2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

Rght, I've organised myself this week (stop laughing at the back there!) 

I'm doing three things this week:

- cooking to re-stock the freezer ready-meal drawer which is now empty
- sorting out the garden which has been neglected for a couple of weeks of colder wet weather and as a result is a weed-infested, bolted, mess - I want to get things going again, and prepare for late summer/autumn sowing for winter salads!
- sewing: I really want to get on with things. I keep sticking, and I know perfectly well that you are all right and I will be fine once I get going, so I've written out the idiot-proof (oi! I heard that too!) sequence required to finish my shell-pink satin dressing-gown. Onwards!  

borscht

Sorry about the multiple questions. 

Are sewing patterns coupon free?

PollyWollyDoodle

No need to apologise, we like questions on here! 

I’m not sure that question has been asked before, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t be. The rations were imposed to reduce clothing manufacture/fabric production so resources could be diverted to the war effort (I haven’t put that very well, but you know what I mean). Although paper was rationed, the sort of thing that patterns are printed on was probably still available. So my guess would be that patterns would be free

PipneyJane

borscht said:

Sorry about the multiple questions. 

Are sewing patterns coupon free?

Yes, of course.  They're just paper, which might have been hard to obtain during the War but was never rationed.

HTH

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

Sorry Pip, you are correct. It wasn’t rationed, what I meant to say was that only very poor quality paper was available. I like second-hand books, and if you ever buy any books that were published in wartime or just afterwards, the paper is very flimsy. 

[Deleted User]

I think everything I have in my wardrobe belonged to someone else before it belonged to me with the exception of undies and some nightwear I got in a sale years ago, I've even started buying shoes from e.bay admittedly new pairs and mainly from charity shops but they've not come from a shoe shop they're a recycle from someone's own wardrobe.  I picked up a couple of lovely wool coats from the CS last year a 3/4 one in grey for everyday and a red full length one trimmed in black for best both reduced to half price at £5 each in the CS sale.  I've a nice collection of winter jumpers too all from CS's.  I don't care for 'current fashion' I never have so what I buy is for comfort and wearability to keep me warm in winter, cool in summer and comfortable at all time.

PipneyJane

PollyWollyDoodle said:

Sorry Pip, you are correct. It wasn’t rationed, what I meant to say was that only very poor quality paper was available. I like second-hand books, and if you ever buy any books that were published in wartime or just afterwards, the paper is very flimsy. 

That's OK, Polly.  

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Rght, I've organised myself this week (stop laughing at the back there!) 

I'm doing three things this week:

- cooking to re-stock the freezer ready-meal drawer which is now empty
- sorting out the garden which has been neglected for a couple of weeks of colder wet weather and as a result is a weed-infested, bolted, mess - I want to get things going again, and prepare for late summer/autumn sowing for winter salads!
- sewing: I really want to get on with things. I keep sticking, and I know perfectly well that you are all right and I will be fine once I get going, so I've written out the idiot-proof (oi! I heard that too!) sequence required to finish my shell-pink satin dressing-gown. Onwards!  

I'm not sniggering, Laura, honest. 

My own impossible goals for the week are:-

- Exercise every morning.  (It's only a 7 minute workout.)
- Go shopping before work, to get in enough food supplies.  Our large MrT's opens at 6am.  I could be there and back before 8am and I desperately need a few things, since I want to take muffins with me for the project team "picnic" on Thursday (eggs and muscovardo sugar).   We're meeting in a park.  (I'd rather go to L!dl but they don't open until 8am.)
- Weed the impossible garden.

.... And, probably, about 300 other impossible things...

- Pip

[Deleted User]

I've just caught up on the Prep for Winter thread and can tell you that Laura meant it when she said she was sorting the garden. Oh the poor tree!

I try to get the best I can afford these days even down to a good quality whistling kettle! I don't cope well with waste which is why the KnitPro Zing needle situation has really unsettled me. My finger is still raised,sore and inflamed but no longer itchy. It's the itch that makes it unbearable. 

I already have this so I don't need to add it into the coupons but I had a cotton bag that I was drawing on with fabric pens. I made a mistake so put the bag away. I'm about to pull it out,cut the design off, stitch a very squat bag and then iron beeswax through the fabric for waterproofing credentials ready to store my 


Sheewee. Shhhhhh.

PipneyJane

Noaidi said:

I've just caught up on the Prep for Winter thread and can tell you that Laura meant it when she said she was sorting the garden. Oh the poor tree!

I try to get the best I can afford these days even down to a good quality whistling kettle! I don't cope well with waste which is why the KnitPro Zing needle situation has really unsettled me. My finger is still raised,sore and inflamed but no longer itchy. It's the itch that makes it unbearable. 

I already have this so I don't need to add it into the coupons but I had a cotton bag that I was drawing on with fabric pens. I made a mistake so put the bag away. I'm about to pull it out,cut the design off, stitch a very squat bag and then iron beeswax through the fabric for waterproofness ready to house my 


Sheewee. Shhhhhh.

If there is one principle of Old-Style it's don't waste:  don't waste your hard earned money on tatt;  don't waste your time trying to keep up with the Jones; buy quality, enjoy what you have and appreciate the moment...

Would applying clear nail varnish to the KnitPro needle help as a temporary measure?  (I'll concede that it will probably throw off the needle size.)

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

Slightly off topic, I’ve been very interested in the discussion above about KnitPro needles.  I enjoy knitting, I’ve got a good selection of ordinary needles both straight and circular and I’ve also got a set of wooden DPNs which I much prefer to metal. I am struggling to think of something to ask for, for my big birthday in November.  I know,  First World problem and all that but my friends want to get me a present and I can’t think of much that I really want that isn’t too expensive (new MacBook!). We usually club together for a big birthday so I’ve got an idea of how much they will spend. It’s occurred to me that a set of Knit Pro circular needles is something I would never buy for myself, but I could ask for it as a present. Do you think it would be a good investment? Although I prefer DPNs for socks I often use circular needles for other things just because it takes the weight better.