2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

CapricornLass

I'm feeling quite chuffed - I have a mac again.

I've been searching for at least four years for a new mac to replace the one I had when I was at work. (it was a Jack Murphy, so cut like a riding coat, and came down to my knees, which is very useful when the rain is going horizontally). I didn't find anything I liked though. So I took the coat to the military tailors, and they have replaced the zip for me, for the princely sum of £15 which I thought wasn't bad, and certainly a lot cheaper than a new mac.... (Sorry, I don't have sewing skills like Laura!)

I've just washed it, and I will have to reproof it, but hopefully it will keep going for another year or two, or even longer.

thriftwizard

Oooh, ooh, ooh - I shall need to buy (or make) a dress! But I have about a year's run-up, which is probably just as well; I might need to lose a few pounds & shape up a bit first too. It seems there's going to be a family holiday abroad next year, with a ceremony & celebration attached! All very exciting, but not official yet, so I can't bounce too much until it is. But I'm already thinking, something in a dusky rose pink...

Laura_Elsewhere

CapricornLass wrote: »

I'm feeling quite chuffed - I have a mac again.

I've been searching for at least four years for a new mac to replace the one I had when I was at work. (it was a Jack Murphy, so cut like a riding coat, and came down to my knees, which is very useful when the rain is going horizontally). I didn't find anything I liked though. So I took the coat to the military tailors, and they have replaced the zip for me, for the princely sum of £15 which I thought wasn't bad, and certainly a lot cheaper than a new mac.... (Sorry, I don't have sewing skills like Laura!)

I've just washed it, and I will have to reproof it, but hopefully it will keep going for another year or two, or even longer.

Oh well done!!!

Now THAT is exactly what this challenge is about!

you could have bought a new coat - all the environmental waste of manufacture and transport, not to mention disposing of the old one...

But for less money, you keep the coat you really like, rejuvenated for years to come!

BRILLIANT!!!!!

(and things like putting in proper zips in coats are the kind of thing I'd go to a professional for!)

Laura_Elsewhere

thriftwizard wrote: »

Oooh, ooh, ooh - I shall need to buy (or make) a dress! But I have about a year's run-up, which is probably just as well; I might need to lose a few pounds & shape up a bit first too. It seems there's going to be a family holiday abroad next year, with a ceremony & celebration attached! All very exciting, but not official yet, so I can't bounce too much until it is. But I'm already thinking, something in a dusky rose pink...

How exciting!

Is it... let's just say, is it the kind of thing you need a Hat for as well as a Dress?

Lovely, lovely... can we help plan the dress? Is it for hot weather or middling? Formal or more casual? Are you the sort who prefers a tailored shift-dress with tailored jacket, or the floaty chiffon layers with a delicate crochet-lace wrap, or vintage full skirts and a little cardigan, or what?

I'm excited on your behalf! I look forward to watching the progress.... and if you want to join forces on losing a bit of weight, I'd be happy to do something like committing to walking a certain distance each week, or on so many days of the week, or something...

thriftwizard

How exciting!

Is it... let's just say, is it the kind of thing you need a Hat for as well as a Dress?

Um - not sure, Laura! Under normal circumstances, that'd be a yes, but the happy couple want it very, very laid-back & relaxed. The plan is for it to take place somewhere generally warmer than the UK; it'll be off to the Town Hall or wherever, then back to jump in the pool & light the barbie! Immediate family & close friends only.

I'm kind of tailored top, layered/swirly skirt, but absolutely the (HM) crochet wrap - possibly even with sequins - no-one would recognise me without sequins!

I generally walk 3-4 times a week, 2½-3 miles each time, with DD1, weather permitting, on top of general pottering about. Plus a dance session for 1½ hours on a Tuesday, and I have a swim pass that I'll start using in autumn, once it's too dark in the evening to pop down to the beach. (Although it'll be far easier to park down there then!) I'd struggle to fit much more in, timewise; I think I probably need to fit a bit less in, in the sense of food, for a while! Just - not eat the treats, or keep "testing" the stuff I'm cooking!

My usual way of losing weight is just to make sure I'm hungry at mealtimes, by cutting out snacks, and not eating until I'm absolutely full, just pleasantly satiated. However I've just spoken to the nurses down at the hospital, and basically their message is not to expect things to bounce back to exactly how they used to be, so that may not work this time.

And here's something that I hope will make you all laugh... my very-academic DS3 has been up in the Lake District on a church jamboree, and much to our surprise we got a postcard from him this morning. Carefully dated 21/07/2019 A.D. (in case there was any doubt) he finished it with, "Mum, went to Penrith on Friday (actually, it was Saturday) but you would very much love to live there. I counted no less than two sewing/wool shops. All best, J"

Bless his cotton socks! (Actually, they're bamboo...)

PipneyJane

thriftwizard wrote: »

Oooh, ooh, ooh - I shall need to buy (or make) a dress! But I have about a year's run-up, which is probably just as well; I might need to lose a few pounds & shape up a bit first too. It seems there's going to be a family holiday abroad next year, with a ceremony & celebration attached! All very exciting, but not official yet, so I can't bounce too much until it is. But I'm already thinking, something in a dusky rose pink...

Ooohhh!!!!!! Does the secret word start with a "w"? (Ssshhhh..... I won't tell anyone....)

Re the dress, you like floaty or fitted? If the latter, now is the time to start scoping out fabric. A nice silk, perhaps?

- Pip

PipneyJane

thriftwizard wrote: »

Um - not sure, Laura! Under normal circumstances, that'd be a yes, but the happy couple want it very, very laid-back & relaxed. The plan is for it to take place somewhere generally warmer than the UK; it'll be off to the Town Hall or wherever, then back to jump in the pool & light the barbie! Immediate family & close friends only.

I'm kind of tailored top, layered/swirly skirt, but absolutely the (HM) crochet wrap - possibly even with sequins - no-one would recognise me without sequins!

....

And here's something that I hope will make you all laugh... my very-academic DS3 has been up in the Lake District on a church jamboree, and much to our surprise we got a postcard from him this morning. Carefully dated 21/07/2019 A.D. (in case there was any doubt) he finished it with, "Mum, went to Penrith on Friday (actually, it was Saturday) but you would very much love to live there. I counted no less than two sewing/wool shops. All best, J"

Bless his cotton socks! (Actually, they're bamboo...)

We cross posted, I think. You could do a beaded wrap or one with sequins - there's a method where you just put the bead on your hook as you loop the crochet stitch and you don't have to thread the yarn full of beads first.

Sounds like your son is well trained.

- Pip

maddiemay

Hi everyone, I hope that you are all able to find somewhere cool to hide away.

I am slightly surprised and pleased at my mindset since joining this challenge. I didn't buy a lot of new clothes anyway, but was always happy to if nothing suitable turned up in the CS. Illness caused me to loose a lot of weight, (always at the upper goal of WW from when I used them years ago), resulting in giving away all the lovely cool linen/linen mix/cotton summer clothes that I had acquired over the years and for the second year not been able to find suitable replacements in the CS. This week I have found one or two things in the sales, but now begrudge the coupons, so am resisting. I did find a lovely floaty skirt today, so now have two tidy ones and one very boho one that I can garden/do housework in, still need trousers, but will make do and watch and wait.

No touched my knitting, far too warm here for working with wool for me sadly.

PipneyJane

maddiemay wrote: »

Hi everyone, I hope that you are all able to find somewhere cool to hide away.

I am slightly surprised and pleased at my mindset since joining this challenge. I didn't buy a lot of new clothes anyway, but was always happy to if nothing suitable turned up in the CS. Illness caused me to loose a lot of weight, (always at the upper goal of WW from when I used them years ago), resulting in giving away all the lovely cool linen/linen mix/cotton summer clothes that I had acquired over the years and for the second year not been able to find suitable replacements in the CS. This week I have found one or two things in the sales, but now begrudge the coupons, so am resisting. I did find a lovely floaty skirt today, so now have two tidy ones and one very boho one that I can garden/do housework in, still need trousers, but will make do and watch and wait.

Sometimes you get lucky in Charity Shops, sometimes not. It can take an awful lot of hunting. Do you keep a list? You may find what you need out of season. Not much good if you need them now, but it will mean you're equipped for summer 2020.

No touched my knitting, far too warm here for working with wool for me sadly.

I've done a bit of knitting in the heat, but I'm really fussy about the yarn I'm using and nothing I'm knitting rests in my lap. Is your yarn hairy or smooth? Several years ago now, I stupidly took some mohair on holiday with me to Oman. The plan was to crochet it into something. I lasted half a (very small) motif before I put it back in my suitcase. It was so uncomfortably sticky. Fortunately, I had a sock lurking in my handbag, so I knitted on that instead.

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

MaddieMay - snap, after losing 2.5 stone all my lovely linen trousers have had to go. I am fine for the usual summer that we have, but when it gets proper hot I am struggling!

I went away for a couple of days this week with jeans and T-shirts, and on the first day I cracked. Had to go to a supermarket and buy a cheap pair of shorts. I'm quite pleased with myself because I also tried on a cotton skirt, but I didn't love it. I'm not spending coupons on something that is just "ok".

How many coupons for shorts? I'm guessing that because there is less fabric than in a pair of trousers, they will be slightly less?

I love charity shopping and I'm happy to take my time, but it is very much luck of the draw. When you want something specific it's sometimes easier to look on eBay or Oxfam online. I've just got a lovely linen blazer from the former.