Problem
The strap of a man's sandal comes apart at an airport. What can you do?
Answer
A quick temporary repair with dental floss.
Story
The sandal came apart at the airport on the way home to London from Stansted. No products or time for a proper repair. An urgent need to stick the shoe together to continue with journey. A piece of dental floss wound around kept the strap together. It was not a permanent repair, but it got the sandal's owner out of trouble.
Dental Floss
If you didn't have dental floss and couldn't see a shoe repair shop, you could dash into the nearest chemist (UK) or drug store (US) and buy dental floss. Most dental floss is white and looks tubular. However, you can also buy flat ribbon floss and green mint.
Shoe Laces
A pair of long shoe laces can be used to make an emergency suitcase handle if your suitcase handle breaks.
Hair
An alternative for a sewing fix is to use your own long hair. or ask a relative for a long hair. You might see a long hair in a hairdressing salon or on the sofa or the clothes of somebody who has long hair. Or even ask a passer by for the donation of a long hair!
Hair comes in many colours, natural and dyed. You might see black hair, blonde hair, red hair, blue hair, purple hair, white hair.
If you don't like the idea of cutting off your own hair or somebody else's, look for hair left in a comb or brush.
Tips
I usually travel with a pair of slipper sox just in case. Note to self - put a pair of slipper sox in the front pocket of my carry on luggage, or a spare pair of flip flops.
Button Thread Needed
If you want to sew on a button with matching thread, look for a piece of thread dangling from a hem or seam. You need a piece long enough for the size of needle. Pick the smallest needle. If the thread is long enough, sew the whole button on with it. If you have a short piece, secure the button with a near colour thread. Weave the matching thread to cover the top of the non-matching threads on the button.
If all else fails, remove matching thread from the seam, or pull a thread from the woven hem. Make good the now missing piece of cotton with non-matching thread in the hidden area.
Change the button with visible holes to a matching colour button which instead has an underneath shank so the thread does not show.
You can sew over the top of the repair with matching thread when you get home.
Buy a button which has a removable top which you cover with fabric. Cut a small piece of fabric from the garment hem to make a matching button.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
The strap of a man's sandal comes apart at an airport. What can you do?
Answer
A quick temporary repair with dental floss.
Story
The sandal came apart at the airport on the way home to London from Stansted. No products or time for a proper repair. An urgent need to stick the shoe together to continue with journey. A piece of dental floss wound around kept the strap together. It was not a permanent repair, but it got the sandal's owner out of trouble.
Dental Floss
If you didn't have dental floss and couldn't see a shoe repair shop, you could dash into the nearest chemist (UK) or drug store (US) and buy dental floss. Most dental floss is white and looks tubular. However, you can also buy flat ribbon floss and green mint.
Shoe Laces
A pair of long shoe laces can be used to make an emergency suitcase handle if your suitcase handle breaks.
Hair
An alternative for a sewing fix is to use your own long hair. or ask a relative for a long hair. You might see a long hair in a hairdressing salon or on the sofa or the clothes of somebody who has long hair. Or even ask a passer by for the donation of a long hair!
Hair comes in many colours, natural and dyed. You might see black hair, blonde hair, red hair, blue hair, purple hair, white hair.
If you don't like the idea of cutting off your own hair or somebody else's, look for hair left in a comb or brush.
Tips
I usually travel with a pair of slipper sox just in case. Note to self - put a pair of slipper sox in the front pocket of my carry on luggage, or a spare pair of flip flops.
Button Thread Needed
If you want to sew on a button with matching thread, look for a piece of thread dangling from a hem or seam. You need a piece long enough for the size of needle. Pick the smallest needle. If the thread is long enough, sew the whole button on with it. If you have a short piece, secure the button with a near colour thread. Weave the matching thread to cover the top of the non-matching threads on the button.
If all else fails, remove matching thread from the seam, or pull a thread from the woven hem. Make good the now missing piece of cotton with non-matching thread in the hidden area.
Change the button with visible holes to a matching colour button which instead has an underneath shank so the thread does not show.
You can sew over the top of the repair with matching thread when you get home.
Buy a button which has a removable top which you cover with fabric. Cut a small piece of fabric from the garment hem to make a matching button.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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