2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

joedenise

Good news Pip about the extension to your contract but not a happy reason.  Hope your colleague recovers well.

Cherryfudge

catherinekate said:

The cleaning talk puts me in mind of the mental load comic, if you haven't seen it:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/26/gender-wars-household-chores-comic

I went to a modern state girls grammar (left in 2000) and learnt some dressmaking (well, we made an apron and a skirt). 

I haven't seen that comic before - it's well worth a read, isn't it!

I'm another Grammar School girl (1970s). I suppose it was quite a progressive school as, amid all that academia, girls did sewing in Year 1 while boys did woodwork, then cookery and metalwork respectively in year 2. At some point, probably the third year, we got some choice so I did woodwork, which I picked up again as my 'leisure' subject in 6th Form.
I still remember that at the beginning of the third year when people were told whether they had the practical subject they'd asked for, the one exception was a lad who'd asked to do cookery and was denied it as the course was oversubscribed and preference was given to girls.

My husband had a comprehensive education and didn't do particularly well at it, but his school was enlightened enough to teach typing, which he's always found useful. Interestingly, while he was in work he earned double what I did and has a post-grad qualification - higher than anything I've done - so while I know my education has been useful to me, school isn't the be all and end all.

@PipneyJane, how sad about your colleague. I do hope they improve soon. Nice that it means a longer contract for you, though... and that is a very chic kilt.

PollyWollyDoodle

Well I’m glad to know I’m not alone in being undomesticated as far as housework is concerned, I always feel as if there must be some trick to it that I’m missing. Bit like those lessons in makeup and flirting that all the other girls seemed to have had and that I’d somehow missed!  @Thriftwizard your great-grandmother sounds fascinating, you could write a book about someone like that. 

Sorry to hear about your colleague Pip, but pleased that your contract has been extended although I’m sure you’d rather it wasn’t for that reason. The kilt looks fabulous. 

Laura_Elsewhere

My secondary school in 1980s Edinburgh was very enlightened - everyone, boys and girls, did needlework and cookery and woodwork and metalwork and techie drawing, for all of 1st and 2nd year. Admittedly, the cookery never taught me a single thing, literally not one thing, but hey...  
My Intended lived here alone before I moved in, so is entirely capable of any aspect of housework, to basic or above level, and is entirely willing to turn to and do any of it, if needed. I'm fortunate, as I may have mentioned before  

@PipneyJane - very sad to hear about your colleague but a real silver lining for you... 

TwibbleDee

I've gotten a bit of laundry done today, and a load of dishes.  That's it.  No progress on any projects, nothing.  Maybe by tomorrow my brain will have reset enough to get to work, and then I'll have Monday to work as well (Labor Day in the US - our office will be closed).

Laura_Elsewhere

I wouldn't worry too much about it, @TwibbleDee - we've had clashes this week with school-run parents parking illegally and getting aggressive with locals and then blaming the locals and it all got very nasty, and by mid-morning Friday I just went back to bed and didn't really come out again til this morning... 
That 1940s suit jacket is still hanging up with the lining half-pinned into it. My mother-out-law's face-covering is cut out and ready to sew, actually *on* the sewing machine beside the sewing bits. Been there three weeks nearly... 

Sometimes you just don't get much done. 

You'll catch up, no worries...  

thriftwizard

Oh dear, lost track again! Are small knickers, i.e. briefs, fewer coupons than cami-knickers? Because the bras arrived; one's a perfect fit & the other's winging its way back to them, and the matching knicks were back in stock so I ordered two pairs... but I shall kick myself if they're 4 coupons each, even though I can "afford" it! Will add both bra & "nether garments" (as my grandmother always used to call them) to my total when they arrive. 

Breathing a sigh of relief now that we all seem to be sorted, clothes-wise. Fingers crossed that the virus behaves & we don't get a local lockdown, which would kybosh it all... they've been through so many sudden changes of plan already.

PS - have just found two pairs of 30s/40s silk cami-knicks in the bottom of my sewing cupboard, complete with hand embroidery. They must have been to die for when they were new; well worth 4 coupons a pair. Sadly they're gradually disintegrating now, but still beautiful.

PollyWollyDoodle

According to the original post 

• one pair of Cami-knickers would equal two pairs of modern bikini-style knickers or thongs.

So you should be ok with 4 coupons for the two. The vintage ones sound lovely, no hope of restoring them? 

Laura_Elsewhere

@thriftwizard - the silk knicks sound gorgeous - any chance of photos?

PipneyJane

Apologies, Ladies, I’m a bit behind today.  (I had a nightmare at the end of last week, with Rose Hip Jelly that refused to set.  Hopefully solved now.  Reboiled with Certo.  I don’t think it had enough pectin in it previously.). Anyway...

Firstly, to whomever suggested using eucalyptus oil to remove grease stains - it worked beautifully.  Thank you. There are no traces of the grease marks on either tee-shirt.

Secondly, the tomato stain on the white jumper.  @Laura_Elsewhere, the “milk trick” worked.  First I soaked it in milk.  Since then, I’ve soaked the spot for a day before washing.   Firstly a photo of the full front of the jumper:-



Can you spot it?  Now for a close up:



It’s below and to (your) left of the central cable. Just a faint, pink smudge.  From further away, it looks like a shadow.  I’ll keep up “the milk trick” until it disappears completely.

- Pip