Preparing for Winter

BitterAndTwisted

I think it would be quite simple to make one if the top just had a notch or slit at the neck so you could pull it over your head. I have a picture in my mind of the pattern, you'd either need to cut out two pieces or fold it in half at the shoulders/sleeves. It all seems very simple now at the theoretical stage but may look like hell in reality. I'm leaning towards the latter as the last garment I made was over 40 years ago at school!

Why don't you try a dummy run using something cheap/you're just about to throw away so it won't matter that much if it's not good enough?

mardatha

yy forgot lol. I got a stash of them too and a "flu box" of medicines

annie123

mardatha wrote: »

yy forgot lol. I got a stash of them too and a "flu box" of medicines

And Sweeties too

mennie

mardatha wrote: »

Betony !!! Shhhhh!! Don't tell them what we're doing with fleeces !!
Winter emergency food stash, I have
dried milk
tea
smash
tins meat
tins carnation
semolina
soup
sugar
flour
all baking stuff inc dried fruit
soap & washing up liq
shampoo
toothpaste
torches candles lamps
matches and firelighters
plus half a ton of porridge !

Similar to my list. What kind of quantities do you have stashed away? Thanks

CCP

That's a great list, Mardatha - and everyone who's added extra things - thanks very much. I'll use that as a starter for my own list, although I might skip the semolina - I've never tried it and wouldn't have the first idea what to do with it.

becca_979 asked yesterday about where to get fleece and what it costs - could I second that question, please? (If there's any left after the "It's still tough" lot do whatever it is they're doing, and everyone on here has finished cooking and eating any remaining fleeces...)

Thank you!

annie123

zarazara wrote: »

I love the quilting idea. I wonder? has anyone done a cost annalysis? I am considering buying cheap duvets to do this with and also to hang on the wall,tapestry- like.

Zara, I tried a duvet at the window today.
Used dd's old single one length ways so it fitted and used drawing pins to hold it in place, and left it there for a few hours, neighbours are used to me doing odd things, I used my front bay window to test as its north facing

Made a big difference to feeling warm, would be lovely in winter but for the life of me I could not get it to roll up without being the thickness of a sleeping bag, looked ridiculous and would be a lot of weight to hold.

Would work very well as a fixed panel that doesn't matter if the window light is blocked for the winter.

Might use her old duvet as a curtain for my front door, north facing and a bad fit, even got bits of snow in the hall once:eek: will be warmer than my curtains and fleece I think.

mardatha

Sweeties have a very short life expectancy in this house. Measured in HOURS.
Re stashes, you can start with a week per adult, and then multiply it from there. For as long as you want/can afford. Here is the basic list from FluTrackers but you need to adapt it a wee bit as its American and designed for any eventuality like flood/earthquake etc but its very good-

Remember to multiply the amounts of each item on the list by the number of adults you are preparing for.

BASIC PREP LIST FOR ONE MONTH/ONE ADULT
* Water: 30 gallons per person minimum
* Canned meals: 30 cans per person (Pasta meat mixes; Chunky type soups; Chili; etc.)
* Canned/Tinned meat spreads and similar items for sandwiches: 12 cans
* Peanut Butter: 2-3 lbs per person
* Jam/Jelly: 1-2 lbs per person
* Crackers: 4 1 lb. boxes per person (for sandwiches and snacks)
* Canned fruit: 12 cans per person
* Instant breakfast cereal: 30 packs per person
* Vegetable/fruit juices: 1 gallon per person
* Coffee, (2 lb) tea, hot chocolate etc. Consider instant in case no electricity.
* Dry milk: Large box, increase if frequent milk drinker; 2 per child
* Dessert items: Canned or single serve puddings and similar , hard candy, or similar comfort foods and "treats", if funds allow
* Sugar: 5 lbs
* Salt: 1 lb; other spices/condiments as desired
* Baking soda: 1 box

* Tylenol/Acetaminophen: bottle 100
* Ibuprofen: bottle 100
* Multiple Vitamin: 1 bottle/30 day supply
* Prescription Medications: minimum 30 days supply

* Antibacterial soap: 1 per sink
* Hand sanitizer:minimum 1 pocket size and one large to refill from
* Bleach- unscented, 1 gallon
* Vinegar: plain, 1 gallon for disinfectant purposes

* Toilet paper 10-15 rolls
* Paper towels; 6 rolls
* Paper plates, cups, disposable silverware
* Manual can opener
* Camp Stove, sterno or other alternative heating method to boil water and fuel
* Flashlights: One per person minimum, consider LED lights to reduce battery usage. Additional LED headlamps extremely useful.
* Radio: battery powered
* Batteries: 3 to 4 sets per battery powered item
* Fire extinguishers
* Battery operated smoke detectors

* Children specific items: Food, formula, diapers, OTC medicines

fedupandskint

Thanks mardatha for your list

I'm about to copy it ready to start going through and see what I need to get in and what I have

Been miserable this afternoon here - very autumn like

Gigervamp

NualaBuala wrote: »

Another thing I must do is insulate the outside tap as the pipe burst last winter. I wonder could I do it with bubble wrap or should I just buy the proper foam stuff.

That reminds me that we need to add more insulation to our outside tap. We've already got that foam pipe lagging on it, but it still froze up and burst last winter.

NualaBuala

Gigervamp wrote: »

That reminds me that we need to add more insulation to our outside tap. We've already got that foam pipe lagging on it, but it still froze up and burst last winter.

Crikey, that just shows how cold it was! I haven't got much space between the wall and the pipe so I can't use anything too thick.