2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

thriftwizard wrote: »

Bit of a stroke of luck this morning! DD1 wanted to take a look at the recycling company's new Emporium, so I took her down there. It's the end of their working week - they close on Tuesdays to "refresh" the stock, i.e. haul all the unsold stuff out to be baled up & sent elsewhere, and haul all the newly-rejected stuff in - so I wasn't expecting to find very much. But to my surprise, there were a number of things suitable for my stall - pretty old headsquares, several good hats, some good tweed fabric, a nice leather jacket in a sensible size, that kind of thing - and a pair of absolutely pristine Clarks sensible walking-type sandals. They've clearly never been worn - no toe imprints, not a scuff on the sole, straps still in "factory" position - and although they're a size up from my usual 39, they're not at all a bad fit. Just £2, and no coupons! So now I have pretty, comfortable sandals and sensible comfortable sandals. No excuses for not doing my 3 miles a day now...

Wow! That is quite a find. I envy you your Council's recycling emporium.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

PipneyJane wrote: »

Ouch!!! You did the right thing, though, even if the Dettol stung.

I only realised after - you probably didn't mean the dark scabs; you probably meant the larger area of dappled pink I forget about a lot - I have psoriasis I am fortunate in that I don't care overmuch about it being visible... lots of people have terrible depression about it, but I am very lucky in not minding much. And I never mind anyone genuinely asking what it is - it's the people who say vile insulting things as they pass in a public place who make me feel lesser, for a few days at any rate... why do people feel they can say such horrible things?

How is the Offspring now? If there isn't a clean cut, which can be stitched quickly so the sides knit together, wounds heal from the bottom up. It'll feel like they're taking forever, but I'm betting the wounds have shrunk considerably over the last few months.

Ah, not quite as simple, sorry, I lose track of where I have and haven't explained - one leg was just mangled, and with pins and plates and rods internally, they stabilised it all, and it's a normal-looking leg already, with scars, although he'll set off airport detectors for life... but the other leg had so much damage it couldn't be pinned or plated back together, so - astoundingly - they used a Soviet technique called the Ilizarov External Fixator (IEF), which effectively allowed his body to re-grow his own natural bone, at a rate of 1/4mm each turn of the multiple bolts four times daily for weeks and weeks, until they moved it about 6cm to re-grow the bones. The IEF is weight-bearing, so he can walk - but basically he has this huge metal cage round his leg for the rest of this year, and then multiple major ops next year to remove it in stages.
You can google for images, but they are a bit gory so I won't post any pics here! His has 5 rings from knee to foot, with 21 steel pins (which go directly into bone) and wires (which go through soft tissue, penetrating the leg from one side to the other), which all remain as open wounds for the duration (part of the design, for functional reasons) and have to be kept scrupulously clean, as infection is the biggest cause of the whole thing failing.

It still amazes me, months later, that they can do this - the only alternative was amputation. He will eventually have a normal leg, with bones that - in practical terms - will never have been broken at all...

It is also agonisingly painful.

The driver's trial is in a few weeks' time, and we have absolutely no idea how it will go.

Consider your hand shaken. Deal. (I don't think there's an icon, so :beer: will have to do.)



Welcome to the madness. Is the velvet outfit to be number 5?

Or No.55! I have SO many half-made projects, or about-to-be-made projects... I am trying hard to get on more and finish things... today, I'm wearing the blue top I made last week, with that brightly-coloured check skirt I just added pockets to, with a red belt and sandals. I keep seeing myself in the hall mirror and thinking, I really must make more clothes that look and feel this nice!

I've never made knee high socks. The closest I got were a slightly modified version of Sodera Socks, but they ride down with wear, unlike my regular pattern (quoted above with the 68 round leg). I've contemplated ripping out the ribbed cuff and knitting in elastic but haven't found a suitable product to incorporate. (They're toe up socks.) If you look at the photos on the pattern page, the designer has resorted to threading a ribbon through.

Also, my project notes say "Decided after completing first sock that I’d do 4 increases on the leg of the second (first sock had two). Increased after leg rows 84, 92, 100 and 108, to get to 84 stitches. At row 120, commenced k2 p2 rib. Ribbed for 19 rows (row 139 of leg). " I made the changes to get a better fit but it still doesn't stop them falling down after a few minutes walking.

- Pip

I've worn long socks my entire life, from school onwards - I still have a couple of pairs of my old school socks (M&S really knew how to make an over-the-knee sock in those days!)... the thing about stockings (the term for a longer shaped sock, NOT solely for thigh-high ones; boys and men wore stockings, with turnovers, well into the mid-20th century - like kilt hose nowadays) is that ALL the patterns involve shaping them, and they ALL have a turnover at the top designed to fold down over a garter.
So the modern patterns that are just knee-high straight ribbed tubes, or straight knit tubes with a few rows of ribbed welt at the top, those are never going to stay up!
The earliest knitting pattern in the world is a 17th century one for knee-high stockings, and they are shaped, with a top to fold down over garters...

I have knitted knee-high stockings, and they are incredibly comfortable and stay up well. I wore them a lot for re-enactment, in the 1640s era, and the garters were copied from fragments in the Museum of London, 8-10 stitches, knit and turn, knit and turn, endlessly knitting a very short row, then knitting back, then knitting the front, then knitting back (there's a reason it's called "garter stitch"), for a mile or two, long enough to wrap round twice and tie in a half-bow: doesn't cut your blood off, even if you kneel.

But the ones I want to knit are for hiking, so I'm just doing 9 rounds of 2/2 rib to look neat and stop curling (with a double-strand first round to give a reinforced edge), and then simply a knit tube that can crumple and scrunch above my boots.

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

I only realised after - you probably didn't mean the dark scabs; you probably meant the larger area of dappled pink I forget about a lot - I have psoriasis I am fortunate in that I don't care overmuch about it being visible... lots of people have terrible depression about it, but I am very lucky in not minding much. And I never mind anyone genuinely asking what it is - it's the people who say vile insulting things as they pass in a public place who make me feel lesser, for a few days at any rate... why do people feel they can say such horrible things?

I honestly don't know. All I can think of is that there is a sizeable minority who are mean and nasty because it makes them feel better about themselves.

Ah, not quite as simple, sorry, I lose track of where I have and haven't explained - one leg was just mangled, and with pins and plates and rods internally, they stabilised it all, and it's a normal-looking leg already, with scars, although he'll set off airport detectors for life... but the other leg had so much damage it couldn't be pinned or plated back together, so - astoundingly - they used a Soviet technique called the Ilizarov External Fixator (IEF), which effectively allowed his body to re-grow his own natural bone, at a rate of 1/4mm each turn of the multiple bolts four times daily for weeks and weeks, until they moved it about 6cm to re-grow the bones. The IEF is weight-bearing, so he can walk - but basically he has this huge metal cage round his leg for the rest of this year, and then multiple major ops next year to remove it in stages.
You can google for images, but they are a bit gory so I won't post any pics here! His has 5 rings from knee to foot, with 21 steel pins (which go directly into bone) and wires (which go through soft tissue, penetrating the leg from one side to the other), which all remain as open wounds for the duration (part of the design, for functional reasons) and have to be kept scrupulously clean, as infection is the biggest cause of the whole thing failing.

It still amazes me, months later, that they can do this - the only alternative was amputation. He will eventually have a normal leg, with bones that - in practical terms - will never have been broken at all...

It is also agonisingly painful.

The driver's trial is in a few weeks' time, and we have absolutely no idea how it will go.

External fixators for leg fractures? I remember them well from my nursing days. We had a rather obnoxious patient, who thought he could make passes at the student nurses, so we always had an orderly in with us as "body guard". One of the orderlies - built like a rugby player - threatened to tighten his external fixator if he dared lay a finger on any of the student nurses. That kept him quiet for days.

Or No.55! I have SO many half-made projects, or about-to-be-made projects... I am trying hard to get on more and finish things... today, I'm wearing the blue top I made last week, with that brightly-coloured check skirt I just added pockets to, with a red belt and sandals. I keep seeing myself in the hall mirror and thinking, I really must make more clothes that look and feel this nice!

Sounds lovely. That skirt looked great.

I've worn long socks my entire life, from school onwards - I still have a couple of pairs of my old school socks (M&S really knew how to make an over-the-knee sock in those days!)... the thing about stockings (the term for a longer shaped sock, NOT solely for thigh-high ones; boys and men wore stockings, with turnovers, well into the mid-20th century - like kilt hose nowadays) is that ALL the patterns involve shaping them, and they ALL have a turnover at the top designed to fold down over a garter.
So the modern patterns that are just knee-high straight ribbed tubes, or straight knit tubes with a few rows of ribbed welt at the top, those are never going to stay up!
The earliest knitting pattern in the world is a 17th century one for knee-high stockings, and they are shaped, with a top to fold down over garters...

I have knitted knee-high stockings, and they are incredibly comfortable and stay up well. I wore them a lot for re-enactment, in the 1640s era, and the garters were copied from fragments in the Museum of London, 8-10 stitches, knit and turn, knit and turn, endlessly knitting a very short row, then knitting back, then knitting the front, then knitting back (there's a reason it's called "garter stitch"), for a mile or two, long enough to wrap round twice and tie in a half-bow: doesn't cut your blood off, even if you kneel.

But the ones I want to knit are for hiking, so I'm just doing 9 rounds of 2/2 rib to look neat and stop curling (with a double-strand first round to give a reinforced edge), and then simply a knit tube that can crumple and scrunch above my boots.

I don't know why, but I misread your original post and thought you were talking about the boots you had re-heeled, not your hiking ones. D'oh!

Do tell us about the historical reenactments. Please.

- Pip

CAFCGirl

Oh Laura I commend your reaction to the dog injury. In terms of your approach to the owner, and for actually going back to him! He definitely needs to be aware of it, and will hopefulky, as a responsible owner, take appropriate actions with his dog with training etc.

Healthy healing vibes to the young man too! What an ordeal.

P.S Should you care to, contact me 're psoriasis, a good friend has had great success using one of my soaps. Happy to forward a trial bar to you

Pip Aren't they just? I've no clue what to use them for. Although a group I'm in on FB a lady has made a 33 x 23" tummy time blanket using 3 braids so that gives me an idea of how much is in each , so possibly more cardis on the horizon LOL
I think one will become an infinity scarf\cowl as the colours will flow with a nice beige duffle coat I have.

CD find of a lovely navy with white polka dot tunic shirt, which falls really nicely. Looks barely worn, but minus tag. So I've stuck it in the washing machine, and will likely team it with some light cuffed jeans or chino type skin leg trousers.

PipneyJane

PipneyJane wrote: »

Afternoon All

We're half way through the year. Congratulations on your self restraint and careful coupon spending. (Happy new Australian Tax Year to any Aussies that happen to be passing.)
...
Since we are halfway through the year, I've decided to set myself some thrifty Fashion-on-the-Ration related challenges for the next six months.

1. Really finish my pile of FO's and photograph them for Ravelry. Including my latest sweater, there are eight FO's on this list: Audrey in Unst, Entertain in this, Summer Jumpers Are Casual, the Crawford sweater, Deco cardigan, the Woolly Nanette Tee, Rapid Garden Cardigan and the Wagtail Mohair Bolero. Most just need sewing up or other hand finishing.
2. Fix the Acer cardigan. I knitted the shoulder of one side of the front at least an inch longer than the other and didn't notice until after I'd worn it. I'm procrastinating over this because I'm scared that I'll wreck it while taking it apart.
3. Complete 5 pairs of socks. I usually knit a pair of socks a month, so this is do-able.
4. Knit four sweaters from stash yarn, including the one I started yesterday while watching the cricket highlights at 11pm. (No wonder I'm a zombie today.)
5. Lose an inch from my waist, preferably two inches. (It's 38 inches around!). All my excess weight is around my waist. I have several of good quality suits that i can't wear because I can't do up the jacket. The wake up call was Thursday, when I wore my size 16, 1999 job-hunting, skirt-suit and struggled to zip up the skirt. Think of the coupons I wouldn't have to spend on work clothes, if I could just conquer my waist.
6. Repair the pockets of the Navy blue French suit.

Feel free to hold me accountable.

- Pip

I have another item to add: re-stitch the pocket linings on the Navy blue, flash French suit jacket. I've had this suit for at least 5 years and the stitching in the jacket pockets went during the first year. The pockets annoy the crap out of me whenever I wear it, so I avoid doing so, but it's a great suit and I always get compliments wearing it. Even my phone falls through into the lining!

Added in magenta to the list above, which matches the pocket hanky that is sewn into the breast pocket of the jacket.

- Pip (Yes, I'm wearing it today.)

Laura_Elsewhere

Latest Make Do & Mend for me is replacing the modern nylon zip in my shorts with a good strong old-fashioned brass zip... the nylon zip kept busting, and finally went today in town and I had to clutch my fly together for a mile and a half walking home - very uncomfortable!!!

I kept thinking, as I walked past clothing shops, that a year ago I'd probably have nipped into Primark or Asda and bought myself some cheap replacement shorts or a longer shirt...

But it wasn't worth the coupons!!!!

PollyWollyDoodle

I've been MIA and have just caught up with the thread. I'm not listing my UFOs ... I am always so keen to start a project but not so good at finishing. It's something I need to overcome, as the thought of all the unfinished things is rather lowering.

Even worse for me is the thought of undoing something that I have already made. Last summer I made a skirt and a dress, the dress was quite a big endeavour for me. I promptly lost weight, and neither of them fit properly. It's not like unpicking a shop-bought item, I know exactly how they were constructed and even have the pattern pieces to cut a smaller size ... just can't seem to do it! Work has been really busy, for which I'm thankful as I'm self-employed, but next time I get a quiet week I'm just going to have to knuckle down.

Commiserations on the dog-bite, Laura and I applaud your chap and his son for their courage in taking on his treatment - I think there must be people who would opt for amputation rather than something so painful and slow. I hope the driver recognises the impact of what they did.

PollyWollyDoodle

Anyway - back to the rations, I have a new belt, t-shirt and dress but they're all from charity shops so NO coupons! I wore the dress yesterday and got lots of compliments on it.

I have had to use some coupons though, new black trousers for work and I just couldn't find them in a CS. Now I'm going to have to scroll back to see where I was with my total ... ETA: I am now up to 29 coupons for this year

Laura_Elsewhere

Ah well.... saved from coupon-spending...

That blue dress I was going to alter by adding a wide band of contrasting fabric, etc., etc... I tried it on in daylight properly and My Chap and I pinned it here and hauled it there and tried all sorts of things but no.
It turns out that badly-made, badly-designed, badly-cut dresses from China, bought for £11.00 on eBay last year simply look awful and will look awful regardless of small or medium efforts. the amount of effort involved in making it look good would be ridiculous, so.... I'll cut the top halterneck part off just below the bust, fold the top edge down and make a skirt. I might use the allegedly-bust bits for pockets

Of course I am now committed to going to the fabric shop in Shrewsbury with a friend next week, so it's entirely possible that some terrible accident happens and I end up spending coupons...

But the dark-blue halterneck frock? No, not happening...

PollyWollyDoodle

At least you made the decision before you started work on it. Sometimes you just have to cut your losses.

I was clearly entirely deluded in boasting about 29 coupons ... I had forgotten the red shoes I bought. I wa already on 36 so I am now up to 42 coupons. Re-reading the thread was interesting though, and I was reminded that I bought some needle cord to make a skirt earlier in the year, completely forgotten about that. It's more of a winter skirt but if I don't start it soon it won't be ready when I need it!