What skills have been lost

[rary]

I was told today that my shirt should be binned as the collar was badly worn (I use it in the garden, or when its the first one I can put my hands on) I suggested that she turns the collar, as this is what women used to do, I can remember my mother doing this, I also remember socks used to be darned, and trousers patched, (mine on a daily biases) buttons cut off anything getting thrown out, and of course any cloth being scraped was used as dusters, also most homes had a last for repairing shoes even I fitted new soles to my boots, I have even used old tyres to do this, and we were fortunate when young to have a steelworks close by where we could collect everything to make a bike, though for some reason we got hunted away if any adult saw us doing that, I think they wanted the stuff for themselves
What old skills do you still use or remember being used

[Snoop Puss]

Ironing?

I haven't done that in decades!

Scything.

I'm about to learn.

[Birdie Wife]

Ah, scything is great fun! Have a wonderful time SP.

Of course, I'm far too young to remember any lost crafts...

[Bill Door]

Not so sure that the "skill" has been lost in many things like patching clothes. I think that it is more a case that the article may not cope with a patch being added. The materials today "give" a lot so when you patch them they give again around the new patch. Not sure that I would like to re-sole shoes as they are nearly all plastic or man made materials, so usually there is nothing there to attach the new sole to.

The other point is that it costs less to buy a new item than to spend time and money getting the old item repaired. Very sad and very difficult to ignore.

Scything can be relaxing but there again we have lost those that have the skills to produce the blades. Yes some can be purchased but gradually their cost will increase.

As they say "everything changes but it all stays the same".

I wonder what "skills" the young of today will lament losing in 30/40 years time. How about how to spend money you don't have! Or How to communicate with just your thumbs and a smart phone! Or how to see in the dark with the click of a switch! Or how to recycle all the "c**p in the house" with a black plastic bag!

Bill

[veggiechicken]

I fear that "we" are in danger of losing the ability to write a letter by hand, do calculations in our head and read a map.
As for skills, my dad could take the engine out of his car, bring it into the kitchen and decoke it (whatever that meant) and put it back in the car in the time we lose watching TV soaps. He couldn't have done that these days with all the electronics they need to run.
...........and I have a scythe, an Austrian one but no longer have any grass to use it on.

[Nicos]

Over the past few years I have been learning how to preserve garden produce in large preserving jars ( bit like kilner jars) in a waterbath.
Always reminds me of old Weatern films where they have rows and rows of jars of home produce on rustic shelving.

As we are renovating a 400year old house, it's great fun learning how to apply lime and hemp wall insulation etc.

I've also ragged a rug made using our old cotton clothing.

My granny showed me how to make long ringlets with one long strip of cotton material...not tried that for a long time!

[DWSmith]

I fear that "we" are in danger of losing the ability to write a letter by hand, do calculations in our head and read a map.
As for skills, my dad could take the engine out of his car, bring it into the kitchen and decoke it (whatever that meant) and put it back in the car in the time we lose watching TV soaps. He couldn't have done that these days with all the electronics they need to run.
...........and I have a scythe, an Austrian one but no longer have any grass to use it on.

Saw on TV this morning where a guy took years learning how to make globes of the world.

Not that these are lost skills but they're not done as much any more -

fur trapping
foraging for herbs, mushrooms, nut, berries, etc.
vegetable gardening in my area
repairing autos, appliances, etc.

As for writing letters, I was told a story about a guy that had just arrived at the airport. Two young women (20's something) were walking ahead of him. One was reading a sheet of paper to the other and handed it to the other. The other woman thanked the first for reading it to her. Said she'd never learned to read or write script while in school. They don't teach it here any more. Amazingly stupid of the education system!

[Guest]

It is scary how many 'basic'skills are disappearing as people can either get it cheaper or feel they don't have time. Also so much seems to become a 'specialist' job

In regards to specialism my Hubby was trained as a plumber and he was taught how to do lead work/ lead dressing. Now it is not even a plumbers job it is a roofers.
He also learnt to cut gaskets in one of his jobs, then when he worked for a plumbing company they were stuck on a job cos they couldn't buy the gaskets so he suggested they cut their own as there was sheet material in the stores. No one had a clue what he was on about so he ended up going to site and doing it himself.

Since having my girls there is:-

Knitted items. I have seen very few other babies or children with knitted clothes and often get comments when my girls wear things.
My daughter was the only one in the school Christmas panto with a homemade costume.
I have started ironing clothes and polishing shoes since oldest started school

Then in general

Peeling with a knife. Gadgets for every single thing didn't always exist
Lots of gardening things seed sowing, propagating, plant breeding, grafting, hotbeds, pruning, tree training, using things seasonally. I know most of these make sense to us but lots of people are at a loss when mentioned.

Oh and sewing. Been making bunting and tablecloths and it made me wonder how many homes actually have a sewing machine nowadays.

[JanieB]

I have 2 sewing machines. One is a big workhorse that I'm contemplating replacing, and the other is a small simple machine just used for emergency repairs.

When I were a lass it was cheaper to make our own clothes and that was about the only way my sister and I would be able to wear the latest fashions. It wasn't because my dad couldn't afford it, he was a doctor but mean when it came to his daughters. Fortunately our grandmothers were 1) a tailoress and 2) came from gentry and had embroidery/knitting/fancy needlework skills that they passed on to us.

I still knit and sew. But I no longer sides to middle the sheets or turn collars, or darn socks. Most of my sewing is to make curtains and cushion covers for myself and the family, and things for my dolls house. I make hedgerow wines, chutneys, jams and bottled fruit. But nowadays a lot of the fruit and veg goes in the freezer as it's less work and easy. Which reminds me, I have an absolute glut of tomatoes that have all ripened at once. I'll have to pick them and skin and freeze them. I also went sloe picking yesterday and they are currently in the freezer. There are more than enough for 3 large Kilner jars of sloe gin but I might go and pick some more and make some sloe wine which I've never attempted before. It's a good year for sloes.

[Snoop Puss]

Janie, there's no point skinning tomatoes before freezing them (unless you're turning them into sauce). Just wash and then freeze them individually. When you take them out of the freezer, you'll see that because ice is less dense than water, water actually expands when it freezes. As a consequence, the skin splits and slips off really easily when you thaw the toms.

[SelkirkAlex]

common sense seems to be being bred out of us, warning signs and "safety" barriers everywhere in an attempt to stop some idiot wandering into harms way, makes me smile when I recall Victoria Falls, to my mind one of natures wonders, no fences , no barriers, if you want to wander off the edge so be it

[burnie]

Speaking coherently, have you tried talking to anyone under the age of 25? they hardly speak face to face as their heads in their phone and when they do, it's in text speak, it sure ain't English, init!!

[noviceveggrower]

Listening to others is a major skill a lot of people have lost or are loosing. Its not just the younger generation either.
Must agree with VC about not writing letters or doing maths problems in your head are another couple that people can't do.
I can knit but struggle to follow or understand patterns. I can sew but can't use a sewing machine properly. Would like to be able to knit and sew properly but I think its the same as a lot of people its not only finding the time but also finding someone how to do it. Its ok watching youtube but its easier having someone to actually show you what to do and when you get stuck.

[SelkirkAlex]

can feel this thread becoming a full blown rant, deep breath

knife skills, not fancy cheffy skills but just basic how to handle a knife safely and properly in the kitchen but more so in the basic outdoors where these sills are learned, or should be, I was horrified to learn that my 16yo grand nephew had never been allowed a knife.

failing any legitimate familiarisation is it any wonder so many kids today think of knives as violent weapons? instead of a handy versatile tool in everyday life? a badge of maturity and trustworthiness?


ok winding neck back in before I offend people

[Guest]

Putting rubbish in a bin, hanging a toilet roll, emptying a hoover bag or am I the only one who does not have magical folk that do these jobs.