2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Sayschezza

Trousers being returned. Blouse is a keeper. Total 16 points used so far.

SnowflakeBunny

I now understand why small boys always used to wear shorts. All 3 pairs of school trousers (two new in September, one secondhand) developed holes in the left knee this week. The first has been patched, along with a pair of black jeans that went in the same place last week. Both are rather nicely done in old swatches of border print, toning charcoal grey but with black designs on if you look really closely (hot air balloons on the school trousers, London skyline on the jeans), and he is likes the new look. Still, I'm left wondering whether a modern child could be clad without cold or embarrassment on a WW2 ration. He's up to 7 coupons so far- 3 on boots, 4 on a long-sleeved T-shirt in the sale for next winter when his old ones are outgrown. How many coupons would he have been entitled to? The primary homework help website (highly academic source, ahem) declares 10 more than adults, but states theirs was 60, then 48 later on (not the 66 used here). At least the patching keeps me away from making anything new...

ahw23

Ooops- I've accidentally used an old identity. It's me who has been patching school trousers. I've managed to avoid spending my own coupons meanwhile.

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

Laura Elsewhere - thanks for the support. It really helps being on here and getting helpful tips. I think I will just say I "shopped" from my stash purely because I have so much of it. I may even try to make all my clothes this year (not sure how successful that will be). I did an audit of the clothes in my wardrobe over the weekend and have decided I need some replacement jeans as well as some other trousers. I probably could do with some flat boots as well (rather than walking boots) and maybe a pair of smart shoes to go with dresses (although I will resist for now). This month of February so far I have spent nothing.

Sayschezza

Sayschezza wrote: »

Trousers being returned. Blouse is a keeper. Total 16 points used so far.

3 long sleeve tees to wear under woolies and a jumper = 14 hope that's correct. Total now 30 coupons used. I am never going to manage this without the black market.

JCS1

Worth an enter, prize is complete set of DMC threads worth over £5k


https://www.sewandso.co.uk/threaduary

Laura_Elsewhere

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire wrote: »

I did an audit of the clothes in my wardrobe over the weekend and have decided I need some replacement jeans as well as some other trousers. I probably could do with some flat boots as well (rather than walking boots) and maybe a pair of smart shoes to go with dresses (although I will resist for now).

THAT is the way to go about it! Look at the gaps, work out what you NEED, and prioritise those... You know you want smart shoes - so why not set up a search on eBay with notifications, for your size and style preferences, and wait for a pair of barely/never-worn ones to turn up as second-hand? I've got ones still with the immaculate, unscuffed price-labels on the soles, clearly never worn even indoors, sold as second-hand

I'm making a lot more of my clothes - I'm so used to being unusual in sewing my own, that I keep being really surprised by how many of us here in this thread can make clothes, even if some of us are a bit out of practice!

I bought some really nice apple-green and white checked cotton curtains, second-hand on eBay, last year and by summer, I intend them to become a lovely full skirt, buttoning up the front and with Practical Pockets, of course, and maybe a couple of tops, so it looks like different dresses - a strappy camisole, but also maybe a short/cap-sleeved blouse?

This month of February so far I have spent nothing.

Me too! (but only because I had to go to buy undies in Primark for relative of my partner (unknown to me) (er, relative unknown, not partner; I do know my partner! ), and used some of his coupons to buy a £3.50 pair of grey "cotton supersoft" tights, which even in their largest size won't go up to the top of my not-that-huge-honest thighs, because they make them with a too-small waistband imo... so I cut the legs off right at the top, and they work splendidly with a suspender-belt as cosy warm winter stockings! They last a couple of years, don't fray so no need to hem the cut edges, and are very handy!

Laura_Elsewhere

Sayschezza wrote: »

Total now 30 coupons used. I am never going to manage this without the black market.

Well... given my morally-reprehensible close relationship last autumn/winter with those spivs, I'm not going to be casting nasturtiums at you!

But I bet you still end up buying less than you would have done if not counting your coupons, and I bet next year you buy yet less...

I still have hope of making it to Dec without resorting to spivs, but I'm definitely doing better than last year!

thriftwizard

I haven't spent any coupons yet! Which is mainly because of circumstances - confined to home by some medical treatment, which will last until the end of February & is wiping me out - but is allowing me time & space to think what I do really need.

I love that tee, PipneyJane, and am wondering whether even my limited knitting skills might be up to it; DS2 is moving the last of his stuff out over this weekend and amazingly I've just found I have a drawer full of beautiful Rowan cotton yarn, left over from another bargain job-lot a couple of years back, just before he moved back in with us... So far my knitting has been limited to dishcloths and scarves, though I can manage a few fancy stitches, so I might be brave & try it. It'd look great at the vintage shows...

I'm despairing of the wool cardi; turns out that "Colleen" needs 9 skeins in my size, well over what I've got. I've found a number of shawl patterns that are nice enough and within my limits, but I weave & crochet shawls and have more than I can wear already! Might list that lot on Ebay at a sensible price & let someone else have all the fun.

For all who might be wondering why I have so much yarn stashed; it's a part of my little "vintage" business. Needlecrafts were big, something that everyone did backalong, and I always have old patterns (many of which go to cardmakers, cheaper than buying "toppers" and often much funnier/prettier...) decent needles and yarns & threads like Motoravia or Lyscordet for people to play with. A couple of local charity shops offer me needlecraft-related things they haven't been able to sell, and I give them more than the ragman would, so it works all round. And sometimes there are some amazing bargains; the Rowan yarns came from a shop that was closing down, and the little hospital shop was swamped. Most of them I sold straight on, but a few found their way into my stash awaiting the perfect project. Who wouldn't...?

frizz2

This is a great thread! Thank you everyone for all the ideas. I would like to join too also, as I am into mending and repairing clothes and revamping what I have.