Preparing for Winter V

Laura_Elsewhere

@Auntycaz - I wonder if as well as the extra thickness being more insulating, it's also even better than one thinker curtain because it's got a layer of trapped air as even better insulation? Clever thinking, either way!

Laura_Elsewhere

Also, @Auntycaz, thanks for the reminder - I've just spent £9.99 on eBay on secondhand curtains for our bedroom and just inside the front door  

Floss

I freeze h/m soup in re-used bags - they get frozen flat & then get "filed" standing up in the freezer drawer.

prepareathome

Can anyone point me in direction of wool hats, gloves and socks.  For first 55 years of my life I knitted my own hats, gloves and socks - started to knit properly at age5 - but at 60 had to admit defeat as hand pain would have me in tears after just a few stitches (that includes crochet).  Its repetitive movement that causes the problem.  Learnt to use a sewing machine 3 years ago which at least keeps the craft monster at bay but still not knitting and just discovered my last me-made knitted items are going so need more.

I have never bought any of these items before (at age 65) so no idea where is good and do prefer real wool, no acrylic in any form but prices vary so much or if not, wool are any of these items like Thinsulate (not sure if remembering that right) any good - have bought silk gloves, hats and socks but they were for putting under knitted ones and doubt they would stand up to being worn alone.    Don't go skiing anymore nor long winter hikes but going for walks on fields with the dogs during winter can be chilly and wellie wearing usually means a couple of pairs.

So if anyone can recommend anywhere or if they know of someone who sells hand knitted items ( I know the time and effort needed to make them plus the cost of wool so know they will not be cheap), please let me know - never thought I would ever have to buy someone else's work, I still have all my knitted needles and crochet hooks in case a miracle occurs and hand pain vanishes ( started when I was 33 and first sign of my chronic health problem) and oh boy it's so tempting just to order some yarn as gave my binbags full to charity knitters eventually 18 months ago and I cried once it all had left the house.    I know though I cannot do it - still have a couple of items I had not finished that I dig out every so often and knit a few stitches but never more.  

I feel I should hand in my make do and mend and prepare membership card having to admit I need to buy these and not make them - yes could sew but not the same as nice handknitted as would have to buy machine made fabric and only real wool fabric I have ever seen is type to make dresses etc - have that in and currently making a Victorian walking skirt out of some  or cashmere which is rather expensive - well very expensive and no matter how careful you cut there is always waste with fabric and odd shapes would certainly create to much waste. 

Thanks everyone x

oystercatcher

prepareathome said:

Can anyone point me in direction of wool hats, gloves and socks.  For first 55 years of my life I knitted my own hats, gloves and socks - started to knit properly at age5 - but at 60 had to admit defeat as hand pain would have me in tears after just a few stitches (that includes crochet).  Its repetitive movement that causes the problem.  Learnt to use a sewing machine 3 years ago which at least keeps the craft monster at bay but still not knitting and just discovered my last me-made knitted items are going so need more.

I have never bought any of these items before (at age 65) so no idea where is good and do prefer real wool, no acrylic in any form but prices vary so much or if not, wool are any of these items like Thinsulate (not sure if remembering that right) any good - have bought silk gloves, hats and socks but they were for putting under knitted ones and doubt they would stand up to being worn alone.    Don't go skiing anymore nor long winter hikes but going for walks on fields with the dogs during winter can be chilly and wellie wearing usually means a couple of pairs.

So if anyone can recommend anywhere or if they know of someone who sells hand knitted items ( I know the time and effort needed to make them plus the cost of wool so know they will not be cheap), please let me know - never thought I would ever have to buy someone else's work, I still have all my knitted needles and crochet hooks in case a miracle occurs and hand pain vanishes ( started when I was 33 and first sign of my chronic health problem) and oh boy it's so tempting just to order some yarn as gave my binbags full to charity knitters eventually 18 months ago and I cried once it all had left the house.    I know though I cannot do it - still have a couple of items I had not finished that I dig out every so often and knit a few stitches but never more.  

I feel I should hand in my make do and mend and prepare membership card having to admit I need to buy these and not make them - yes could sew but not the same as nice handknitted as would have to buy machine made fabric and only real wool fabric I have ever seen is type to make dresses etc - have that in and currently making a Victorian walking skirt out of some  or cashmere which is rather expensive - well very expensive and no matter how careful you cut there is always waste with fabric and odd shapes would certainly create to much waste. 

Thanks everyone x

Have a look at Turtle Doves, not hand knits but recycled cashmere gloves hates etc. I really love their fingerless mits and the recycling element is very good.

If not then Etsy will probably have hand made items.

Laura_Elsewhere

@prepareathome, first-off have my very sincere sympathy. I know how it feels but I was very lucky as my arm-limiting problems were sortable (mostly) - but I remember that ruddy awful feeling from the months when it was not known which way it would go. 

I'm sure everyone's suggested everything, but some people find they can manage with a knitting belt and DPNs where they can't manage with straights and circs. But I expect you've already tried everything...

Never ever ever be ashamed of asking, though.... we can all only do what we can do, and everyone has things they can't do, many of us have things we never could do! 

If you want to stay independent, I recommend buying pure-wool handwash-only jumpers on eBay or similar, or haunt charity shops, put word out to friends... you want cheap ones, maybe with stains or holes on the front, etc. - then put them in your normal laundry load to shrink them down, and you have excellent fabric for cutting up to make hats, mittens etc. The sleeves make excellent wrist-warmers - basically like the Turtle Doves ones but cheaper  

Socks are more difficult to track down cheaply - well, you know they aren't quick to make. But you could try the suppliers for historical re-enactment, who typically carry knee-high stockings which are beautifully warm and cosy, and some may carry more modern styles for eg WW2 Home Front or Land Army re-enactment groups. 
I like the medium and the heavy weights of stockings from Quartermaster Stores (google!), although be wary of the top edges being a bit tight if you have wide calves or plump thighs. They are £14-16 a pair and are quite happy in the washing-machine with my other woollens on the cold-water 'rinse' cycle with its 1400rpm spin! 
There's another place called Soldiers of Fortune - I've never bought anything from them but if you put "sock" in the search bar they have various 20th century styles of wool sock available. 

But really... don't go handing in any badges just yet... you don't get out of here that easily x

greenbee

oystercatcher said:

prepareathome said:

Can anyone point me in direction of wool hats, gloves and socks.  For first 55 years of my life I knitted my own hats, gloves and socks - started to knit properly at age5 - but at 60 had to admit defeat as hand pain would have me in tears after just a few stitches (that includes crochet).  Its repetitive movement that causes the problem.  Learnt to use a sewing machine 3 years ago which at least keeps the craft monster at bay but still not knitting and just discovered my last me-made knitted items are going so need more.

I have never bought any of these items before (at age 65) so no idea where is good and do prefer real wool, no acrylic in any form but prices vary so much or if not, wool are any of these items like Thinsulate (not sure if remembering that right) any good - have bought silk gloves, hats and socks but they were for putting under knitted ones and doubt they would stand up to being worn alone.    Don't go skiing anymore nor long winter hikes but going for walks on fields with the dogs during winter can be chilly and wellie wearing usually means a couple of pairs.

So if anyone can recommend anywhere or if they know of someone who sells hand knitted items ( I know the time and effort needed to make them plus the cost of wool so know they will not be cheap), please let me know - never thought I would ever have to buy someone else's work, I still have all my knitted needles and crochet hooks in case a miracle occurs and hand pain vanishes ( started when I was 33 and first sign of my chronic health problem) and oh boy it's so tempting just to order some yarn as gave my binbags full to charity knitters eventually 18 months ago and I cried once it all had left the house.    I know though I cannot do it - still have a couple of items I had not finished that I dig out every so often and knit a few stitches but never more.  

I feel I should hand in my make do and mend and prepare membership card having to admit I need to buy these and not make them - yes could sew but not the same as nice handknitted as would have to buy machine made fabric and only real wool fabric I have ever seen is type to make dresses etc - have that in and currently making a Victorian walking skirt out of some  or cashmere which is rather expensive - well very expensive and no matter how careful you cut there is always waste with fabric and odd shapes would certainly create to much waste. 

Thanks everyone x

Have a look at Turtle Doves, not hand knits but recycled cashmere gloves hates etc. I really love their fingerless mits and the recycling element is very good.

If not then Etsy will probably have hand made items.

I use turtle doves for wrist warmers, gloves, hats, neck warmers and bed socks. I trade in my worn out and motheaten cashmere for the gloves (£3). They are popular  as presents. If I had the time I’d sew my own, but I don’t so they are a good alternative.

I agree Etsy is also a good option

prepareathome

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Socks are more difficult to track down cheaply - well, you know they aren't quick to make. But you could try the suppliers for historical re-enactment, who typically carry knee-high stockings which are beautifully warm and cosy, and some may carry more modern styles for eg WW2 Home Front or Land Army re-enactment groups. 
I like the medium and the heavy weights of stockings from Quartermaster Stores (google!), although be wary of the top edges being a bit tight if you have wide calves or plump thighs.

Thank you - great idea about looking for old wool items and can I ask you what are the sizes of the socks in Quartermaster Stores - they say small, medium, large and extra-large but cannot find anywhere where it gives what that means in shoe size - I am a UK 7 so presume it would be large but unsure don't want to buy to small (larger can be given to DH but even he is only size 9). 

Thanks for all the other suggestions - bought self and DH a couple of pairs from Soldiers of Fortune - thick and mainly wool so great for wellies.  

Tried knitting belt and knitting board - even tried a knitting machine but not the same at all so gave it away, tried thick to thin needles - it's not just knitting anything that involves repetitive movement for more than a minute sets the hand pain off, yet hands look so normal, it's so frustrating as does affect a lot of make do and mend things as so many are repetitive. 

Again thanks  

annieb64

You could try craft fairs for hats and gloves. Our wool shop used to sell long socks . I think they may have been from Yorkshire  Spinners.

Laura_Elsewhere

prepareathome said:

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Socks are more difficult to track down cheaply - well, you know they aren't quick to make. But you could try the suppliers for historical re-enactment, who typically carry knee-high stockings which are beautifully warm and cosy, and some may carry more modern styles for eg WW2 Home Front or Land Army re-enactment groups. 
I like the medium and the heavy weights of stockings from Quartermaster Stores (google!), although be wary of the top edges being a bit tight if you have wide calves or plump thighs.

Thank you - great idea about looking for old wool items and can I ask you what are the sizes of the socks in Quartermaster Stores - they say small, medium, large and extra-large but cannot find anywhere where it gives what that means in shoe size - I am a UK 7 so presume it would be large but unsure don't want to buy to small (larger can be given to DH but even he is only size 9). 

Thanks for all the other suggestions - bought self and DH a couple of pairs from Soldiers of Fortune - thick and mainly wool so great for wellies.  

Tried knitting belt and knitting board - even tried a knitting machine but not the same at all so gave it away, tried thick to thin needles - it's not just knitting anything that involves repetitive movement for more than a minute sets the hand pain off, yet hands look so normal, it's so frustrating as does affect a lot of make do and mend things as so many are repetitive. 

Again thanks  

I am a UK shoe 7, and I've got size 'Large' from QMSores in 'medium' and 'heavy' - but the heavyweight ones only just go over my calf (17") although the foot is perfect after a couple of cold washes; the medium ones are frustrating as the leg fits much better but the foot is too long for me. However - bear in mind! - I like mine worn right up to mid-thigh, so if you're happy to have yours just coming to knee-high like nearly everyone, then they'd work better for you. 
I do like them and will buy more, but they are definitely better for those with slimmer legs - mine are particularly stout, it should be said!

There are other suppliers in historical re-enactment, but I do like the long wool stockings from QMStores - the chap is a very nice chap BUT everything does take quite a while, be warned He replies to messages and phonecalls fairly reliably, but depending on whether a thing is in stock it can take a while for your order to arrive! I have the wonderful WW2 lace-up leather shoes, as worn by American WAC, and they are incredibly comfortable but did take a few weeks and I was starting to wonder...!  But at the other end of the scale my stockings arrived practically next day!