Granny was no square

Most of us over a certain age have been there. That moment when you invite a friend over and they stare transfixed at your bed, covered in an out of shape, garishly coloured granny square bedspread. It had been around so long you no longer noticed it…but everyone else did.

Well these days us granny’s are not squares, and crafts such as crochet are not only fashionable, but practical, producing a myriad of warm comfortable clothing and soft furnishings.

One day, life as we know it will stop. The TEOTWAWKI moment will have arrived. Hopefully we will be as ready as we can be. A few years of food put by, medical supplies, tools, extra clothing and enough non-hybrid seeds that we can grow a good deal of what we need, seed saving from year to year.

Much has been written about living rather than existing after the shtf. How state of mind will be half the battle and how a few small comforts or luxuries can ease the burden a little, especially for children.

A few age old crafts, such as knitting, sewing, crochet and weaving can not only pass the time, but can be useful for providing small gifts and a few of the comforts that can make life so much more pleasant.

What many don’t realise is that these crafts can quite literally save your life, or the life of your descendants, depending on how much stuff you have stored for the future. Ultimately everything wears out, and it’s highly likely we will not be in a position to replace it. Teaching the next generation how to make clothes, either with fabric or yarn may be the only thing that will stand between them and freezing to death. I am not talking paper patterns and shaped to show off our assets, I am talking simple rectangles turned into sweaters, ponchos, and such. The ability to crochet a simple blanket may make miserable winter nights more bearable, and a well made quilt, again either fabric or wool will be an heirloom that will be passed down the generations. Clothing will also be highly valued and will make excellent barter items.

Emotionally, a small gift of a scarf at Christmas will lift the spirits of the person that gives it as well as the lucky one who receives it, and blankets, throws and simple rugs make a spartan home far more comfortable and warm than it was previously.

Much is written about cooking and storing food, about fixing up and changing all kinds of equipment to suit our altered existence. There are whole books on gardening and seed storage and how to build a solar set up for your home but I’ve come across nothing that encourages preppers to learn how to make simple clothing and soft furnishings that will not be available in the event of TEOTWAWKI.

Like I said, I am not saying we need to learn to made fashionable clothes and be able to create a sofa with a few sticks and a bolt of fabric but learning the rudiments of stitching will enable clothes to be repaired effectively and being able to master a single knitting stitch and make a single crochet stitch could well assist in clothing your grandchildren, and their grandchildren if the skill is passed on.

Storage is not a issue, packed into vac bags a huge amount of yarn can be stored in a very limited amount of space. I have enough for a dozen sweaters, six double bedspreads, a couple of dozen baby blankets and God knows how many scarves and hats in vac bags that with the air sucked out occupies a space three feet by two by two.

Consider adding some yarn to your long term preps, and maybe cheap fabrics. It may not make much difference to you, but in 20 years time wrapping your grandchild, or great grandchild in a warm blanket will make you glad you did.

If learning these skills is not for you you can still save buttons, clasps and zip fasteners to replace those that break or wear out. Worn out jeans can be cannibalised for future patches, the legs of jogging pants make great draught excluders when filled with fabric scraps or even dry leaves or straw. Use you imagination, before you throw anything out strip it down and save whatever’s useful, if you don’t need it, chances are someone else in the family will.

Take Care

Lizzie