Make do and mend

Make do and mend was a campaign run during the war (maybe afterwards too). In the 50s and the 60s, it was the norm to try to mend instead of replacing. Socks were darned – that means, when holes appeared, needle and wool (cotton or appropriate) was used to criss-cross the hole until the sock could be worn again. Buttons were replaced, tears repaired. Shoes were mended and Phillips stick-a-sole often put on new shoes along with steel heel corners; many people had a cobbler’s last in the house. Shoes were always cleaned – dirt brushed off, polish applied, brushed off and buffed with a duster - the instep was always done too; unthinkable to leave the house without having cleaned your shoes, and everyone cleaned their own shoes (unless you were under 3 years old). Shirt collars were routinely turned so that the shirt lasted longer – the cuffs were also turned. Pockets were mended. In fact, anything that could be mended rather than replaced was carefully mended and if it could not be mended, it was ingeniously turned to another use. Some people think that the save the world and environment by recycling and limiting use movement is new – anyone alive in the 40s and 50s will tell you that it isn’t so! I think that the shortages and make do and mend attitude actually lead to a more positive outlook exemplified by one 80 year old lady I know who says “Well, we are not short of anything we have got”.