Mrs Lewis of Wiltshire used her old tights (legs only) for
crocheting bath mats, and, whilst the crocheting bug was still
with her, used up the rest of her old tights by treating the dog
to a new cover for the inside of its basket. As she says - "it
is simple to wash and quick to dry". She crochets these circles
along the same lines as we used to make shoulder handbags. Do
you remember them ladies? We used to crochet two matching
circles plus a long narrow strip and then join the circles to
the strip and hey presto! a bag which was very fashionable at
the time . . . And as everything comes round in circles, they
will no doubt one day be fashionable again. Come to think of it,
the same bag created out of old tights/stockings would make a
very useful 'peg bag', one which you could sling over your
shoulder and so leave the hands free for hanging out the washing.

Crocheting

As soon as Mrs L mentioned 'crocheting with fabric', my mind
immediately flipped back to my childhood. I can remember my
friends' mothers and also grandmothers sitting together,
chatting, and at the same time pushing strips of old woollen
cloth into a sacking backing (with a special metal dibber) and
then pulling the same strip towards them. The result was a
closely woven 'shag style' rug with an approx. 2" pile, often of
a beautiful and intricate design. Of course, the children
weren't allowed to be idle and they were roped in to cut up old
woollen coats, skirts, etc. into 4" x l" strips. Most families
were content with the making of just a fireside rug which could
be taken up, thrown over the washing line and given its
once-a-week beating, but my friend's mother had ambition and the
whole family (including the six children) spent the winter
evenings making a rug which when completed filled the whole of
the living room. (I think she must have been the Mrs Bouquet of
her day). This was the first time that I had seen a fitted
carpet and Oh! what bliss! as we rolled around on it. Not very
hygienic of course with six children, two dogs, cats and friends
playing on it, and as it was too heavy for its weekly 'lift' and
was therefore only moved for its 'once-a-year' spring clean, it
probably had a few more additions to the family, living and
growing in it. Well, we didn't have vacuum cleaners, health
visitors, etc, but didn't we have fun? It was such a change from
the usual cold lino with just the obligatory rug in front of the
fire and often that was made of hard coconut matting, which was
not exactly child friendly. (You didn't have to play outside to
get a grazed knee you could get it by playing inside on the
coconut matting.) Perhaps that is why most of the games were
played at the family table, as the cold lino was not the place
to play during the cold winter evenings. Isn't it funny how
times have changed? Now, the focal point of any living/family
room is the TV and, then, the large family table dominated the
room. In fact, it was often half the size of the living room as
it had to accommodate large families (several of my friends had
six or eight siblings) and of course they all sat down together
for meals

Living rooms

Note that I have mentioned 'living rooms' - the word 'lounge'
had not yet arrived in the family vocabulary. Lounges as far as
our young ears could determine were rather dubious places in
pubs and hotels, places where good girls didn't frequent. Isn't
it funny also how actual words come in and go out of fashion. I
think lounge has done the complete circle now. The working class
front room/sitting room became the estate agents' upmarket
'spacious lounge' and now the word 'lounge' is considered a 'no,
no' and we are back to the estate agents' 'large, airy living
room/sitting room', etc. And, can you remember when 'sofas'
suddenly went upmarket and became 'settees', and now 'settee' is
downmarket and it's back to 'sofa'? Which reminds me - last week
I mentioned the word 'anorak' to my grandchildren, and they
looked at me blankly and asked 'what's an anorak?' I wonder if
the pre-anorak word 'windcheater' will make a comeback. Hope so,
it was such an apt name and we could certainly do with a 'wind
cheater' at the moment!

All these memories from just one tip. Hope the above has evoked
happy childhood memories for you also, but unfortunately all
these meanderings means that I am out of space ..... but, watch
this space and join me for the rest of the tips .... Unless, of
course, you've been encouraged to start making a rug or two?

About the author:
Visit Mabels...Maintaining Bygone Times, containing numerous
articles thoughtfully researched mainly for the older person.
You may access these articles by visiting
http://www.mabels.org.uk/ - You will learn about the best tips
to improve your health, fitness, finances, safety as well as
information on nostalgic topics, places to visit, leisure &
lifestyle, mobility & helpful organisations to make the most out
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