This is a cross-stitch that I did several years ago. I selected it because I liked the saying and the flower detail around the edges. Recently, I began to wonder about the origin of the saying. After a bit of Googling, Barry Popik, who studies the origins of words enlightened me.
The saying is thought to be a New England proverb seen in print as early as 1933. Earlier versions of the saying were, “Eat it up, wear it out, make it do,” and it was widely used during the Great Depression. However, the War Advertising Council modified it and used the saying during World War II to promote the conservation of resources to help the war effort. During this campaign, the wording was changed to "Use it up, wear it out, Make it do, Do without."
It has been used since then by frugal and environmentally-minded people everywhere. Do you ever quote this saying?
