2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

PollyWollyDoodle said:

I like the idea of “sort it out September”. However, I have probably mentioned before that at the beginning of lockdown I got all my UFOs out of the cupboard, on the basis that if I couldn’t finish them in lockdown they would never get done…  The pile still awaits.

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Maybe we could have 'Onwards October' and No-Splurge November instead?  

Personally, I’m thinking of “Stashbust September”.  I’ve done the swatch for my next two jumpers and, since it’s worsted weight - somewhere between DK and Aran - should be well along by the end of the month.

Hopefully, I’ll have a photo to show you later.  “It never fails to please” was finished last week.  It took me all week to sew in the sleeves/weave in the ends and I washed it on Saturday.  I have also, finally, finished the first of the pair of socks I started back in February.

Just need a dose of “Get-Around-To-It”.  Right now, I feel shattered.  I spent an hour this afternoon harvesting my second batch of rose-hips. They’re currently simmering on the stove with some chopped apples.  Later, once they’ve cooled a bit, I’ll break out the jelly bag and, at some point this week, I’ll make rosehip jelly.  I already have a litre of “juice” lurking in the freezer, from the first harvest earlier this month.  

< sigh >

Timer’s gone.  Better get up and do...

- Pip

CAFCGirl

Hello All

Hope everyone is well.
No coupon spends to report, but I have just finished a few listings on ebay and exceeded my estimated sale value by £100   so have used some of that toward a 99p win on a chunky cable jumper in an oatmeal cream, and am watching a tartan skirt (which I foresee together with some tights, boots for an autumnal look, and then some 'mom jeans' (which I'd probably combine with some low trainers and a jacket for 'mom about town look') so warmer weather clothing is now on my radar and I wont have to spend a penny or a coupon as such.
Been off the looms for a while too, seems my crafting mojo has abandoned me.

CapricornLass

Evening!  Hope everyone is well?  I've been off-line for almost a week because of the cable delivering phone and broadband to the house got damaged, so I've just been catching up....
Leg warmers for men...hmmm.. OH is always complaining about the gap round his ankles!    Just have to hope that he actually wears them if I made him a pair for Christmas!

Laura_Elsewhere

@CapricornLass - I think the trick is probably avoiding the 1980s 'Fame!' kind of legwarmer look  

Dad's are in fine 4-ply yarn, so are like a pair of thin socks, shaped to fit the leg, and ribbed all the way to stay neatly against his skin. They should be virtually undetectable, although he does enjoy colourful socks, so will probably be delighted to flash a 'Road to Socialism' ankle!  

Mum's are not even trying to be inconspicuous, being definitely slouched down round her ankles and very obvious indeed in colour  

CraftyLittleLisa

catherinekate said:

I also rather impulsive-bought a sewing machine - the one Pip highlighted from Aldi. Since then every single person I've mentioned it to has laughed and said they had one for the asking, my mother in law even has two spare (including a hand cranked 1940s job) so I feel a bit silly. Anyway I am happy with it and yesterday I finally managed to sew a straight line with correct tension. That took me 5 days to achieve.

I have joined a couple of sewing groups on Facebook and whilst they are full of kind and helpful people, I am a bit shocked at the wastefulness of it, people always posting about their huge stashes and big purchases and making 30 bras in 30 days. I will need to find my own way to some sort of low waste / low impact sewing I guess.

I have just recently taken my sewing machine to be serviced.  It is well out of date and I want to look after it as I use it all the time.  The only downside is I am now going to be without my machine for 2 weeks.  Thankfully I've still got my knitting needles.  It will cost £75 for the service but its cheaper than having to pay out for a new machine if it dies on me.

On the subject of wastefulness etc, I hear what you are saying.  I sometimes feel that my crafting hobby is a little wasteful but I do make sure I use as much of every scrap as I possibly can.  Also, to ensure I don't overload the old wardrobe, I try to alternate between projects so I will do one thing for me (clothes) and then do a household thing (such as a cushion cover, curtain, bag) or a present for someone.  At least if I make things I know the quality is going to be good (at least I hope it is).  I couldn't be without my sewing but I can limit the waste/expense if I am careful.

CraftyLittleLisa

PipneyJane said:

Does anyone else have frugal plans for September?

I have had a bit of a splurge in August on spending so for September my frugal plan is to get back to frugalling.  I am going to do my absolute best to stick to my budgets.  I have recently reviewed my grocery shopping budget as I kept overspending (not helped by recent price increases) but now all budgets should be realistic.  I am also going to start on the Christmas present shopping/making.

Cherryfudge

PipneyJane said:

Cherryfudge said:

PipneyJane said:

 three-impossible-things-before-breakfast

Hitch Hiker's Guide? I have half a memory that it might be six impossible things, but three is plenty...

It’s from “Through the Looking Glass” and was - I think - said by the Red Queen: "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

- Pip

@PipneyJane, you're absolutely right and I was baffled as I'm not familiar with Through the Looking Glass. A bit of googling showed me that Douglas Adams made reference to the quotation: “If you've done 6 impossible things this morning, why not round it off with breakfast at Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?”
So I end the day a little better educated.

PipneyJane

Cherryfudge said:

PipneyJane said:

Cherryfudge said:

PipneyJane said:

 three-impossible-things-before-breakfast

Hitch Hiker's Guide? I have half a memory that it might be six impossible things, but three is plenty...

It’s from “Through the Looking Glass” and was - I think - said by the Red Queen: "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

- Pip

@PipneyJane, you're absolutely right and I was baffled as I'm not familiar with Through the Looking Glass. A bit of googling showed me that Douglas Adams made reference to the quotation: “If you've done 6 impossible things this morning, why not round it off with breakfast at Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?”
So I end the day a little better educated.

I have a feeling it was used in one of the Disney/Warner Bros cartoons as well, but I can't remember which one.

- Pip

TwibbleDee

I had to take the 13-year-old shopping, and ended up getting a new sweater.  Long sleeve, machine-knitted, open in the front, not wool.  Am I correct in saying it should be 5 coupons?

And if masks are coupon-free, that does mean that fabric bought specifically for making masks is as well, correct?

PipneyJane

CraftyLittleLisa said:

PipneyJane said:

Does anyone else have frugal plans for September?

I have had a bit of a splurge in August on spending so for September my frugal plan is to get back to frugalling.  I am going to do my absolute best to stick to my budgets.  I have recently reviewed my grocery shopping budget as I kept overspending (not helped by recent price increases) but now all budgets should be realistic.  I am also going to start on the Christmas present shopping/making.

I know the feeling.  My own frugal plans for September centre around creating a realistic "unemployment budget" for me, since my contract ends on 30th September.  I've already done the first and second drafts, and agreed it in principle with DH.  When I became a contractor, my first priority was to build up several months salary in our company.  I reckon that by halving my take-home pay, I can still pay all my share of the joint bills, have a small spending allowance left over and be able to pay my wages, payroll taxes, etc, for five or six months from company funds.  When that gets really low, I'll have to make myself redundant. 

Hopefully, I'll have a new job before that happens.

- Pip