2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

TwibbleDee said:

Do we officially switch to the new thread January 1?

I think so, although a few folk may pop in to get it warmed up, check the roof isn't leaking, etc... I mean - you never quite know when you move into a new thread what condition it's in, even it's a newly-built one...  

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Cherryfudge bh I think it was initially Much Mending, as in doing lots of it...! I think there was a bit of a snobbish next-one-along but can't recall if that was maybe Little Mending? Upper Mending? Nether Mending?!?!

Ta muchly for the bread rolls, they smell heavenly.

Nether Mending? Isn't that the one that was flooded when the reservoir was built, and only rises above the water level when I'm embroidery-mending the seat of my jeans?

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@PipneyJane, thinking of these 2020 Awards (for which I msut, must, must organise my points total!), can I make a suggestion, please?


I think there should be a **Special Award to YOU** for helping us all through All This by having set up and run this thread for three years now, allowing us to build this internet-forum thread into a really impressive group of friends, welcoming, supportive, funny and great-hearted. 
Much Mending on the Borrow would be an overgrown swamp without you. You've let the Village Hall and the cricket pitch arise, you've brought in the USAF to the base nearby, you've paved the High Street and you've heated up the tea-urn and lit the stove. 

Thankyou, @PipneyJane, thankyou. 

Oh you are a Sweetie, @Laura_Elsewhere.  Thank you. 

The village hall is all your fault, Laura, not mine.  Credit where credit is due.  In your first post on this thread, you comment “Oooh, doesn't the old Village Hall look nice, all decked out for New Year like this?”.   

I’m just happy to have found some friends who enjoy playing along.

- Pip

Cherryfudge

Guess who opened a present yesterday (we did Christmas late to accommodate family work) and received a copy of 'Fashion on the Ration' by Julie Summers?

keepcalmandcraft

I challenged myself to buy no new clothes this year except for shoes and underwear and definitely no new fabric (as I have enough for many years of constant sewing!).  Amazingly, I have managed it!  I did buy some clothes from charity shops and acquired some fabric from my husband's aunt's house clearance but did not buy any new. 
At the start of the year, I also turned all my hangers round and when I wore something, it was turned the other way.  So I can see what I have actually worn this year.  It has been a peculiar year so lots of nicer dresses etc have not been worn but it is interesting to see what I keep wearing and what I may need to replace as I am wearing them out!
I had 14 coupons from 2019 so 14+66 = 80 for 2020.  I have spent 15 coupons this year:
2 bras = 6 coupons
Boots = 3 coupons
Shoes = 3 coupons
Boots = 3 coupons
so I have 65 to carry forward!
Thank you all for your support and kindness this year, this forum has been a lovely place to come to amidst all the horrible stuff happening around us and it has really helped me a lot.

PipneyJane

keepcalmandcraft said:

I found my way onto the V&A website (thinking about trying to make the Mary Quant Georgie dress) when I noticed their knitting section had lots of free 1940s knitting patterns.  The link to it is:
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/1940s-knitting-patterns

@keepcalmandcraft, I need to thank you again for posting the link to the V&A’s 1940’s knitting patterns.  Over the last couple of nights, I’ve swatched for the “When You’re ‘Off Duty’” jumper and washed my swatch last night.



Not sure you can see it from the picture but the “waves” are lace.  You can see them better in my swatch.



I just have a little bit of maths to do to work out the stitches needed for my size, and then I can cast on.

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

Oh that looks pretty, Pip. I look forward to seeing more of that!

keepcalmandcraft

@keepcalmandcraft, I need to thank you again for posting the link to the V&A’s 1940’s knitting patterns.  Over the last couple of nights, I’ve swatched for the “When You’re ‘Off Duty’” jumper and washed my swatch last night.

I just have a little bit of maths to do to work out the stitches needed for my size, and then I can cast on.

- Pip

Ooh that’s going to look lovely.  Pleased you used the link. I still haven’t made up the dress! 

Cherryfudge

I went down a rabbit hole of vintage Vogue yesterday. It appears you can sign up for access to (part of) all back numbers, including wartime and pre-war. I couldn't get it to work yesterday and haven't much time today but it looks fascinating.
@PipneyJane, that colour and yarn look lovely on your new make. 

Laura_Elsewhere

I've posted this for friends, and thought I would post it in here for my friends here too...

For those who don't know much about New Year's Eve beyond the partying... a small Hogmanay Basics Kit for you

In Scotland the tradition is that, a minute or so before midnight on the 31st, you open the back door or a window at the back of the house, to let the Old Year flee; then when the bells start chiming you open the front door or a window at the front, to welcome in the New Year...

If there was ever a year most people want to ensure really goes right away, it's this one, so do make sure to open that door or window before midnight, right wide open, and let the year get away before the bells!

And here is a photo of what is needed for First Footing, and I am brown-haired and tallish for a woman and I may not be a stranger but I can be a bit strange, so in lieu of anyone actually going house to house First Footing, you can produce this photo at the bells and consider yourself First Footed!

(the tradition is that the 'first foot' over your threshold in the new year should be a tall dark stranger bearing gifts symbolising all you need for the New Year: bread that you may never be hungry, salt as a symbol of wealth, a lump of coal so you never go cold (a stone pig Victorian hot-water-bottle in this case!) and whisky for friendship...)