2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

maddiemay

I have been playing with  (reorganising) my yarn stash, so much that I had forgotten about!!, some more bits for a friend, some odds and ends for CS and some lovely dk that I know I will never use now to be offered at Knit N Natter this week, some of the members love knitting, but don't need too much now for themselves/family and find it a bit expensive buying nice yarns for charity knitting.
I unearthed a cardi in some lovely Aran weight Debbie Bliss slubbed yarn, all pieces made, but on examination it is just not going to look right on me, so will frog and try and find a pattern to make a T shaped short sleeved over top thingy, not really enough yarn to do anything else with, I had already tried to use another Aran DB yarn to make all the hems and edges, but the texture not right and the edges flare too much.      Having pondered and cogitated on it I am happy with my decision now.

supersaver1000

dolly84 said:

supersaver - if you have the traditional boots I recommend lacing them snugly right from the first holes so that your feet don't slip about in them, I reckon mine took about a month to wear in but that wasn't with daily wear, when they do crease to your feet they will be very comfortable.

Thanks @dolly84 - they are the Chelsea type so my feet were slipping inside.  But I bought the M&S blister free socks and I have turned a corner with them.  

A pair of jeans popped themselves into my basket yesterday too!  The first pair of jeans I have bought in a long while that I actually feel comfortable in and which look good.  Well worth the coupons and a reasonable price.

PipneyJane

supersaver1000 said:

dolly84 said:

supersaver - if you have the traditional boots I recommend lacing them snugly right from the first holes so that your feet don't slip about in them, I reckon mine took about a month to wear in but that wasn't with daily wear, when they do crease to your feet they will be very comfortable.

Thanks @dolly84 - they are the Chelsea type so my feet were slipping inside.  But I bought the M&S blister free socks and I have turned a corner with them.  

A pair of jeans popped themselves into my basket yesterday too!  The first pair of jeans I have bought in a long while that I actually feel comfortable in and which look good.  Well worth the coupons and a reasonable price.

I really like M&S jeans.  They fit well and have decent front pockets. (Well, large enough to fit my iPhone SE.)  They seem to stand up well to regular use/abuse.

- Pip

Tete_en_l'Air

Hello all, I’m a bit late but wonder if I can join you? I absolutely love reading about the home front and make do and mend – I’m endlessly fascinated by people’s resourcefulness. I’ve actually only bought one t-shirt so far this year, so that’s not a bad start - I’m trying to be more mindful about what I spend my money on anyway. I’m also concentrating on losing a bit of weight and hoping that as I gradually fit back into my old wardrobe it’ll be like getting new clothes but without the spend! I don’t tend to shop for clothes in charity shops as I’m very tall and it’s hard enough finding things to fit as it is, but I’m inspired to check ebay for pre-loved items that I want, rather than defaulting to fast fashion.

 

I’m feeling very inspired by all your crafting – I used to sew but my machine and fabric stash have been gathering dust for a few years now, I can technically knit but am not skilled or fast. I do crochet but tend only to make baby blankets as gifts, never anything wearable for myself. I have more yarn than some small shops...

 

No one has mentioned this so far so I wonder if it’s a big no-no, but is it possible to ‘earn’ more coupons by selling old clothes? I have a few BNWT items in the wardrobe that I’ll never wear… Maybe one coupon per item sold or something (rather than what the item would be worth new)?  (Incidentally it had never occurred to me that BNWT could mean ‘off the back of a lorry’! I feel very naive now!)

 

PipneyJane

Tete_en_l'Air said:

Hello all, I’m a bit late but wonder if I can join you? I absolutely love reading about the home front and make do and mend – I’m endlessly fascinated by people’s resourcefulness. I’ve actually only bought one t-shirt so far this year, so that’s not a bad start - I’m trying to be more mindful about what I spend my money on anyway. I’m also concentrating on losing a bit of weight and hoping that as I gradually fit back into my old wardrobe it’ll be like getting new clothes but without the spend! I don’t tend to shop for clothes in charity shops as I’m very tall and it’s hard enough finding things to fit as it is, but I’m inspired to check ebay for pre-loved items that I want, rather than defaulting to fast fashion.

 

I’m feeling very inspired by all your crafting – I used to sew but my machine and fabric stash have been gathering dust for a few years now, I can technically knit but am not skilled or fast. I do crochet but tend only to make baby blankets as gifts, never anything wearable for myself. I have more yarn than some small shops...

 

No one has mentioned this so far so I wonder if it’s a big no-no, but is it possible to ‘earn’ more coupons by selling old clothes? I have a few BNWT items in the wardrobe that I’ll never wear… Maybe one coupon per item sold or something (rather than what the item would be worth new)?  (Incidentally it had never occurred to me that BNWT could mean ‘off the back of a lorry’! I feel very naive now!)

 

Hello!  Welcome to the Challenge.  I haven’t quite figured out how to split your quote up into sections, so forgive me if I miss responding to something.  Like you, I’m fascinated by the War and how people coped.  This challenge grew out of me wondering what I’d do and how I’d cope, if I’d lived through rationing.  

Are you another one with a yarn stash so big that your family wonder if there’s a sheep hiding in the spare room?  (That’s my husband’s regular joke when I announce that “I’m going into the stash and might be some time...”.)

Sadly, you can’t earn extra coupons from selling stuff.  It isn’t in the spirit of the challenge, which is to comply with the original order issued by the Board of Trade in 1941.

- PIp

dolly84

Tete_en_l'Air said:

Hello all, I’m a bit late but wonder if I can join you? I absolutely love reading about the home front and make do and mend – I’m endlessly fascinated by people’s resourcefulness. I’ve actually only bought one t-shirt so far this year, so that’s not a bad start - I’m trying to be more mindful about what I spend my money on anyway. I’m also concentrating on losing a bit of weight and hoping that as I gradually fit back into my old wardrobe it’ll be like getting new clothes but without the spend! I don’t tend to shop for clothes in charity shops as I’m very tall and it’s hard enough finding things to fit as it is, but I’m inspired to check ebay for pre-loved items that I want, rather than defaulting to fast fashion.

 

I'm 5'9" and do pretty well in the charity shops.  I find lots of long leg jeans, some Long Tall Sally items (they are quite rare though) and some brands that I have found that just happen to have long sleeves are Crew Clothing, Jack Wills, Seasalt and H&M.  I can always get bottom half things but sleeves are my main issue so I always measure them.

getmyacttogether2016

Morning all

Finally finished my blanket and have now started the other.  As I’m crocheting it using super chunky yarn I have to but more and have now learnt to look at meterage.  (Didn’t realise and just brought chunky yarn thing it would go further).  Another 10 coupons used for yarn and have my fingers, toes and anything else crossed that I have enough for my 2nd blanket (not looking very hopeful).

Got some lovely yarn 2nd hand from a lady, 11 balls of 75% acrylic, 20% mohair and 5% wool so just need to see what I can crochet for myself out of it.  Will have to be something easy as only in my 6th week of crochet and I am really enjoying it.  

Need to get the sewing machine out to make some project bags as seen some lovely ones on etsy but not that cheap.  I have all the materials although not so much the experience.

Take care
GMAT

Tete_en_l'Air

PipneyJane said:

Sadly, you can’t earn extra coupons from selling stuff.  It isn’t in the spirit of the challenge, which is to comply with the original order issued by the Board of Trade in 1941.

Oh boooo! I suspected so  

Thanks Dolly for the info - I'll look out for those brands for sure! Sadly where I live all there really is in the charity shops is bobbled old Primark and supermarket clothes so I just tend not to bother.

GMAT, you've only been crocheting for six weeks and are already more productive than me after ten years! I've currently got a baby blanket on the go that I've already frogged twice, trying to work out how to incorporate some bobble stitches which I've only just learnt (and are surprisingly easy!)

diminua

One pair of trousers bought, after much searching - in the end I had to click and collect as I wanted the extra-short ones. Once upon a time I used to just wear heels if I couldn't find trousers the right length, but those days are gone now. I do a lot of walking and quite a lot of standing on public transport and I'm just getting to the age where my joints notice if I've been carrying a heavy laptop bag for too long or walked any distance in heels. 
So that's another 6 coupons gone. My last two from last year and then another 4. 62 coupons left.  

PollyWollyDoodle

GMAT project bags are a great way to get back into sewing - loads of YouTube tutorials, you can do simple drawstring bags or zippers ones. When I started sewing again after a long break I began with bags, and soon progressed to other things. 

Welcome Tete-en-l’Air, great name by the way. I don’t have your problem with height, but I have been amazed at how much is around in charity shops, you do have to be patient and take your time trawling. Don’t forget Oxfam online, I don’t know whether you can search for
longer lengths on there?
Pip, I love the comment about the sheep! In my case it will be living in the top of the wardrobe, I’m going to hear a “baaaa“ every time I open the door now!