2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

PollyWollyDoodle

Glad to hear your niece is back home again, Laura. And welcome Basketcase, sorry if we missed your first post. 

basketcase

PipneyJane said:

Firstly, @basketcase , you are very welcome to join the challenge.  We are delighted to have you.  Profuse apologies, if I missed your original post.

Laura, having been on the receiving end of a couple of those calls over the years, I can imagine what you went through this morning.  It's heart-stopping.

Let's all bother the Sky Pilot.  It's about time (s)he* paid attention.

- Pip



*Incidentally, did anyone else see Good Omens when it was broadcast recently?  In it, God is female.

Hi Pip!

Glad I can join, thanks.  I'm losing weight, so don't want to buy any more new clothes than I can help, but I confess to 2 greatly-reduced-in-the-sale jumpers from Sainsbobs.  2 sizes smaller than others! I do miss the old smilies - picture the jumping up and down one.  Can't remember how many coupons that is offhand, but will alter my sig later. 

Trying not to buy, even from the CS, until I reach my final weight.  I have a small stash of yarn and a couple of (if I'm generous!) half completed projects.  I've also got some material although, again, not much.

Could I ask for some advice please?  I'd like to get a sewing machine to make basic items of clothing, curtains etc.  It doesn't have to be a complicated one just a good, reliable machine to cover basic processes - maybe with a little room for improvement of my skills.  Reconditioned would do nicely.  What would you good people recommend?

Yes, I watched Good Omens.  I really enjoyed it.  Wasn't God Alanis Morrisette or am I thinking of another God (so to speak)?

Keep safe and well, everyone

basketcase

PollyWollyDoodle said:

Glad to hear your niece is back home again, Laura. And welcome Basketcase, sorry if we missed your first post. 

Thanks for the welcome Polly.

@laura I'm glad to hear about your niece too.  What a scare...  Hope she continues well

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

basketcase said:

Yes, I watched Good Omens.  I really enjoyed it.  Wasn't God Alanis Morrisette or am I thinking of another God (so to speak)?

Keep safe and well, everyone

She was god in Dogma - one of my favourite films

basketcase

Of course!  It didn't feel right that she was in Good Omens, but I couldn't for the life of me think who it was.  Still can't...

ETA: Frances McDormand (wonderful thing, Google)

I enjoyed Dogma too. 

Thinking of Pratchett, I quite fancy watching The Hogfather - uplifting in a weird sort of way

PipneyJane

basketcase said:

PipneyJane said:

Firstly, @basketcase , you are very welcome to join the challenge.  We are delighted to have you.  Profuse apologies, if I missed your original post.

Laura, having been on the receiving end of a couple of those calls over the years, I can imagine what you went through this morning.  It's heart-stopping.

Let's all bother the Sky Pilot.  It's about time (s)he* paid attention.

- Pip



*Incidentally, did anyone else see Good Omens when it was broadcast recently?  In it, God is female.

Hi Pip!

Glad I can join, thanks.  I'm losing weight, so don't want to buy any more new clothes than I can help, but I confess to 2 greatly-reduced-in-the-sale jumpers from Sainsbobs.  2 sizes smaller than others! I do miss the old smilies - picture the jumping up and down one.  Can't remember how many coupons that is offhand, but will alter my sig later. 

Trying not to buy, even from the CS, until I reach my final weight.  I have a small stash of yarn and a couple of (if I'm generous!) half completed projects.  I've also got some material although, again, not much.

Could I ask for some advice please?  I'd like to get a sewing machine to make basic items of clothing, curtains etc.  It doesn't have to be a complicated one just a good, reliable machine to cover basic processes - maybe with a little room for improvement of my skills.  Reconditioned would do nicely.  What would you good people recommend?

Yes, I watched Good Omens.  I really enjoyed it.  Wasn't God Alanis Morrisette or am I thinking of another God (so to speak)?

Keep safe and well, everyone

I loved "Good Omens".  Glad you did, too.  It left me with a huge smile on my face.  God was played (?"Voiced"?) by Frances McDormand.  

On the sewing machine front, I'd suggest going somewhere that sells a lot of different models and test driving them all to see if there's one you like more than the others. 

Mine is a 30-year-old Brother, with a free arm that has a detachable "table" to make it a wider surface.  It has 20 different stitches and I probably only use 5 of them:  straight, zig-zag, buttonhole, a stitch that looks similar to overlocking for edges and something designed for knits/jersey fabric.  It's capable of taking a double needle, which is perfect if you want to sew over piping to emboss a fabric.  (Years ago, one of my colleagues made her own wedding dress, complete with a couched design on the front.  That was done using piping cord and a double needle.  Looked very impressive.)   When I got it serviced recently, the lady at the sewing machine centre was very complimentary.  Said she preferred the old ones because they had a front opening for the bobbin to be inserted.  The people I use are a company that services both domestic and industrial machines.  If you live near London, they're in Southall.  PM me if you want their name/address.  They sell domestic machines, too, and run the odd class but that isn't their main business.

OOOHHHH!!!!!! I remember now!  The part that I couldn't name, in which the bobbin sits is the Shuttle!

HTH

Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

Re sewing machines:  I really recommend the John Lewis basic machine, it's still for sale at £99 and it takes the same 'feet' as Janome so you can get bits for it quite easily.  It has a few extra stitches, a zigzag is the most useful one, and a four-stage buttonhole facility.  I started off with one of these when I first got back into sewing a few years ago, and it did everything you'd need for the sort of things you are describing. 

PipneyJane

In all the madness of the Great Shutdown, I actually have a spend to declare!  This morning, I decided to bite the bullet and order another 5-pack of the knickers I like from M&S.  Plain, utilitarian, but very comfortable.  I’ve been umming-and-ahhing for a while and decided to get my order in before they completely shut up shop.  They should arrive in Tuesday’s post.  

10 coupons spent, which brings my total spend for the year to 27/66.  I’ve started to think about what I need versus what I want (hence the knickers purchase).  Shoes are high on my priority list.  I will need another pair of loafers or Doc Martins to wear under my suit trousers for work and I will also (hopefully) need another pair of trainers for running in, before the year is out.  They only last 300-400 miles but I haven’t done any running this year and only 30-odd miles in the current pair. (Now that the weather is getting better and I’m no longer driving for 2 hours to get to work, I’ll start running again.) 

At least I won’t need any yarn.

- Pip

dolly84

Laura - glad to hear your niece came back home.

basketcase - sorry we all missed your post and welcome to the thread.  I have a Brother sewing machine and apart from currently needing a service it has been great, it is about 25 years old now. I only use a few stitches - straight, zig-zag, button hole and blind hem off the top of my head.

basketcase

Thanks for the recommendations, Polly, Dolly and Pip (sounds like a 70s rock band ).

I looked at the Brothers but was worried that the programmes bit would make them too complicated and vulnerable to breaking down. (I'm a bit of a Luddite and would actually prefer an older model!)  The John Lewis sounds like it's more in my price range and basic is definitely good enough.  Decisions, decisions.  Aaargh!