2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

I don't really do suits or sleek outfits with boots (or at all come to that) so I may be alright. I do have some black ankle boots that I could wear with "smart" clothes. PollyWolly that was my thoughts. I would rather spend decent money on a decent pair of boots that will last me years, which is why I am considering these ones, than buy something cheap that will last me one winter if I am lucky. I think I may have a look at them again next week but I may just go for the brown ones. I think they will be more versatile.


Thanks all for your thoughts, that was very helpful.

Elisheba

Oh, I am so up for this challenge! I love WW2 and Homefront history, and one of my big aims is to consume less this year. This is is a perfect mix of the two!

I honestly don't think I'll need much in the way of clothing this year. I had a bit of a clothing binge before my LBM on debt and the need to spend less. Perhaps some black knee high boots next winter, as I only have brown this year... Anyway, it will be really useful to monitor it this way and see what I actually need as opposed what I think I need!
I can also knit, although I've never done anything more complicated than a winter hat, and I have a sewing machine I've been saying I need to use more, so hopefully this will encourage me to make more homemade items.

RicardaRacoon

Hello everyone


since we are talking socks here I will add what I call the Swiss school sock to the list. I learned it from a 90 year old friend whos sock output is still amazing. The tow is very round, so if you prefere a more sleek version better don't do this one....



leg
Cast on 60 stitches on 2.5mm needles (64 for a mans sock) and knit a two and two rib for 8 cm and then knit stockinette until the leg is 16 cm.



Heel
Knit over half of the stitches minus 2 (28 for a 60 stitch sock or 30 for a 64) for 2 rows less than you have stitches (26 or 28). On right side slip the last stitch on the needle. On wrong side knit two, purl to last two, knit one and slip the last stitch.


Heel turn

devide the stitches in 3 equal parts when working over 30 stitches or into 9/10/9 when working with 28. Knit the first two parts, ssk. Turn, slip the first stitch and purl the number of stitches for the middle part then purl two together. Go on sliping the first stitch, working the middle part and then either knitting or purling together until you have the middle part and one stitch on each side.


Gusset

Pick 14 or 15 stitches (half the stitches you started the heel with) up on both sides of the heel, knit once around (72 or 76 stitches), knitting the picked up stitches through the backloop

Start decreasing in the next row, in every second row ssk the last two stitches before the instep and knit together the first two after the instep until you are back to the regular stitch count from the cast on.
Go on knitting until you have the desired lenght minus ca. 2 inches.


Toes
Knit 5 rows, n the sixt row knit two together after every five stitches. Then knit four rows and do the decreases after every four stitches and so on until you have knit one row and then knit one, knit two together, knit one...
Oddly enough it does not work out with the stitch count, so you don't end the row with the k2tg bit...

PipneyJane

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire wrote: »

I love the way your chats create such wonder imagery. I almost felt I was about to join in with a wine evening with everyone earlier on.


Got a question for you all. I need some flat knee high boots to replace some heeled boots I already have. I have found two pairs I like, one brown pair and one black pair. I cannot buy two pairs (lack of funds and excessive anyway) so which pair would you say would be more versatile. My current ones are black but I don't think they really go with my brown leggings but I do wear black quite a lot and wonder whether the brown ones would go with my black trousers and leggings. I would be interested to know your thoughts. Do you wear black and brown together?


I did another declutter of my wardrobe and got rid of a few more things. This is mostly because I have decided to not have a separate "work" wardrobe and I had a lot of clothes in that section that I didn't like so I have decided to do away with them. One large carrier bag ready to go to the charity shop.

I’d go with black. I will wear black boots with contrasting leggings but never the other way around. However, my black “riding” boots have a tan contrast top, so I get the best of both worlds and can wear them with my sole brown skirt. (That skirt belongs with my 2004 vintage brown-based tweed suit.). Those boots date from 2005.

The convention is that black can be worn with virtually any colour of clothing, except (possibly) whites/lights. Nearly all of my more formal shoes are black, so you’ll frequently see me with black loafers under a blue suit or under the afore mentioned brown tweed suit. I do have pairs of court shoes in taupe (20+ years old), dark red (ditto), grey (12 years old) and a coppery brown (bought in 2004 to wear with the brown tweed suit), but I rarely wear court shoes. (I got out of the habit of wearing skirts to work, when I scored 4 trouser suits in charity shops in 2012.)

- Pip

PS: I’m working in Winchester on Monday, so hope to hit the charity shops near the office at lunchtime. Fingers crossed I find another suit.

ETA: Thanks for sharing the “Swiss Sock pattern”, RicardaRacoon.

Elisheba

Hmm. I've had an email to say a cardigan I'd forgotten about that'd I'd ordered before my LBM is now in stock and will be delivered to me. Its grey and I think it was on sale, so if its any good I'll keep it and that will be my first 5 coupons.

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

Thanks PipneyJane. I did indeed end up going for the black. I tried them both on again and the sales assistant was very helpful and said that the black ones had a Gortex lining so they are guaranteed to be waterproof for 3 years, if not I can take them back for a repair. The brown ones were just normal leather so wouldn't be completely waterproof. What with that and the fact the brown ones were quite marked compared to the black ones I decided the black would be a better investment. That's 5 coupons off my tally but hopefully they have been well spent.

Laura_Elsewhere

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire wrote: »

the black ones had a Gortex lining so they are guaranteed to be waterproof for 3 years, if not I can take them back for a repair. The brown ones were just normal leather so wouldn't be completely waterproof.

My leather boots are completely waterproof unless they have zips that of course let water in! Somewhere I have a photo I took of me standing in mid-calf water in a pair of leather pull-on boots about 6 or 7 years back - I'm pleased you got the boots you like, but I wouldn't ever say that leather isn't waterproof! My leather boots are waterproof like wellies...

dolly84

I think I will join in this year. For the last few years I have been buying all my clothes secondhand apart from the odd exception here and there and the obvious things which need to be bought new. It has all got out of hand though and my drawers, wardrobe and loft is packed out with clothing, shoes, boots etc, it is taking up a huge amount of space, I have taken over part of DD's wardrobe too.


So my plan for this year is to redonate anything I wear that doesn't fit or isn't comfortable or has some annoying aspect to it and to only buy what I need. I will then apply the coupon value to anything that I do buy regardless of whether it is new or secondhand, when I buy new I only shop with ethical and enviromentally sound retailers and I can only think of two things I would really like to buy this year, one is a corduroy dress and the other is some dungarees, low in coupons but about £50 each.


I haven't bought anything yet so all coupons are intact.

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

My leather boots are completely waterproof unless they have zips that of course let water in! Somewhere I have a photo I took of me standing in mid-calf water in a pair of leather pull-on boots about 6 or 7 years back - I'm pleased you got the boots you like, but I wouldn't ever say that leather isn't waterproof! My leather boots are waterproof like wellies...


I have found that some leather items aren't as waterproof as I expect. It may be that when I have experienced wet feet or wet stuff in my bag it is because they need re-proofing. However, I am very happy with my purchase now.


I'm still making progress on my pinafore dress that I am making. I am really pleased with how it is coming together. When I have finished it I will calculate how many coupons I have used and take it off my tally. It will be good to have another "fun" item of clothing to wear.

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

I finished my pinafore dress last night and I love it. I calculated that it took another 4.5 coupons off my tally for the material used for my dress. I have added that to my signature to make it easier to keep a note of my spends.


I have another question for you all and then I promise I will leave you alone. When I did a declutter of my craft cupboards I realised I had a lot of satin type material. I would love to use these pieces to make something but satin says to me "going out" clobber. I don't go out a lot so it would be silly making lots of that type of clothing. Does anyone have any ideas of practical garments I can make using satin?


Many thanks.