2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

maddiemay

Hi, I have read through from the start of this year's thread and would like to join you if you will have me.

This year to date I have bought 8 items of clothing, 1 pair of Skechers sandals and a necklace. 2 new Gilets in the M&S sale and 1 pair of new sandals, 1 really warm lined bobble hat, everything else was from CS. I thought I was doing really well until I remembered the Rowan Felted DK Wool I had bought to knit myself a jumper (400g).

I calculated the wool at 8, sandals 5, and wondered if the bobble hat would be 2 and the gilets (very lightweight) 5 each, does this seem about right please.

Laura_Elsewhere - I know the lovely yarn shop that you mentioned, I live in L8dlow and go to Much Wenlock to meet up with my bestie for lunch, a browse in the shops and lots of chatting:D We have a nice yarn and fabric shop here where I got my Rowan, we have a great Knit N Natter too.

Laura_Elsewhere

Hi MaddieMay - and welcome!

Well, you'll know all three of my "regular" haunts, then, by the sounds of it - Ippikin in Much Wenlock, and the little place in Ludlow, down the steep street that leads down to an ancient gate with the river beyond it, that sells yarn and quilting fabric, and has a room upstairs with a big table where they run workshops (it's where I got the Liberty FQs), and then there is the fabric shop near the river in Shrewsbury in the half-timbered ancient old building that's all uneven, which is probably called something like Watson & Thornton, but I'm never quite sure so usually call it Whatsit & Thingie and everyone always knows the one I mean!

I live in Telford, which lacks a really good yarn or fabric shop - this is A Good Thing as it means I only get exposed to unbearable temptation when I go a-visiting I would have terrible problems if I lived near one!

maddiemay

Laura_Elsewhere - The upstairs room is where the KnN and workshops are held, the owner is really happy to learn new techniques etc and produces beautiful quilted projects and is great at helping people knit and crochet too.

Must confess that since I returned "home" to Shropshire almost 8 years ago I rarely visit Shrewsbury, it is a lovely town, but my OH doesn't enjoy it for some reason and I have got lazy about going on my own.

getmyacttogether2016

2 more dresses, 1 skirt and a petticoat have been bought since my last posting but all 2nd hand, these are again vintage inspired which I am enjoying wearing.

Need some tops to go with the skirts I have but a trawl around the charity shops are not coming up with anything suitable. Found a couple from Dolly & Dotty I like but at 5 coupons each I keep deleting from my basket. Also need some new underwear as most of mine is not looking it’s best but again reluctant as means spending coupons.

Do I try making my own knickers but I would then need to buy a pattern and possibly knicker elastic so it’s coupon spends either way.

Before joining this challenge I would have just gone and bought the above items so it really is making me think.

Thanks for letting me waffle on here with my indecisions.

GMAT

Laura_Elsewhere

You definitely don't need to buy a pattern to make knicks - tons of online tutorials, most of which start with "take an old pair that fit well and cut them up to make your pattern" And you can start with recycling t-shirts you no longer wear, or charity-shop cotton long-sleeved tops maybe, and elastic comes under haberdashery which is coupon-free...

So you can go ahead and start experimenting with diy-knicks, at any rate, without biting into your coupons!

What sort of tops are you after? There are quite a lot of vintage-style ones you can make, so you could maybe find fabric in a CS, or that you already have - or you could alter men's shirts to make little fitted blouses with a round collar, bit of embroidery, etc... or maybe if you're small enough or can find a shirt large enough, make a cap-sleeved wrap-around (very vintage!) by lopping sleeves off and using the fabric for wrap-ties at the waist; I've seen that done very neatly...

getmyacttogether2016

Thank you Laura

Didn’t realise elastic was haberdashery, could have got some today as went into Norwich. I have plenty of offcuts sitting in my sewing wardrobe so will take a look at what I have in there. I know there is plenty of cotton and most probably some jersey.

Ideally 40s style blouses and 50s style bardot tops are what I’m looking for. I really do need to buck my ideas up as i have patterns (40’s reproductions) and material to make tops but have just lost the confidence. I should just give it a go and if it’s not great use it as an indoors/cleaning out the chickens only top.

Definitely not a small girl, 18/20 with the odd very stretchy 16 thrown in occasionally.





GMAT

Laura_Elsewhere

Oh, join the club on the sizing Same here, only my mind still thinks I'm a 16, occasional 12-14 - I get a heck of a shock when I see photos!

Definitely get going on the sewing - and yes, the chicken will appreciate your Bardot tops if you don't get it quire right first time! And we'll appreciate photos when you feel you've got it right!
And if you work out any patterns for knickers using non-stretchy fabric, let me know... back in my 1980s teens my sister was given some silk undies by visiting American friends of the family; she didn't like them so chucked them in the bin (?!) and i rescued them, unworn, and wore them contentedly for years... non-stretch but just gathered enough, and fine enough fabric, to work as modern-cut full-briefs. I would love to make some like that, as my 1902 Singer only works on a straight stitch so I can't sew stretch fabrics. I keep intending to make some French knickers but for my size they need acres of fabric! So I keep remembering those silk briefs from the 1980s and thinking... hmmm...

Larger women look great in vintage clothes BUT mostly that relies on either a corseted waist or a large bust... those of us with glasses and a comparatively small bust and no waist even when we were thin are a bit stuck, really - I go for big skirts to compensate and create the illusion of a waist!

And I must get going on making my new linen skirt for summer. Like you, I've lost the confidence to launch in and just DO IT.

Laura_Elsewhere

I've decided to plan to spend 3 coupons next week - I'll be popping over to collect my boots in Shrewsbury, and intend to nip into Thingie & Whatsit, fabric shop,

Talking to GMAT about vintage outfits for the "fuller figure" as they used to call my shape (!), I remembered that a couple of years ago, trying to make myself feel better, I bought one of those "swing dresses" online, very cheaply, and when it arrived, it was actually decent fabric, plain deep blue heavy cotton, and a reasonable shape (halterneck, elasticated back, full skirt) but on me it didn't fit anywhere.... above knee length, gaping crossover at the bust, etc., etc. I shoved it away, disappointed and sad, and forgot about it...

But if I can find a fabric that goes well with it, maybe a navy and cream pattern?... I can add various changes and make it look intentional - I can add a wide colour-block type band at the bottom. Depending on how bold I feel up to being, I can carefully cut a 3-4" band off the hem, add a same-width curved band of the contract fabric, and re-attach the original. That always looks much more intentional than simply adding a bit on the bottom of the skirt! I can add narrow edgings in the same way, maybe an inch wide, to the bust crossover. The halterneck is very long ties, which I can cut to length, and add a contrasting button to each end; then a short 3-inch section of excess tie with elastic inside and a loop on each end, that will give me a halterneck that stays snug but has some 'giv' for movement (I've done it before, works wonders for comfort!). Then I can use the excess narrow-tie fabric (about an inch, two if unpicked and pressed flat) to make a waist-sash: contrast fabric with the blue in the centre, the whole only a few inches wide, but long enough to tie snugly to create a waist illusion.
Oh, and pockets I can add pockets made from the contrast fabric, with the opening lined with a bit of the cut-off ties.

I reckon 1.5m of fabric, maybe 2 if it's narrow 112cm fabric, will be plenty - and I shall have a pretty, comfortable frock that I can wear as a summer day-dress, or dress up a bit for going out!

I would also feel better about myself, because I would have changed a disappointing depressing thing into a nice thing!

And all for 4.5 to 6 coupons!

PollyWollyDoodle

Wow Laura, I'm not sure if I would have the patience to do all that! However, I have just been given a lovely wrap dress in jersey fabric, brand-new. It fits me everywhere except across the bust. Despite having lost weight I still have what the French call "a crowd on the balcony", and always will have, standard dresses don't fit me. Now I'm wondering if I could add some plain navy to the crossover edges to make it fit ... I must remember the various UFOs I have on hand, and be realistic. You're very inspiring!

CAFCGirl

Sounds like lots of people with some great sewing plans on the horizon!
Wish you all the best with your projects.

I have a machine but little to no ability on it, the aforementioned bowl covers appeal immensely though. Particularly for my mixer bowl which always ends up dusty even in the cupboard. Might set that as a goal for myself. I'm sure I have some elastic too.

My loom knitting continues. It's coming together quite quickly. I'm cursed now however with some sore patches from pressure\repeated actions so I may need to leave it for a few says . Sewing might be a good compromise, especially as we've rains predicted till midweek and then I'm away with D'S up North.....