(NAPSA)—Waste not, want not: Instead of throwing out those hole-filled garments, do a whole lot of good for the environment. With a bit of ingenuity, minimal sewing skills and one of today’s computerized sewing and embroi- dery machines, you can cut back on wearable refuse by making something new and useful from somethingold. Annual textile waste—discarded clothing, bedding and other soft goods—is about ten pounds for every person in the U.S. That’s 2.5 billion pounds of post-consumertex- tile waste, 85 percent of which ends up in municipal landfills, reports the Council for Textile Recycling. So before you toss out those outmoded clothes, soiled linens or raggedy bed fashions, think ecologically—and start sewing. Here are some suggestions from the experts at Husq- varna Viking sewing machines: Old, hand-me-downs or even jeans purchased at a second-hand store look surprisingly current when rickrack, beaded fringe and embroidered trims are applied. With the touch of a button, the Husqvarna Viking Designer I embroiders, all by itself, larger than life designs such as fun cartoon characters or flowers along a pant leg or hemline. Jeans no longer fit? Cut off the legs, sew up the bottom, add ribbon for a handle and you have a beach bag. Replace a pocket with clear vinyl for storing keys, sunglasses, a good book and more. Cut off the sleeves of your old denim shirt and create a small make-up bag or catchall. Feed ribbon through button holes sewn around the top of the bag to gather and close the bag. Today’s sewing technology can help make skipped stitches or broken needles a thing of the past. The machine sensesfabric thickness, letting you sew through heavy layers of denim. Special denim needles and heavy weight topstitching thread for jeans can make home-sewnstitches look like store bought with the Sensor Sys- tem on the Husqvarna Viking. Recycle your duds using your ingenuity and a sewing machine. Rickrack and ribbon can turn old jeans into new fashions. Turn stained table cloths into placemats or fabric napkins. Cut around the stained areas and machine embroider a motif to match yourdecor. Discarded oversize dress shirts make great pajamas. Embroider something fun across the back, add your nameor trim around the collar and sleeves with rickrack and ribbons. Turn that old T-shirt with the great logo or design into a pillow for a teen’s bed. Sew up the bottom hemline and along the right side of the armholes. Stuff it through the neck andstitch closed. The sewing room is the per- fect place to make use of everyday recyclables, as well. Empty film canisters, pill bottles and baby food jars can store buttons, nee- dles and notions as handily as costly sewing boxes. Old baby wipe containers can keep quilt squares in order. Ribbons, lace, rickrack and other trims can be wrapped around empty paper towel andtoilet paper rolls to keep them free from knots and tangles. More sewing tips are at www. husqvarnaviking.com.
