So, I’m starting to become a litte bit peturbed at the willingness of our society to bury its collective head in the sand and ignore the fact that we are rapidly heading down a path that cannot be sustained.

Let me back up. Someone on Twitter linked to this dress from Anthropologie. My first thought was cute, followed by expensive. Pretty typical reaction when I see anything from Anthropologie. Then I read the description.

A patchwork of crisp cotton, Maeve’s corset-style frock recalls a time when each and every bit of fabric was used and treasured.

*raised eyebrow*

Excuse me?

Making the best use out of materials is not–nor should it be consider–quaint. It is smart. It is practical. And it is a lesson we would all do well to learn from our grandmothers. (Or great-grandmothers. Or maybe great-great-grandmothers. Pick your generation, folks, it’s like a choose your own adventure novel. Which at least some of you are probably too young to remember. Moving on.)

Now, Iwill freely admit here that I am as guilty as anyone. I am not a minimalist, and I have what many would say is too much stuff. This is made even worse by the fact that I come from a family who expresses affection by giving gifts–and while the thought is lovely, it can also mean finding places to put things. But the more I read things like that–and the more I watch things like The Story of Stuff, the more I question this.

So, this has me thinking. What do I get rid of? How can I do better–and what can I reuse. Some of it, I already do, without even thinking. Yarn is saved for other projects (leftover sock yarn becoming the never-ending blanket of doom, for example, and what’s left from that is made into ornaments or other wee tiny things) or given away if I don’t think I will use it. Fabric scraps are saved, with the hopes of eventually becoming quilts or other patchwork objects. Clothes are generally hoarded until they are unwearable, but since I haven’t changed sizes in any meaningful way since the 9th grade, I’m thinking I should probably revisit that strategy. Wearable things I’ll donate to thrift stores or take to a clothing swap with friends, but what of the  unwearable? I should remember, in the future, not to just toss my torn or threadbare shirts–they can, at least, make serviceable dust rags or cleaning cloths. But I wonder. What else am I tossing that could be re-used?

This year, I want to pay more attention to these things, and work to build new habits that are more sustainable. The hardest part of this is going to be, I think, remembering that I can’t do this overnight. I have a tendency to want to jump in with both feet, then break down when I get overwhelmed with the enormity of the thing.

And I’ll still save and use all my fabric and yarn scraps.