2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

Afternoon All

Thriftwizard, I'm glad you're on the mend. I have two very good friends with Crone's Disease, so have an understanding of what you've been living with. Hopefully, you will never have another episode. Did you watch Antiques Roadshow last night? I caught a little of it - a section where a woman had a broach valued. She'd bought it for her market stall, I think. It turned out to be very rare and sold for £13k at auction.

CAFAgirl, sorry to hear your symptoms have been acting up. That is quite a present, your friend gave you. Have you thought about doing an Adult Surprise Jacket? It would look lovely in that yarn and would show off the stripes. It's knitted entirely in one piece - would that be possible on a loom?

In my news, I've finished my latest pair of socks. These were made from leftover bits of alpaca sock yarn, from two different companies. I think they'll be OK in a pair of loafers for work, with the colour change hidden, although I think the colours clash.



I've also finished - bar the sewing up - my latest jumper. Once sewn up, I'll post a photo. Here's a link to the pattern's page on Ravelry.

Hopefully, I'll be able to have a sewing session tonight, so that it won't languish for months (unlike the cardigan I finished last month - that still needs its button band reinforced and the buttons sewn on). Seriously, I think I need some self-discipline. I never used to be so bad at finishing projects but now there are five in my queue to sew up...:eek:

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

Nice socks, Pip! And like you say, the join (which isn't that visible anyway) will be barely seen...

CAFCgirl, I am sorry to hear that. I think I'd be whingeing a lot in your shoes, and I admire your calmness...

I've managed to avoid buying yarn! I used yarn I already had to knit myself a sleeveless pullover, a slipover in the old term, which is lovely BUT it turns out that cream, with narrow stripes of a yarn that changes between olive-green, dark and paprika reds and a sort of peachy-fawn-speckle, really doesn't go with blue. And guess what colour seems to feature in virtually all my blouses and shirts?

Soooo... I looked for a really nice cornflower-blue sock-yarn, and found none in my cupboard... I looked at every possible thing - the first was knitted with the sock yarn doubled, so I looked at my thinner yarns as well as DK... but nope, nothing. So then I thought about buying more in the right kinds of blues...

...and had an idea, and I'm using a thicker yarn, in two shades of blue, but it's a barely-plied one, so it squishes down a lot when knitted in narrow stripes on too-small needles!
In fact it's yarn that is discontinued partly because it pills very quickly - largely because of its very loose structure allowing fibres to rub their way loose. So by knitting it on 4mm needles instead of the more usual 5.5mm or 6mm, and by doing pale-blue, then dark blue, then pale blue striped with 2-round stripes of the cream DK, it should end up as a reasonable fabric.

It should be longer-lasting than the fluffy stuff used on its own (hurrah, more sustainable), and it's coupon-free since I already had it!

CAFCGirl

PipneyJane
Discipline is such an ugly word LOL
Maybe a 'Nothing new till ones out the queue' sentiment instead

Those jackets do look rather smart, I fear a bit too boxy on my frame though. I'm going to keep them in mind though as for gifts I can see them working.

My Ravelry allure has increased a fair bit after their recent announcement 're Trump support - WAY TO GO THEM I say! Although one would think a site for knitting patterns shouldn't have to monitor political nonsense on their boards.... Nevertheless, taking a stand is to be applauded.

Well done on fighting out your yarns ladies. I must confess I quite like the two-tone aspect on the socks, and the blue combinations sound lovely too!

I frogged the scarf. It wasn't knitting up nicely so I'll think again with that.
I did manage a sick hat in the chunky mustard yellow yarn from Ald! In my stash. I have plenty left so I'm going to knit that up into a chunky cowl to match ready for Winter.

Then I'll get started with the hacked blanket cardi. My thinking is to start it with less width, and then increase, then decrease to starting width on the other end so when it's sewn together, the skinnier ends are making the arm holes and I'll possibly then make a sleeve cuff in a block colour to match to give it sleeves

PipneyJane

CAFCGirl wrote: »

PipneyJane
Discipline is such an ugly word LOL
Maybe a 'Nothing new till ones out the queue' sentiment instead

It's partially because I've lost my Friday afternoons - I used to work 4 long days and a half day on Friday - which is when I'd do things that needed "eyes down". I normally knit in front of the telly, so can't be watching anything that needs attention (football, cricket), when I have stuff to sew up/button bands to strengthen/general finishing.

Those jackets do look rather smart, I fear a bit too boxy on my frame though. I'm going to keep them in mind though as for gifts I can see them working.

My Ravelry allure has increased a fair bit after their recent announcement 're Trump support - WAY TO GO THEM I say! Although one would think a site for knitting patterns shouldn't have to monitor political nonsense on their boards.... Nevertheless, taking a stand is to be applauded.

I totally agree. In fact, I PM'd one of the owners, Jess, just to say "Thank you". I don't know if I'll get a reply, but that doesn't matter - it was the thought that counts.

Well done on fighting out your yarns ladies. I must confess I quite like the two-tone aspect on the socks, and the blue combinations sound lovely too!

I frogged the scarf. It wasn't knitting up nicely so I'll think again with that.
I did manage a sick hat in the chunky mustard yellow yarn from Ald! In my stash. I have plenty left so I'm going to knit that up into a chunky cowl to match ready for Winter.

Then I'll get started with the hacked blanket cardi. My thinking is to start it with less width, and then increase, then decrease to starting width on the other end so when it's sewn together, the skinnier ends are making the arm holes and I'll possibly then make a sleeve cuff in a block colour to match to give it sleeves

Pity about the scarf. Do you crochet at all? The yarn might work better with crochet and because you can change direction with crochet, you can colour block with it relatively easily.

- Pip

CAFCGirl

Crochet eludes me.
One because I cannot fathom tension with it and secondly, and probably more impacting is that I periodically lose the ability to use one eye. Not vision as such, but it spasms (along with half of my face) and I can't keep it open. So anything requiring a specific entry is much more challemging.
Looming I can do one eye-balled LOL

I have a skinnier gauge loom I can try it on, or perhaps I won't use two strands and will go for something much more open.

No coupons, but purchases to report. A new pair of Animal brand flip flops gifted to me. I love the style because the toe post and upper is made from similar material to wetsuits so it doesn't rub anywhere. I had 2 pairs already but now have a lovely black with tan accent to add. I was in need of some black summer footwear so these will be splendid.
Also via eBay I have found some denim coloured linen wide leg trousers in petite, again I've always liked this style they do, and they suit me for summer since I detest anything close against my skin.
My kimono style too arrived too. Very happy with that.

In other news, my gifting blanket I finished went on my IG. A good friend of many years contacted me to ask if she can commission me to make her one. Lovely boost in my self confidence there. Plus she's also au fait with what materials cost (even though I used more basic yarn) and the need to pay people respectfully for their tine.

Laura_Elsewhere

A couple of years ago I made this skirt in lovely light cotton, but stupidly didn't make it with pockets. So I've finally put pockets in - it took a while as I even more stupidly went fancy and did the most complicated pockets there are, with a bias-strip matched to the plaid, inserted into a slit cut in the front of the skirt (get this wrong and you've wrecked the skirt...!).

It worked - phew!

(ignore the pencil guideline still visible on the bias-strip - it'll wash out! )

PipneyJane

CAFAgirl, I’ve been crocheting all my life and I still have to look up how to calculate gauge every time I make something from a pattern.

Are you left or right handed? The reason I’m asking is that I’m left handed but learned to crochet right handed. My right hand just holds the hook while the left one does 99% of the work. I don’t know which side of your face has the issue, but it still might be possible to be a competent crocheter with one eye. Don’t discount the possibility.

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

A couple of years ago I made this skirt in lovely light cotton, but stupidly didn't make it with pockets. So I've finally put pockets in - it took a while as I even more stupidly went fancy and did the most complicated pockets there are, with a bias-strip matched to the plaid, inserted into a slit cut in the front of the skirt (get this wrong and you've wrecked the skirt...!).

It worked - phew!

(ignore the pencil guideline still visible on the bias-strip - it'll wash out! )

Laura, I am in awe of your skills. The pockets look as if they were part of the original design. The skirt looks amazing.

- Pip

CAFCGirl

I utterly adore that skirt Laura Well done you!
Looks lovely and flowy. I like the outfit you had put together too

Thank you Pipney I have crocheted some bath puffs before which went ok, but for the most part in comfy with the looms. It might be something I try when I finally get treatment (in the hopes it works), over Winter to keep me occupied.

Used up the last of my chunky mustard yarn making a cowl to match my hat. It's going to be super warm!
So today, I'll be starting on my gifted yarn and a new blanket cardi.

I may this weekend, dust off the sewing machine too

diminua

I have to declare another 7 coupons gone on the first summer dress I've bought, or worn, in years -vaguely Empire line, with quite wide straps. I mostly live in black trousers and smart-casual long sleeved tops (which started off being what I wore to work, and has become my 'uniform' at the weekend too), but the weather forecast for this weekend made me think I cannot do that for another summer, it really is too hot. It was actually quite nice today, not only cool but the cotton swishes around my ankles and drapes nicely. And it's not too frilly and flowery, because I'm short, with curls, and have a mild horror of looking too frilly.

That means I'm now on 45 coupons. I do want a new pair of trousers at some point, and I will need new boots in the winter because last year's ones had the moulded sole I can see was discussed above, which cannot be repaired. It's making me think maybe I should invest in a more expensive but really solid pair next winter - less wasteful and maybe cheaper in the long run.

And I want some jeans, but thanks to this challenge they'll have to be perfect as well!

CAFCGirl

It's amazing how this challenge has you unwilling to spend money\coupons on anything unless it's perfect or ideal for purpose.... It makes me wonder why I could never approach my clothing like that when it was 'just' my money LOL

I have yarn purchases, I adore them! It's the Caron x Pantone braids. I managed to find them for £5 each, plus a nifty one day discount code which I didn't think they'd work on but did, so got each for £3.75.I believe that's 5 coupons but I just need to check, and update accordingly. I have vague plans to use them to make hats, or possibly for some woven baskets I do for gifting.

Scratch that, it's 9 LOL
Takes me up to 33, halfway!