2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

PollyWollyDoodle said:

PipneyJane said:

I'm curious, now, as to everyone else's crafty missions for today/this week.  Today's crafty missions for me are:-

A-) Sew in the ends on my Blanche Too sweater, wash and block it.  (I finished the knitting last night.)
B-)  Knit the swatch for my Mithril Jumper.  I'll be knitting the Caradon Hill Sweater  pattern,  using the Stansbrough Fibres Mithril yarn from New Zealand.  This is the yarn used to weave the elven cloaks in Lord of the Rings.  My plan is to make a longer version of the jumper and to change the neckline to a crew neck.

- Pip

Well, I actually finished a UFO last week. Cardigan for a toddler, I just had to knit the collar, I don’t know why I abandoned it when it was so close to being finished. Couldn’t find any Suitable buttons so I’ve ordered some which should be arriving today or tomorrow. I’ve also knitted the missing sleeve on another cardigan, it needs some embroidery now, and then the neck and front bands picking up. 

Can I ask a question – do you block it and then sew it together, or sew it up and then block it? Blocking isn’t something I am very familiar with but I can see that this second cardigan really needs it.  

Other plans - I finally got the sewing machine out and set it up, and ran up a few summer dresses .... for Barbie, before you think I’m some sort of expert!  I promised these ages ago, and once the cardigan is done they can be sent off together. I do have plans for some proper sewing after this. 

If it is knitted in pieces, then I'd block it before sewing together, tugging the wet pieces to fit the pattern schematic/are all the same length before drying in position.  Since I avoid seaming whenever possible, my jumper was knitted in the round, with the sleeves picked up and knitted down from the shoulder.  In my case, I'll just wash it, tug it into shape and then dry flat.

HTH

- PIp (I'm listening to Test Match Special  The BBC are replying an entire day's cricket from last year.)

PollyWollyDoodle

Thanks Pip – I know I knitted garments in my younger days, but in the last few years it seems to be all gloves, shawls and blankets or stuffed toys, and I couldn’t remember what to do. 

Laura, I seem to remember you saying something about your chap (fiancé!) measuring a hem once before and I commented that he was a keeper!  I like the sound of your plans. My guess is that you’ll go fabric shopping (when we are able to do such things again), and you’ll see something that will inspire your wedding outfit  - you’ll know when you see it. 

Betharooni

Laura_Elsewhere said:

I feel very much like I might have done in wartime in this situation...

My chap asked me to marry him, and I said yes.

So I am sporting my late Gran's 1933 ring, grinning like a mad thing, and realising that although I still have lots of coupons (must update my signature as I did spend some), of course I'm in the equivalent situation of not being able to go and buy anything I like in the shops...! 

I have absolutely no idea when, but probably next winter, not before November, assuming we're all spared, as the old ladies of my Calvinist East-Scotland childhood used to say! I don't know, November to February, maybe? Probably? perhaps?

And no idea what to wear... let alone where to buy or what to make or anything!  

But very smiley... 

Congratulations-what wonderful news!!

catherinekate

Congratulations Laura-Elsewhere, great news!

My project is to sew up the holes that have appeared in a skirt. It is a double layered cotton fabric with some elasticity and the holes of course are in the front layer at the front. Potentially, mending it will be the death of the skirt, but it is already looking very scruffy so worth a try. I could put a couple of patches on but it's really not my style so I expect it would be a fair amount of work for something I would then not yet wear . . . Will report back.

And project #2 - an enormous hole has appeared in an unmentionable part of OH's running shorts. It's bigger than the leg holes!

PipneyJane

catherinekate said:

Congratulations Laura-Elsewhere, great news!

My project is to sew up the holes that have appeared in a skirt. It is a double layered cotton fabric with some elasticity and the holes of course are in the front layer at the front. Potentially, mending it will be the death of the skirt, but it is already looking very scruffy so worth a try. I could put a couple of patches on but it's really not my style so I expect it would be a fair amount of work for something I would then not yet wear . . . Will report back.

And project #2 - an enormous hole has appeared in an unmentionable part of OH's running shorts. It's bigger than the leg holes!

Is that enormous hole somewhere along a seam?  If so, then it's due to constant strain on the fibres, which are being pulled against something inelastic, the seam stitches.  If you sew it up, your OH may get a few more months wear out of the shorts but they are just as likely to rip at the same point.

Sorry

Pip

CapricornLass

Congratulations, Laura, I'm really pleased for you!

I've been mulling over the grey suit and the colour to go with it.  I was wondering if it would be better to make it all grey and then the colour is provided by whatever you are wearing with it?  I thought it might extend the wearability, if you know what I mean, as it will be a fair bit of work to sew the suit, even for you!

Circle skirts - ah yes!  I used to make them for bellydancing in, and they were always a problem to hem.  They always dropped as they were cut on the bias, and the bit where the seams were didn't drop as fast as the rest of the skirt.  Different fabrics will drop at different rates, just to add to the fun.  The recommendation that we had, and which I will pass on, is to hang the skirt by the hem on a hanger and leave it on the back of a door for several weeks, maybe even a month.  That gives it time to drop.  Then measure the hem and sew it.

dolly84

catherinekate said:

Congratulations Laura-Elsewhere, great news!

My project is to sew up the holes that have appeared in a skirt. It is a double layered cotton fabric with some elasticity and the holes of course are in the front layer at the front. Potentially, mending it will be the death of the skirt, but it is already looking very scruffy so worth a try. I could put a couple of patches on but it's really not my style so I expect it would be a fair amount of work for something I would then not yet wear . . . Will report back.

And project #2 - an enormous hole has appeared in an unmentionable part of OH's running shorts. It's bigger than the leg holes!

I was looking on Pinterest (possibly) at visible mending, it makes me want to have a hole in a wool jumper just to have a fab little darn in a contrasting wool.

Laura_Elsewhere

dolly84 said:

I was looking on Pinterest (possibly) at visible mending, it makes me want to have a hole in a wool jumper just to have a fab little darn in a contrasting wool.

I ended up posting 11 photos yesterday with instructions so I could teach my friends to darn socks, via social media! 

To make it more clear, I used very obviously contrasting wool - blue one direction, red the other, on a cream sock, and it looks rather fun as a result    

CAFCGirl

Laura - that looks fab!

dolly84

I think the contrasting mending like that looks so quirky and fun.