2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

CAFCGirl

Broke_Bear wrote: »

Hi all, I have just found this thread and would like to join in. As I am starting half way through the year and have not made any clothing purchases in July...yet! I guess I will have 33 coupons for the rest of the year?

Welcome to the thread

PollyWollyDoodle

Yes, welcome - and 33 coupons for six months sounds exactly right.

Broke_Bear

Thanks, I will be needing to buy a new pair of work trousers (can wear smart black jeans) and a pair of smart flat work shoes, I bought a designer-ish pair in my spendy times early in the year and they have just fallen apart so I will not be wasting money on names again, I think I will be looking for longevity with a good sturdy make.
In terms of knitting and sewing, I would love to be able to do either but have never learnt these skills so I may have to look for an evening class locally so I can look to make at least something between now and Christmas.

PipneyJane

Broke_Bear wrote: »

Thanks, I will be needing to buy a new pair of work trousers (can wear smart black jeans) and a pair of smart flat work shoes, I bought a designer-ish pair in my spendy times early in the year and they have just fallen apart so I will not be wasting money on names again, I think I will be looking for longevity with a good sturdy make.
In terms of knitting and sewing, I would love to be able to do either but have never learnt these skills so I may have to look for an evening class locally so I can look to make at least something between now and Christmas.

Welcome to the Challenge, Broke Bear. We're a friendly bunch and very supportive. 33 coupons should get you through to the end of the year if you plan well. The big secrets are planning well and getting lucky in charity shops (where the shopping is coupon free). You'll be amazed what you can find in charity shops, although the supply is highly variable and you need to browse regularly. (Today's smart work suit is brought to you courtesy of Marie Curie Cancer Care.)

Shoes = 5 coupons; trousers/jeans = 6 coupons, so that's 11 coupons allocated, leaving you with 22 coupons for other clothes/knitting yarn/fabric. Of course, if you do get lucky and find some really nice work trousers in a charity shop, that's 6 coupons saved for other spending and your total available to spend would go back to 28.

For knitting lessons, I'd suggest approaching a local yarn shop and asking if they have a knitting class or group you could join. You want a smooth, tightly spun, wool yarn, preferably DK weight (DK = Double Knitting or 8-ply) and 4mm needles. Buy wool NOT acrylic and it'll stand up to being ripped out and reknitted a few times until you're happy with the results. Something like this will do perfectly, but buy it from the shop where you're taking the class/joining the group. (To do otherwise is rude.) Once you're happy with your stitches, I'd suggest starting with a hat, knitted flat, because you'll learn pretty much every technique you'll ever need as a knitter doing that, instead of the obligatory scarf. New knitting yarn has a coupon cost - 2 per 50g.

Evening classes are great for getting a taster for sewing but if you do decide to take it up as a hobby, it does come with (potentially) expensive start up costs because you'll need to buy a sewing machine.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

Yet again I escaped from Whatsit & Thingie in Shrewsbury without buying any fabric!

I wanted to get some black linen to make a replacement for a very worn tatty but very useful skirt - but they didn't have what I wanted so I thought about getting some nearly-but-not-quite and then thought, no, my coupons deserve better!

Instead, I bought buttons for my green linen skirt, and some cheerful coloured ribbon to do inside the hem of my cut-down-dress blue skirt. And I can always try over-dyeing my old black linen one...

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

Yet again I escaped from Whatsit & Thingie in Shrewsbury without buying any fabric!

I wanted to get some black linen to make a replacement for a very worn tatty but very useful skirt - but they didn't have what I wanted so I thought about getting some nearly-but-not-quite and then thought, no, my coupons deserve better!

Instead, I bought buttons for my green linen skirt, and some cheerful coloured ribbon to do inside the hem of my cut-down-dress blue skirt. And I can always try over-dyeing my old black linen one...

They'll be wondering what is wrong with you (assuming they know you by sight). Well done, Laura!

I had a fun conversation with a friend on FB this morning. She posted a picture of her latest yarn acquisition - one of those huge skeins that gradually change colour. My response "Nooooo!!!!! Don't tempt me! I'm already at SABLE" was met with "Knit faster". :rotfl:

I may have to work on her advice, if I'm ever going to get the stash down to a workable size. I've just checked the tracking on my latest yarn purchase. They tried to deliver it this afternoon, so I'll collect it from the sorting office tomorrow morning.

- Pip (waiting for a download to finish then I can log out and go home.)

Laura_Elsewhere

I have a contract to complete by early August, and then I'm working all of Oct with some prep for that, but otherwise I really really want to Do Something about my yarn and fabric problem...

I have stuff I will never use because someone passed it on to me and it's not my colour or fibre - I've already found a gothy friend who will happily take my purple laceweights But I need to sort my yarn into what I will really never use... for example, I only use cotton for making cleaning-cloths really... so the cotton sock-yarn I had passed on to me I should pass onwards or donate or sell...

But I'm also really pondering the quantity of clothing I already own... I need to get rid of quite a bit.

Does anyone else need to tackle unworn or rarely-worn clothing, making decisions about what to keep, what to ditch, what to throw out?

maddiemay

Love all the chat regarding making, altering things. Laura you did well to avoid yarn purchases at thingamy and wotsit.

Welcome to Broke Bear.

thriftwizard I lived in West Dorset for 30 years and can imagine the scene you saw, it would be lovely recreated in fabric I think.

Pipneyjane I am still grinning at your friend's response to the Sable problem:rotfl:

CAFCGirl new pants, yes boring, but rather necessary in my book:D

thriftwizard

Does anyone else need to tackle unworn or rarely-worn clothing, making decisions about what to keep, what to ditch, what to throw out?

Um - yes! Can't get near my chest of drawers for bags of stuff piled up in front... We don't have a lot of clothes storage in our room, but I really need to work on reducing what I have so that I can store it properly!

CAFCGirl

Am I right in thinking 5 pairs of pants equates to 2.5 cami knickers, which equals 10 coupons?!