I needed to purchase a jacket recently, and considering where I live, a poly "fleece" hoodie without a hint of being able to shed moisture was deemed adequate to my needs. At the time, my needs included anything warmer than the puffy garbage at chinamart, with a lower price than on the heavy Carhartt coat I would like to get, and with a working zipper. The hoodie was on the rack next to the Carhartts at my nearest Tractor Supply Co. store, and I think I'll compare prices online in the future.
I was thinking about the zipper on my old jacket though. It's not that replacing a zipper is such a difficult thing, even kind of fun, if you enjoy a slight challenge. But just try and find exactly the length of zipper you want - since you don't want to pay for half again as much zipper as you'll use, and in metal.
Yes, it would've been an upgrade. I realize metal costs more, and the jacket would not likely have lasted as long as the replacement zipper, but I have strong preferences. I sew buttons back on with button cord too. It's a bit heftier than regular thread, and tough. Of course, most retail clothing has nothing of the sort involved in it's construction, but it's not usually too hard to find. The all-purpose stores may not have it, but the fabric, sewing, and handcrafting shops usually will. (If those require planning out your day to include a special trip miles out of your way, you may want to call ahead. Someone's crazy Auntie may have cleaned them out to use it while upholstering her walls.)
So besides fixing dinner, fixing my computer, fixing bumps and scrapes, and fixing the occasional shoe, yes, I also commit the heinous crime of fixing an item of clothing, instead of tossing whatever item into the trash, and going out with the gleeful anticipation of acts of consumerism.
And while I admit I save a fair bit of money by repairing a few things here and there, I never have yet got into the habit of hemming up my pants. I'm short, so they're always too long. I turn the ends up, and have a handy cuff to collect gravel and twigs.
So, fix anything interesting lately?
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#2W.Lynn commented12-04-2013, 02:42 PMEditing a commentMending things used to be something everyone, in every home, had a set time to spend on. Husbands and boys would be mending roofs, tack, furniture, etc. Wives and girls would tackle clothing, upholstery, and sort through cookware that would be repurposed, or traded to the next available smith or tinker for new (and the old promptly recycled.) Culturally, it's more acceptable to throw things away and throw money at every problem. I try to break free of things that make no sense.
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#3DMH commented12-07-2013, 10:53 AMEditing a commentMy husband had a zipper replaced in an A2 leather jacket that his dad had handed down to him. $60 dollars! But it is a heavy leather jacket and she did a beautiful job. Hard to find good tailors anymore.
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#4W.Lynn commented12-08-2013, 12:19 PMEditing a commentI don't mind replacing a zipper, I've put zippers in pants, and up the backs of dresses and my bridal gown, way back when. I just wasn't going to bother with a chinamart coat that wasn't keeping me warm even before the zipper broke.
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