Preparing for Winter V

Scrimps

Thanks for the good ideas re the window.  I'm going to try those. 

That why I like this forum so much, they seem simple solutions but honestly never occurred to me

enkeltliv

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Elisheba - they didn't wear tights  

I wear various kinds of non-nylon stockings and long socks, some hand-knitted, others machine-knitted, and I go foraging through all kinds of undergrowth with no trouble  

And lovely and warm too - instead of synthetic slips, most of which fabrics conduct warmth out of the body, I wear petticoats made of either natural fibres or viscose, which insulate beautifully. 

I don't "dress vintage-style" but my clothes are fairly old-fashioned and *very* much more comfortable and practical as a result!  

Petticoats and underskirts, bloomers and outer skirts. Natural fibres, dense fabrics and layering. 

In my humble opinion I believe nylon tights to be a poor choice in the winter. They are constructed with a man made synthetic fabric. Nylon tights do trap heat but only because nylon doesn't allow the skin to breathe. Whilst they are trapping in the heat they are actually worsening sweating which is problematic for body temperature control.

Viscose is a finer choice of hosiery for me due to it's part plant based fibre content. Viscose tights are breathable. They don't trap in the heat which eliminates the sweating issue. Warm weather wear should not trap in heat. Breathable fabrics are optimal in the winter weathers. This is not my opinion, it is, indeed, a fact.

Viscose has been around since the 1800s however it's eco credentials are somewhat iffy. 

@Laura_Elsewhere I suspect, having read the fashion ration thread, you're aware of this kind of fabric information. 😉 I hope to be of some use to someone howsoever.

boultdj

@Elisheba, a friend a few years ago bought me a knitting bag, it zips up and has 2 holes for wool to be threaded through so the ball of wool stays clean so they are out there.

Elisheba

boultdj said:

@Elisheba, a friend a few years ago bought me a knitting bag, it zips up and has 2 holes for wool to be threaded through so the ball of wool stays clean so they are out there.

Thanks @boultdj I'll have a Google 

enkeltliv

In addition to the post I made about viscose tight fabric yesterday I am hopeful of helping further with the reporting of a find this morning.

Sainsbury sell a 78% cotton/ modal mix black thick tight for £6. Modal is very similar, if not the same, as viscose so in terms of supermarket affordability, warmth and breathability I think this is the best we can hope for. I feel its quite a find.

maryb

Ooh good find.  I looked it up and it’s actually Lenzing modal which uses a closed loop manufacturing system so all the chemicals are recovered and reused.  Makes it the most eco friendly form of viscose type fiber

enkeltliv

maryb said:

Ooh good find.  I looked it up and it’s actually Lenzing modal which uses a closed loop manufacturing system so all the chemicals are recovered and reused.  Makes it the most eco friendly form of viscose type fiber

Lenzing is just the name of the Austrian company who manufacture the modal. It is just Tencel Modal but bravo on looking it up.

Are you American @maryb? I ask due to the American English you used to spell the word fibre. 

maryb

No I am Brit.  Blummin predictive text and I didn’t notice

Grabs39

7 degrees outside here this morning.  Thankfully still 16C inside so no need for heating yet, but summer's definitely over!  

I've washed the sheets today so put the electric blanket back on, just in case!

Laura_Elsewhere

The water in the quarry I swim at was noticeably cooler this morning - someone with a thermometer said it was 17 C. I still stayed in for 40 minutes and didn't feel cold once swimming, but definitely, it feels that the colder months are starting now... I hope to keep swimming right through, but we'll see!