We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Has MSE helped you to save or reclaim money this year? Share your 2025 MoneySaving success stories!
2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge
Comments
-
Really lovely patchwork quilt!Signiture dated 23/09/2025
3-month emergency fund (Cash ISA and PBonds): £5,382/ + £1,500 = £6,882 /£7,500 (Target 1)
Stocks and shares ISA: £2,232.94
Additional pension contributions £0 (target £450pcm)
Overpayment on mortgage: 1% at a time (£1,518)
Big Renno...and appliances. Front of the house, fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine)3 -
The quilt is beautiful. I'm always glad when people find ways to preserve embroidery. It was such a fashion in the Fifties when my Mum did lots of it and I grew up thinking of it as an accomplishment. It's strange that only cross stitch seems to be in fashion now.I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/224 -
BeautifulBe Kind. Stay Safe. Break the Chain. Save Lives. ⭐️2025 Savings Pot Challenge: As a monthly amount, running total = £677.00
Jan £5.00 Feb £12.74 Mch £23.26 Apr £32 May £43 Jun £50 July £62 Aug £71 Sep £80 Oct £90 Nov £100 Dec £108 Grand Total £677.004 -
Beautiful @thriftwizard. I’ve never thought of using embroidery like that in quilts, what a good idea!Stash busting challenge 2025: 20/100 £0/£100 Fashion on the ration 2025: 23/664
-
Really pretty little quilt Thrift wizard - love the little flowers.Pip - Many thanks for posting the instructions for the fingerless mitts. they sound very easy and it will be easier than trying to knit things with thumbs in the round which I haven't done before and could probably get a pair made in time for Christmas. Do you have any guidance on how to do the same using double knit please instead of sock yarn - it would be nice to do a pair for my sister to go with the hat in the brown, beige and cream yarn my Mum was given. 2 hats down (1 with manic bobble) now to start the one in the beige, cream and brown yarn.....
2024 Fashion on the Ration - 3.5/66.5 coupons remaining1 cardigan - 5 coupons13 prs ankle socks - 13 coupons5 prs leggings - 10 coupons4 prs dungarees - 24 coupons1 cord jacket - 11 couponstotal 63 coupons4 -
@skogar, even easier if you do wrist-warmers - for the two pairs I speed-knitted above, in 'bulky' on 5.5mm needles, I just cast on 28 and did knit2/purl2 rib for about 50 rounds and cast off!
To do them in DK.... well if 4-ply uses 56, and bulky uses 30, it'll be somewhere between...! It depends a little on what size needles and how tightly or loosely you knit. I would try casting on 40 and knit a couple of inches in the round and cast off, and then see if that fits easily over your hand or not. If it's a bit tight, try again wth 44 (for a k2/p2 rib it has to be a number divisible by 4, not just by 2 - you can always do a finer k1/p1 rib of course).
@thriftwizard, that is lovely. When you described it, I was a bit unsure, but now I've seen it, it's a lovely piece of work!2025 remaining: 37 coupons from 66:
January (29): winter boots, green trainers, canvas swimming-shoes (15); t-shirt x2 (8); 3m cotton twill (6);
.
2025 second-hand acquisitions (no coupons): None thus far
.
2025 needlework- *Reverse-couponing*:11 coupons :
January: teddybear-lined velvet jacket (11) & hat (0); velvet sleep-mask (0);4 -
skogar said:Really pretty little quilt Thrift wizard - love the little flowers.Pip - Many thanks for posting the instructions for the fingerless mitts. they sound very easy and it will be easier than trying to knit things with thumbs in the round which I haven't done before and could probably get a pair made in time for Christmas. Do you have any guidance on how to do the same using double knit please instead of sock yarn - it would be nice to do a pair for my sister to go with the hat in the brown, beige and cream yarn my Mum was given. 2 hats down (1 with manic bobble) now to start the one in the beige, cream and brown yarn.....
For DK, I’d try using 44 stitches on 3.25mm needles. As @Laura_Elsewhere said, try them on as you go, to ensure they go over your hands.
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 53.5 spent, 12.5 left
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)
6 - Ukraine Forever Tartan Ruana wrap
24 - yarn
1.5 - sports bra
2 - leather wallet
8 - two t-shirts
2 - grey scarf
2 - sports leggings5 -
Wrist warmers sound much less intimidating than socks do.
2023 Fashion on the Ration: Start with 66. Nightdress - 6 = 60 remaining.5 -
They're what I teach people to knit with - I cannot understand why anyone thinks a scarf is a sensible learner-project - it takes forever and then a bit longer, and if you make any mistakes they show up horribly... whereas a tube... even a tube with a thumb-slit as Pip describes... it couldn't be any easier, and it means if you meet up with someone for a coffee one Saturday and get them started on one, then within the week they have a pair of wristwarmers they can wear or give to someone, that they *made*, even original work that they designed if they're bold enough to try stripes or textured bandsTwibbleDee said:Wrist warmers sound much less intimidating than socks do.
Go on...
And btw, wider, longer wristwarmers are fab in cold weather as ankle-warmers (forget 1980s Fame! legwarmers ) and a very wide, short tube is a cowl... 2025 remaining: 37 coupons from 66:
January (29): winter boots, green trainers, canvas swimming-shoes (15); t-shirt x2 (8); 3m cotton twill (6);
.
2025 second-hand acquisitions (no coupons): None thus far
.
2025 needlework- *Reverse-couponing*:11 coupons :
January: teddybear-lined velvet jacket (11) & hat (0); velvet sleep-mask (0);7 -
Speaking of cowls, on my run this morning, I decided I need one to run in. Something light that isn't going to gape. I might look on Trove for a wartime pattern for a "neck gaiter". I have about 50g of French mohair that I could use. (Bought it from a market stall in 2011.)Laura_Elsewhere said:
They're what I teach people to knit with - I cannot understand why anyone thinks a scarf is a sensible learner-project - it takes forever and then a bit longer, and if you make any mistakes they show up horribly... whereas a tube... even a tube with a thumb-slit as Pip describes... it couldn't be any easier, and it means if you meet up with someone for a coffee one Saturday and get them started on one, then within the week they have a pair of wristwarmers they can wear or give to someone, that they *made*, even original work that they designed if they're bold enough to try stripes or textured bandsTwibbleDee said:Wrist warmers sound much less intimidating than socks do.
Go on...
And btw, wider, longer wristwarmers are fab in cold weather as ankle-warmers (forget 1980s Fame! legwarmers ) and a very wide, short tube is a cowl...
On the teaching knitting front, I usually tell people to knit an entire ball of yarn as a practice piece - "You're not making anything yet, just getting your tension settled" - and then start them on a hat. Like you, I think scarves are horrible to start with.
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 53.5 spent, 12.5 left
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)
6 - Ukraine Forever Tartan Ruana wrap
24 - yarn
1.5 - sports bra
2 - leather wallet
8 - two t-shirts
2 - grey scarf
2 - sports leggings6
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.7K Spending & Discounts
- 246K Work, Benefits & Business
- 602.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.8K Life & Family
- 259.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards