2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

CAFCGirl

I say buy the yarn.....

thriftwizard

So do I!

Still not back in shape here, and not entirely sure there's any shape left under the scars! But well on the mend now, although I have a pesky stitch causing minor mayhem, which may yet have to be surgically removed. I'm thinking I do have to invest in some new underwear, and also possibly in a decent overlocker so I can turn old t-shirts etc. into comfy knickers like the mini-shorts DD2 favours - my old overlocker was a beast to thread & get the tensions & feed just right, so I ended up giving the dratted thing away as I'd do anything rather than actually try to use it. I need something simpler! Which probably means more expensive... but it's an investment in the long term.

Haven't been in a position to buy anything much at all since the final (fingers crossed!) operation so I still have a full complement of coupons. The odd gardening item may have slipped through the letterbox, bought online after due thought, but as far as I know they're coupon-free. (Both sets of my grandparents gardened, and kept chickens, throughout WWII, and continued to do as long as they physically could.) So although I have to admit I've lost the plot when it comes to the food budget (and would have run out of coupons long ago!) overall we're doing quite well just now. Which is a bit of a lesson in itself!

PipneyJane

thriftwizard wrote: »

So do I!

Still not back in shape here, and not entirely sure there's any shape left under the scars! But well on the mend now, although I have a pesky stitch causing minor mayhem, which may yet have to be surgically removed. I'm thinking I do have to invest in some new underwear, and also possibly in a decent overlocker so I can turn old t-shirts etc. into comfy knickers like the mini-shorts DD2 favours - my old overlocker was a beast to thread & get the tensions & feed just right, so I ended up giving the dratted thing away as I'd do anything rather than actually try to use it. I need something simpler! Which probably means more expensive... but it's an investment in the long term.

Haven't been in a position to buy anything much at all since the final (fingers crossed!) operation so I still have a full complement of coupons. The odd gardening item may have slipped through the letterbox, bought online after due thought, but as far as I know they're coupon-free. (Both sets of my grandparents gardened, and kept chickens, throughout WWII, and continued to do as long as they physically could.) So although I have to admit I've lost the plot when it comes to the food budget (and would have run out of coupons long ago!) overall we're doing quite well just now. Which is a bit of a lesson in itself!

Welcome back, Thriftwizard. I'm glad you're on the mend. Fingers crossed it is your final operation, although if that stitch is problematic, they may have to make a small incision to remove it. Is it causing you pain?

The dreaded overlocker. Do let us know what you decide to buy, if you ever do. I've eyed them off in Lidl, when they pop up in the aisle-of-surprise, but just can't bring myself to buy one without multiple test-drives.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

CAFCGirl wrote: »

I say buy the yarn.....

I did! Four 50g balls of the cheerful, lovely, sock yarn on its way...


....er, and, ahem, two 25g balls of Jamieson & Smith's Shetland Supreme 1-ply because it was reduced too, and I have always wanted to try stupidly-fine wool lace, and it is gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous stuff... it's what makes those shawls so fine you can pull a six-foot-square shawl through a wedding ring. Only my wrists object to lace-knitting so I shall be crocheting, when I finally get round to deciding what to make!

So that's 5 coupons, not 4... but only 1 coupon for the 1-ply as it's so fine that 400 metres is only 25g! I thought 800m should do me a shawl to pass on to my great-nieces!

Must update my signature... but 33.5 -5 = 28.5 coupon remaining...

getmyacttogether2016

Morning all

Have just caught up with the thread and would like to join. (Have just finished the 2018 thread also).

I’m in awe of all the knitting you do and have tried but just cannot seem to grasp. My MIL before she passed was attempting to teach me but I still cannot manage. I have done a little bit of crochet but again not great at that. I was sewing but haven’t touched any of my machines for around 18 months to 2 years since the black dog hit.

I’ve put on a bit of timber and am struggling to find anything that I am happy wearing. My preference is the 40’s style but have also been going for the 50’s recently.

Have brought a few 2nd hand items of clothing in the last couple of months along with some shoes and also a brand new pair of shoes.

Will try and figure out what I have brought since the beginning of the year and if I cannot account fully then will start from May.

GMAT

Laura_Elsewhere

getmyacttogether2016 wrote: »

Morning all

Have just caught up with the thread and would like to join.

I’m in awe of all the knitting you do and have tried but just cannot seem to grasp. My MIL before she passed was attempting to teach me but I still cannot manage. I have done a little bit of crochet but again not great at that. I was sewing but haven’t touched any of my machines for around 18 months to 2 years since the black dog hit.

I’ve put on a bit of timber and am struggling to find anything that I am happy wearing. My preference is the 40’s style but have also been going for the 50’s recently.

Have brought a few 2nd hand items of clothing in the last couple of months along with some shoes and also a brand new pair of shoes.

Will try and figure out what I have brought since the beginning of the year and if I cannot account fully then will start from May.

GMAT

Welcome! And remember in your calculations that any second-hand items use NO coupons, hurrah! Even if they're brand-new, if you're buying them from a person, not a shop, then they are coupon-free

My full sympathies re the black dog - it can be paralysing, can't it be? If you like 40s-50s styles and are conscious of being a bit bigger than before and want something simple to get you sewing again, what about making a simple circular, or 3/4-circle skirt? Depending on your height, you could get away with using eg 1.5m of 150cm wide fabric, and literally jsut cut a circle from it, then make the waist-band and zip-opening in the middle... in my own case, my backside these days helpfully alters hem-levels by about 3 inches so I have to make all my skirts from several panels seamed together, so I can adjust the length round the skirt to be longer at the back so it looks level, which is easy enough if you've ever sewed much.

And I never used to knit or crochet - learnt to knit in my 30s and to crochet only a few years ago - so you could always find a local group and try again

Congrats on not having spent many coupons yet - it sounds like you're already doing pretty well!

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

I had a couple of recent successes since my last post. My sister-in-law was getting rid of a load of clothes that either didn't fit her anymore or she didn't wear so I took them from her to take to charity (she wouldn't have done it herself as she is a bit of a hoarder which drives my brother mad). She wanted me to make sure I had a look to see if there was anything I could make use of as it make her feel better about getting rid of it. I dutifully had a look and found a red cardigan that fits me and I rather like it. I also found two blouses which will be suitable for work. I also went on the hunt in charity shops for some kitchenware that I need. I didn't have any success with that but I did find a smart navy cardigan which I have been looking for for ages for work. It was £3.99 so I bought it. As it is all second hand it is still no more coupons so my tally of 23 tokens used still stands but I really wanted to share this with you as you just never know what bargains might come your way when you least expect it.


I finished my dance show costume now so I need a new sewing project for May to start. I need to have a look through my stash. I do have a summer skirt which I would like to do a copy of so maybe I will do that. I might also do a knitting project as well this month as you guys are really inspiring me. I have some really soft sock wool I bought ages ago to have a go at making some socks. Not made fine wool socks before so perhaps I should give that a shot.

CAFCGirl

I managed to find the documentary. That was interesting viewing. Insightful, and uneasy in parts but that was good in itself.
After which I watched Stink - regarding chemicals in our everyday products. But too American for me as I know the EU is much more stringent in all that. Still learnt a fair bit though.

It all further cements the challenge in my mind though, to make my own or buy second hand, but ethically and move away from the 'need' that we're told to have, that owning more makes us better, and actually keeps us down and living unquestioningly.
So a good days viewing LOL

I'm about 1\3rd through my 3rd panel for my bag. It's no longer an origami one, but a windmill one instead. Not sure what I'll do yet for handles as I've never made any but that comes later anyway...

PipneyJane

It is crazy that I dreamed of a bottle green jumper, yesterday? V-necked, fitted, in a broken/garter rib pattern? I could almost touch it. The one colour I definitely don’t have in stash is bottle green and I’m 99% sure the jumper in the dream was in DK (8-ply for us Aussies).

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

I did! Four 50g balls of the cheerful, lovely, sock yarn on its way...


....er, and, ahem, two 25g balls of Jamieson & Smith's Shetland Supreme 1-ply because it was reduced too, and I have always wanted to try stupidly-fine wool lace, and it is gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous stuff... it's what makes those shawls so fine you can pull a six-foot-square shawl through a wedding ring. Only my wrists object to lace-knitting so I shall be crocheting, when I finally get round to deciding what to make!

So that's 5 coupons, not 4... but only 1 coupon for the 1-ply as it's so fine that 400 metres is only 25g! I thought 800m should do me a shawl to pass on to my great-nieces!

Must update my signature... but 33.5 -5 = 28.5 coupon remaining...

Congratulations, re the sock yarn. I was hoping that you hadn’t delayed so long that it’d be all gone.

Re a Wedding Ring Shawl, it sounds like a lovely idea. I wish you luck.

getmyacttogether2016 wrote: »

Morning all

Have just caught up with the thread and would like to join. (Have just finished the 2018 thread also).

I’m in awe of all the knitting you do and have tried but just cannot seem to grasp. My MIL before she passed was attempting to teach me but I still cannot manage. I have done a little bit of crochet but again not great at that. I was sewing but haven’t touched any of my machines for around 18 months to 2 years since the black dog hit.

I’ve put on a bit of timber and am struggling to find anything that I am happy wearing. My preference is the 40’s style but have also been going for the 50’s recently.

Have brought a few 2nd hand items of clothing in the last couple of months along with some shoes and also a brand new pair of shoes.

Will try and figure out what I have brought since the beginning of the year and if I cannot account fully then will start from May.

GMAT

Welcome to the Challenge.

On the knitting/crochet front, I’d second Laura’s suggestion of finding a local group to join. Ravelry is a good place to look for local groups and pattern inspiration.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

Drool, drool, drooool...

Definitely worth those five coupons!