2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

Lisa - oh, the ones like little shower-caps? I must make myself some of those; I had a couple once and they are so useful - and so simple! Hmm, maybe the family Xmas presents this year... mmm...

I had one which was to fit a particular bowl, and the inside had a circle of plastic sewn in. It was about as thick as a shower-curtain - in fact, a clear shower curtain would be ideal to cut up for it! It was a circle the size of the flat bit, ie it didn't extend into the ruffley edge-bit outside the elastic. It made the cover even more useful, imo!

I think I shall look for some cheap clear flexible plastic, and then copy you and make some of those covers too - a mixture of all-fabric ones, with a non-stretchy drawstring you tie in a bow, so they can be boil-washed... and the 'classic' one with fabric and elastic... and wipe-clean plastic-lined ones... and beeswax wraps...

If I can work out how to make each of those, I can use up lots of fabric AND sort out the extended family Xmas presents!

PollyWollyDoodle

I've used off cuts from a shower curtain to line fabric wash bags, I believe IKEA used to sell a cheap clear shower curtain but I don't know if they still do. Otherwise this place has lots of choice, if you want something more fancy.

PipneyJane

I have another spend to declare, from the weekend. The friend who stayed with us needed some trainers so we went to the ASICS shop, once we’d finished at the British Museum. ASICS are the brand I wear, both for running and walking around. (Not the same trainers, I might add - I keep my running trainers strictly for running.).

My walking trainers may have another 6 months life in them, but I don’t see that style very often in more general shoe shops (e.g. the chain owned by the Newcastle bloke), so I had a look to see if I could find them in the store. With my dodgy right foot - I’ve broken at least one bone - when I find the right shoes, I tend to buy them, and I don’t get near an ASICS shop very often. Ahem...

Another 5 coupons spent. That takes me to 81 coupons spent, so minus 15. At least, I took advantage of an offer they had in store (20% off), which made a significant difference to the price.

I love reading about all your crafty ways.

- Pip

CAFCGirl

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

Oooh, I do love the people in here! Ethical AND ethical?!?!

Do you have a link, please? I know a few people who might want to buy some vegan ones...

My etsy shop is currently undergoing an update but if you search Mother Sudder Soaps - that's me. Also on FB too

PipneyJane

Good morning All

Since we have so many crafty people here, I thought I'd better post the message below here, too.

< cross posting from the Knitters Thread >


I was browsing the Ravelry forums this morning when I noticed a thread about Patternfish closing. The last day for sales is today (31 May 2019). If you have ever purchased patterns from that site, you have until 30 June 2019 to download your pattern stash before the website disappears for good.

(If you never encountered Patternfish, it was a website which sold commercial patterns under licence from the big yarn companies (Twilleys, Classic Elite, James C Brett, etc). Many of those patterns dated from the 1990's or earlier, so it was a good resource if you were trying to recreate a jumper you had way back then.)

- Pip

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

Laura - That's the ones. I hadn't thought of using them for Christmas presents but I may just do that. Thank you for the inspiration.


I have a coupon spend to declare. I found myself in an outdoors shop and they had a sale on. I found a zip up sports top in the sale that would be perfect for keeping me warm when I am doing my dancing so I bought it. That is another 5 coupons I believe. I also found another vest top in a charity shop for £2.00 (can't say no to that especially if we have another hot summer) although I know that isn't a coupon spend as it is second hand it is still a spend I felt I should declare. I have now spent 34 coupons.

Laura_Elsewhere

I'm getting slightly funny looks from my nearest and dearest now...

Today I was in two different fabric shops and i made purchases in each...

I bought 1.5m of green and white gingham for a new tablecloth for our flat, using my Chap's coupons; and I bought five fat-quarters of different Liberty tana lawn to make hand-hemmed handkerchieves for my Fond Mama's Christmas present, using my Dad's coupons.

See when you try to arrange with people not in this challenge to use some of their coupons for buying fabric for non-me purposes, they don't half create difficulties!

And I hope to use the leftover Liberty cotton to make some dish/jar "shower-caps" for Mum as well, either for additional Xmas or for her late winter birthday. I can practise using the leftover green gingham from our tablecloth!

Laura_Elsewhere

I also took a pair of really well-made boots, which I haven't worn in over five years because the heel on one got loose and wobbly, to the Proper Cobbler in Shrewsbury, at Castle Gate, and he will not only fix the heel on and sort the inside where I'd failed to get the nail back in, he will also re-sole and re-heel them, AND give them a gentle professional stretch all round to accommodate my older feet...

I bought these boots in 1984 when I was 15 - saved up for a year for them, from a theatrical bootmakers in Drury Lane called Anello & Davide, still going. They are kid-lined, lace-up, Victorian ankle-boots, with an elegant heel about 1.5" high, and for about 25 years I wore them very heavily. They cost £56 in 1984, which was a LOT of money, but you get what you pay for - it's not much money divided by the thousands of times I've worn them!

Replacing them would cost around seven hundred quid. Yes, quite.

The Proper Cobbler will cost less than 40 quid to make them all wearable again.

They're few and far between, Proper Cobblers, but if you have well-made boots or shoes, then the Proper Cobbler is worth his weight in gold...

PollyWollyDoodle

Oh, Anello & David - used to pass their shop regularly! And yes, that WAS a lot of money but my goodness it's been well spent! Can we have a picture of them when you get them back, please?

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

I'm getting slightly funny looks from my nearest and dearest now...

Today I was in two different fabric shops and i made purchases in each...

I bought 1.5m of green and white gingham for a new tablecloth for our flat, using my Chap's coupons; and I bought five fat-quarters of different Liberty tana lawn to make hand-hemmed handkerchieves for my Fond Mama's Christmas present, using my Dad's coupons.

See when you try to arrange with people not in this challenge to use some of their coupons for buying fabric for non-me purposes, they don't half create difficulties!

And I hope to use the leftover Liberty cotton to make some dish/jar "shower-caps" for Mum as well, either for additional Xmas or for her late winter birthday. I can practise using the leftover green gingham from our tablecloth!

Thank you for reminding me about legitimately using other people's coupons. Last year, I was given £70-worth of Blacker Yarn gift vouchers by my MIL. The yarn I want is now back in stock, so I'll spend those vouchers - and her coupons - to buy it.:j

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

I also took a pair of really well-made boots, which I haven't worn in over five years because the heel on one got loose and wobbly, to the Proper Cobbler in Shrewsbury, at Castle Gate, and he will not only fix the heel on and sort the inside where I'd failed to get the nail back in, he will also re-sole and re-heel them, AND give them a gentle professional stretch all round to accommodate my older feet...

I bought these boots in 1984 when I was 15 - saved up for a year for them, from a theatrical bootmakers in Drury Lane called Anello & Davide, still going. They are kid-lined, lace-up, Victorian ankle-boots, with an elegant heel about 1.5" high, and for about 25 years I wore them very heavily. They cost £56 in 1984, which was a LOT of money, but you get what you pay for - it's not much money divided by the thousands of times I've worn them!

Replacing them would cost around seven hundred quid. Yes, quite.

The Proper Cobbler will cost less than 40 quid to make them all wearable again.

They're few and far between, Proper Cobblers, but if you have well-made boots or shoes, then the Proper Cobbler is worth his weight in gold...

I know where that cobbler's shop is! I visited Shrewsbury for the first time in May last year. It's a gem of a town, a rabbit warren of Tudor buildings that is far enough off the beaten track to not be full of tourists. Also, I think I found 5 decent charity shops within 200 yards, somewhere to the left of the tourist information centre.

Proper cobblers are invaluable.

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Oh, Anello & David - used to pass their shop regularly! And yes, that WAS a lot of money but my goodness it's been well spent! Can we have a picture of them when you get them back, please?

Yes, please, show us the boots!

- Pip