Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Thoughtful Consumer

Sometimes I wonder whether I am being thoughtful, or simply over thinking, perhaps obsessing. Maybe you can help me... either make a reasonable decision, or obsess.


Last night I was changing our bed sheets. I am very close to fully accepting that we need new sheets. We are down to one set, with some small tears, and a top sheet that that I bought... mmmmm, in 2001. Seems like just when the flannel is worn to a perfect softness and has become comfortingly familiar, that's when it gets thready and shreds, badly. I have been known to "patch" sheets, but, it's not a guaranteed thing, and really ugly..

Yeah.

You know what? I think I am definitely definitely over-thinking and obsessed. Our sheets are flippin' old and practically in tatters, and it's time to buy new ones.

September 2003, when we lived in the country, and had our first chickens... our El Rancho days.

Same for the quilt. It too was purchased in 2001, and it's so frayed and worn, I don't think it will hold through another wash!

What am I going to do? Seriously... it's very distressing to me, for one reason: I love this quilt, and I can still conjure the joy of ordering it, having it on our bed, appreciating the prints, it's weight, how nicely it fits on our bed. I love this quilt! The other reason I am concerned is that it's really quite large, and too far gone to donate, and throwing it away feels like a terrible waste of materials. It's very heavy. If I repaired it, it would have to be a matter of using the whole thing as the batting of a whole new bed cover, and that would make it even heavier... too heavy for our washer, I am sure.

Ugh.

Uhhhhhngh.

Do you know what's going to happen? I am going to be fixated on this, and the quilt will stay on the bed long past a reasonable time, while I try to come up with an ethical, environmentally, economical and aesthetically gratifying solution. And buying sheets will take me forever, too, unless I see the perfect print, on sale, at Target.

Me, thinking about shopping for bedding.

7 comments:

Judy said...

Lovely blog Natalie.
Cheers from Oz !

Cat said...

If you love the quilt, could you clean it and make a wall hanging? I know about the sheets, I have the same thing for shirts. I get them where they are soft, and comfortable, and they look like they should be tossed for rags... eep!

Cat

GretchenJoanna said...

I am like this too! I can't bear to throw away bedding that I like, and I love bedding. My sister-in-law has collected quilts for a long time and she has given us beautiful, sometimes tattered vintage quilts, which is a boon and a burden.

Sometimes when things get too tattered I wash them and hope that they will at least hold up enough to be the batting for a coverlet - that one that I never make. Or I keep them in the garage to use for padding when we have to move furniture... or for camping pads.... but -- recently I did have to give some away, or did I throw them in the trash? I repress those memories.

May God help you!!

Janece said...

What did you decide? Or is it still in process? :)

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

I disappeared!
And I bought bedsheets. I turned to LandsEnd for flannel... and the old quilt is still on the bed, and it's only getting older, more tattered. I still don't know what to do about that. It's too big to hang, too heavy. I could maybe sew something over all of it... just let it be the batting, but lo! It would be massively heavy if I were to add top and backing.
I'm not sure anyone will see I've finally got around to responding to your thoughtful comments. I am sorry about that. Thank you for engaging me.

Janece said...

Oh, Land's End for flannel sheets... great idea! (types in landsend.com into my browser). I wish I had a good idea for a solution on the quilt. I have a similar problem with one of the quilts that my friend Ruth made for me. It is getting very worn and I love it and don't want it to disappear... it's been representational of home for us through several moves.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Lands End makes nice sheets... mine last and last. And when you hit a sale, then it's really great.
Ruth's quilt is gorgeous. I can take a look at it, and see if there are parts that could be helped with some mending, otherwise... bummer, right? Still, I know she is thrilled that her gift is loved and cherished.