grid, butchering your own chickens, or washing clothes with a wringer washer sends shivers up your spine — know that there are thousands of ways to conserve energy, water, food, and other resources which can be done within the confines of suburbia. Perhaps the first place to start is the heart of who you are: your laundry.
Use a clothesline. Many home owners associations ban the use of clotheslines but often the fine print reveals that clotheslines are only banned if they can be seen from the road. This means that a clothesline may be erected in the backyard without any hate mail getting tacked to your front door. Even if you only use your clothesline for linens — you are conserving energy.
Make your own laundry detergent. Whether you are on septic and must use liquid laundry detergent (like me) or you prefer powdered laundry soap, the recipes are straightforward and easy to do. Not only will you save money but you will not be continuing to pollute the earth or the air by supporting the shipping of commercial products. You will also keep your family from being exposed to skin-irritating chemicals.
Wear clothing items at least twice before washing them. Okay, not underwear and socks. Jeans, t-shirts, pjs, shorts, sweatshirts, etc. You get the idea, smarties.
Take the time to treat stains before putting them in the washing machine. Using a bar of soap, just lather and scrub the stained areas to avoid rewashing clothes which can come out of the wash still stained.
Use vinegar or baking soda instead of commercial fabric softeners by adding 1/4 - 1/2 cup with the rinse cycle to avoid chemical fabric softeners. This simple tip saves money and the environment.
Steer clear of chlorine bleach by using safe bleach alternatives in the oxi-clean family. Soak clothing with stubborn stains overnight in a bucket with 8 parts cold water and 1 part peroxide.
And the easiest way to conserve water and energy when it comes to tackling laundry? Wait until you have a full load before starting the wash.
Any other tips and suggestions? How do you conserve resources in the laundry department?
Want to try one of my favorite cast iron skillet recipes? I know you do. Cane Syrup Cake will make you a believer. Trust me.
A Quiltin’ Man
November 11, 2008|Comments (13)
That’s right, folks, Josh tried his calloused working man’s hands at quilting. I was so proud. Contrary to popular belief, sewing is not just a woman’s job. Knowing how to sew in a survival situation could save your life. Don’t believe me? Just ask Bear Grylls of Man vs. Wild.
Westville Village in Lumpkin, Georgia is a blast! Josh’s Aunt Julie came to visit on Saturday and so we packed our lunches and took off to explore Westville. Having grown up in Virginia, I was used to visiting Williamsburg and Jamestown which give the illusion that early settlers were all living in large towns. Not so. Westville is frozen in time as an 1850’s Southern American country village. Volunteers from the area arrive in plain clothes to show everything from making cane syrup to handcrafts like spinning yarn.
We kept waiting to feel that we had awoken on a different planet as many people around us appeared to feel but Julie, Josh, and I felt completely at home around all of the traditional furnishing and crafts. More than anything, we felt like asking if we could just pack up our chickens and move in. Particularly alluring was this sweet baby:
All of my life, I have dreamed of having a loom. I used to wrap yarn around chair legs and pretend that I was weaving rag rugs or even fine linen. Eventually, I made a simple cardboard weaving frame and went to town but there are many ways to make them. Perhaps my fascination with weaving was an early indicator that I would lean toward the simple and sustainable living.
What craft first caught your fancy?
Dishcloth Diva
November 5, 2008|Comments (20)
Knitting and crocheting dishcloths is one of my favorite activities. I don’t often use patterns because I much prefer knitting to be a “coloring outside of the box” experience. That and I have trouble following patterns which require a great deal of counting or fancy footwork…er… handwork. I try them and then lose interest about halfway through because they take away from the therapeutic quality of knitting or crocheting. So, I just try to make sure that a few elements are in place: good ribbing for scrubbing, uncomplicated design, and natural fibers.
As the leaves change and I find myself reaching for snugly blankets, my knitting interests have been rekindled and now I’ve decided to make extra dishcloths to give as Christmas gifts. It was while I was sitting on the front porch this morning knitting on my latest dishcloth that a cartoon light bulb appeared over my head and I thought, “Gee whiz, my blogging friends might like to make dishcloths for their friends and family, too.” I’m a bona fide genius. Bona fide.
All Knitting Chinese Waves pattern:
Materials: 100% cotton yarn, such as Sugar ‘n Cream and #7 needles.
Cast on 45 stitches (Any odd number of stitches will do.)
Row 1: Knit across (this is the right side)
Row 2: *K1, Slip 1* repeat between * across, ending K1.
Row 3: Knit across
Row 4: K2, *Slip 1, K1* repeat between * across, ending K1.
Keep working in pattern until piece is square, finishing with a wrong side row. Bind off in knitting on the right side.
Diamond Pattern Dishcloth:
Materials:
Worsted weight cotton dish cloth yarn (Sugar ‘N Cream, Lion Cotton, Bernat Handicraft)
Needles appropriate to yarn (about size 8 US or 5 mm)
Gauge:Not vital
Instructions:
Note: Knit the first and last 3 sts of every row. CO 31 sts. Knit four rows.
Row 1 (RS): k1, *p1, k9, p1, k1; rep from *
Row 2: k1, *p1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1; rep from *
Row 3: k1, *p1, k1, p1, k5 (p1, k1) twice; rep from *
Row 4: p1, * (p1, k1) twice, p3, k1, p1, k1, p2; rep from *
Row 5: k1, *k2, (p1, k1) 3 times, p1, k3; rep from *
Row 6: p1, *p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p4; rep from *
Row 7: k1, *k4, p1, k1, p1, k5; rep from *
Row 8: Rep Row 6
Row 9: Rep Row 5
Row 10: Rep Row 4
Row 11: Rep Row 3
Row 12: Rep Row 2
Rep Rows 1-12 until about 8-10 inches.
Knit four rows. BO.
Have you seen what else is new on our site? Check out our blondes in the buff, simple living confessions, nordic braided bread, green manure groundcovers, and a lullaby for a stormy night. If that’s not enough then you’ll just have to wander through our Best Of section for more goodies. Email us with questions: lacy@razorfamilyfams.com or leave comments. We love to hear from you!
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