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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

4 comments to Granny was no square

  • Ellen

    I find this delightful and much needed. Although there are probably hundreds that have already thought of this and have supplies, it needs to be addressed as much as our other life saving preps.
    I tend to like the frufru type crochet. Not exactly wearable unless you design something out of doilies. But even lace will give someone a boost when all looks forlorn and impossible to deal with. I do have a feeling that if it gets real bad one will be glad to have a new garment no matter what, and the label will be “Made with Love”, priceless.

  • Northern Raider

    I’m currently working on a list of traditional skills I reckon will be desirable or essential after TSHTF and I forgot about quilters. I’ll add it to the list.

    Prepper
    Sewing
    Knitting
    Darning
    Weaving
    Thread making
    Needle maker
    Leatherwork
    Tanner / Tanning
    Shearing / Fleecing
    Skinning
    Animal husbandry / Veterinarian
    Black smith
    Copper smith
    Tin smith
    Coppicing
    Arboritry
    Williow weaving
    Tool sharpening / Toolmaker
    Wood lathing / turning
    Brush making
    Rope making
    Sail Making
    Seamstress
    Quilter
    Saddlemaker
    Farrier
    Barrel maker
    Bow maker / Bowyer
    Arrow smith
    Boat builder
    Midwifery / Nursing
    Homeopathist
    Alchemy
    Herbalist
    Plumbing / Hydrology
    Brick Layer
    Joiner / Carpenter
    Tile maker / Brick Maker
    Hunter / Fisherman
    Miner (minerals) / Geologist / Driller
    Telecoms / radio telegraphy
    Electrical / electronics engineer
    Mechanic
    Boiler maker
    Wheel wright
    Welder / riveter
    Food preserver / bottling/ canning/ tinning / salting/ drying / smoker

  • Luci ferson

    great article, my misses crochets and as you know once you can crochet you can make pretty much anything and it dont take long.
    she can make 3 or 4 baby hats just whilst watching TV.
    and shes made many a blanket.
    All the old skills will suddenly become very sought after soon after TEOTWAWKI, not just because clothes get worn out or damaged.
    simply for the fact as you can never have too many blankets.
    I imagine it woulod be a while before most would get round to weaving or anything like that.
    but theres millions who can already turn a ball of wool into something usefull.
    Id assume its one of the first things people will start teaching eachother.

  • Luci ferson

    and its just another excuse to keep sheep , yum yum (like i needed one)