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2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

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  • I've decided that this year I am actually timetabling Needlework Time into my week - every week I shall find several hours (currently a Wed afternoon, but if that changes, I *will* find other time!) to systematically work on finishing the thousand and one unfinished projects, and start and finish the hundred and one unstarted projects.

    I shall end the year with fewer clothes but better ones - I can sew well, but I'm horribly slapdash about bodging things, so I want to learn how to do things properly, and how to draft more of my own patterns.

    So... I shall be systematically sewing, knitting and crocheting my way through my coupons as mcuh as possible!
    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);
  • I visited a few charity shops this weekend and got some lovely bargains. I was actually looking for brown trousers but of course didn't find any! What I did find was a pair of M&S Roma jeans in my size for £1, 2 neutral tops for work for £2 each, a skirt for work for £2, a long textured velvet skirt that I bought for the fabric but actually fits and looks lovely for £2 and a beautiful kilt made of pure wool turquoise tartan that I will use the fabric for something (about 3 metres x 90cm wide) for £2. So 6 items for £11 and no coupons spent!

    I've also had a good sort out of my clothes and shoes and got several bags for the CS. I've also turned all the hangers around so I can see what I wear over the next 6-12 months.

    Laura_Elsewhere, I like your idea of timetabling in Needlework time, I think I need to do that as well.
    Stash busting challenge 2025: 0/100 £0/£100 Fashion on the ration 2025: 0/66
  • So 6 items for £11 and no coupons spent!

    I've also had a good sort out of my clothes and shoes and got several bags for the CS. I've also turned all the hangers around so I can see what I wear over the next 6-12 months.

    .

    Congrats on the CS finds - nice work! Turquoise isn't my colour but I wish i could find 3m of pure wool good fabric for a couple of quid!

    Edit to Add: the Needlework session each week will include mending and alterations too. Basically whatever needs done to get me wearing nicer, better clothes!
    Turning your hangers is a brilliant idea - most of mine isn't on hangers, but on shelves, but I'll try to think of some way to do this. I need to unload my over-crammed tops and t-shirts shelves, shove everything into the tumble-dryer for 15 mins to freshen it up and then put it all back, anyway, so I may do something that will let me know what I wear and don't wear... actually, not putting it *all* back would be a good start!
    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);
  • ditty1234
    ditty1234 Posts: 2,123 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just found this challenge, and while I do think it looks fun, I wont actually join as I will be on my 2. year of just about not buying any clothes - tells you about how much I used to buy. Still have a full basket of stockings!
    Isa help to buy: 1000/3000 33%
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  • ditty1234 wrote: »
    Just found this challenge, and while I do think it looks fun, I wont actually join as I will be on my 2. year of just about not buying any clothes - tells you about how much I used to buy. Still have a full basket of stockings!


    Oooh, you're very welcome in here - you can be cheerleader and give us tips on how you did it - well done!!!
    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);
  • lykkelig
    lykkelig Posts: 37 Forumite
    Laura Elsewhere may I thank you for single handedly changing how I make socks. I have today repaired a hole in a two month old pair of socks, right by the toe, and it's no wonder - I can see my toes through the fabric. I just thought that was how sock fabric was meant to be and never questioned it. I can't get 2mm needles until a trip out next week but I can't wait to start making a dense sock fabric. I thought you would like to know that I had a mend to perform on such young such socks. Proof in the pudding.
    2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 4/66 coupons spent
    2020 Frugal Living Challenge
  • thriftwizard
    thriftwizard Posts: 4,869 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    (((I may have to conquer this knitting thing. Or live with deep sock envy forever after...)))
    Angie - GC Aug25: £374.16/£550 : 2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge: 26/68: (Money's just a substitute for time & talent...)
  • (((I may have to conquer this knitting thing. Or live with deep sock envy forever after...)))

    Well... if you live within travelling distance of the Shrewsbury/Telford area I'd be very happy to meet up for a few hours and take you through the basics...

    Mwahaha- er, I mean, any time. Really.

    ;)
    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);
  • lykkelig wrote: »
    Laura Elsewhere may I thank you for single handedly changing how I make socks. I have today repaired a hole in a two month old pair of socks, right by the toe, and it's no wonder - I can see my toes through the fabric. I just thought that was how sock fabric was meant to be and never questioned it. I can't get 2mm needles until a trip out next week but I can't wait to start making a dense sock fabric. I thought you would like to know that I had a mend to perform on such young such socks. Proof in the pudding.

    I am pleased! Like I said, a teensy bit evangelical... ;)

    The other way to do it is to knit a larger size than you need on the larger needles but then deliberately wash them a little too hot or tumble-dry yarn that shouldn't be tumble-dried - but you have to do it very carefully or you end up with teeny tiny felt bootee for toddlers! ! :)

    In fact, that's how I knit our thick house-sock slipper-boots... I knit gigantic floppy huge socks, iirc the foot is about 13 inches long, using Aran yarn on 6mm needles - and then wash and dry them carefully until they come down to being the required 9-10 inches long, by which time everything's meshed together and become "fulled" which is what people nowadays usually call felting. But it only works with pure wool yarn that *shouldn't* be machine-washed!
    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);
  • Hi All

    My leggings all came but only 1 pair fitted me - so two to go back and 2 coupons spent. The long sleeve t-shirt also fitted me nicely and at half price for £5 its good value (and a pretty colour/pattern) so I am going to keep it. Not sure if I am doing the right thing as its 5 coupons but time will tell.

    Going to update my signature from now on with my coupon total but I have spend 7, so still have 59 left.

    Have a good day everyone.
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