Category: Life Hack

Skinny shirt

On By CarynIn Craft, Life Hack

I know skinny t-shirts are a thing, but there are times when they are too skinny! My eldest has a favorite print shirt that fits this category, and drives her crazy when it rides up. We did look for a larger size, but it has been a few years since she received it as a gift. To fix it, I found a thin knit fabric that matched the weight of the shirt (and coordinated with the print), then picked out the side seams all the way up, including the sleeve seam. Using a different, well-fitted shirt as a guide, I cut 3” strips of the new fabric and sewed them in using the jersey stitch on my sewing machine.

Skinny shirt given some wiggle room by adding side panels (shown on a dress maker’s form)

Filter adjustment

On By CarynIn Life Hack

Oops. I bought the wrong size filter for our house air filters. I’m going to chalk it up to distraction in the store because I had the correct dimensions on my list. I did not want to go back to the store. Luckily, they were oversized and I could cut them down.

Mark the filter to the correct size minus 1/8” and use kitchen shears to cut off the whole end
Kitchen shears also work well to run underneath the cardboard edges and release them from the glue
Tape the cardboard end from the cutoff piece onto the main piece. Use a marker to change the printed size so you don’t make the mistake again.
Install the fixed filter! Do remember to mark the date of change and dust the cover.

Netting

On By CarynIn Life Hack
Netting fabric draped over my sky chair

In an effort to keep the caterpillars from falling into my lap, and the random bird droppings soiling my yarn, I draped netting over my chair. Jury is still out on the effectiveness long term, but I didn’t have unwanted visitors that day.

Water bottle chain

On By CarynIn Life Hack

Here is a quick life hack if your or your kid’s water bottle won’t stay in the backpack side pocket: a bottle chain. I used a split ring (like those used for keys), a bit of aluminum chain (from my stash, but you can find light chain at the hardware store or hobby store), and an S clip (a carabiner would work too). Connect the metal bits together, then attach the split ring to the top of the mesh pocket (the reinforced part). The clip then holds on to the water bottle loop. The clip is easy to undo to access the water, but provides enough security that the bottle doesn’t slid out if the backpack tips over. I used to sew a bit of velcro on the backpacks for this function, but this metal chain is easier and can switch to a new backpack!

Water bottle secured into a backpack with a chain and clip

This toy is a beast

On By CarynIn Life Hack
12-year-old Fisher-Price Sooth and Glow Seahorse

My youngest has had a glowing seahorse as a bedtime buddy for over 12 years. This thing is a beast! It has survived fire and flood and moving. I’ve washed the cover (separately from the electronics), replaced batteries, and since she is so attached to it, had a second as backup, which has also lasted 12 years. Until I dropped it on the floor before bed and the music stopped. She got the spare, and I went to work with the screw driver set.

Seahorse toy guts, speaker on the right

Turns out the speaker had a part that was knocked out of alignment. The small metal ring in the center was misaligned, and I was able to shift it back into place. It worked again. I had that thing down to its wires (which were all still tightly soldered) and was able to put the batteries in and hear the music. Tough little thing. Then, when writing this article, I discovered Fisher-Price still sells them. Only now they also come in pink. Yes, I ordered one. Yes, I now have back ups for my back ups.