2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

TwibbleDee

Cherryfudge said:

I suppose people who have the wisdom to buy their sewing machines from small shops probably get a free lesson and a helpful chat with the shopkeeper. They might even have a shop that checks everything is in the right way round! Mine was a gift and came via a big retailer so I didn't get those things.

Honestly...ask your local shop (especially if you're in there regularly).  They may be willing to give you a lesson for free, or with a purchase of a certain amount, or maybe just for a low price.  They can generally do a tune up and make sure your tensions and everything are good, clean it, and oil it properly.

PollyWollyDoodle

Completely agree with the ‘go along with it, not against it’ approach on dementia. It’s so hard to accept that someone is no longer the same person that they were, but trying to correct them just ends up in a frustrating situation for everyone. Thriftwizard are you able to tell me where you got the clothes online?  I have Power of Attorney for an elderly friend, and it’s a similar problem, she is not able to leave the house and her carers have said that she really needs some more clothes. Floral print dresses are just what she would like, but I am struggling to find something like that. 

TwibbleDee

My grandmother was fixated on getting a new car after her kids "stole" hers (after they had to call OnStar to find her...2 hours away, going the wrong direction!).  The other kids all said to just distract her with something else when she started talking about cars, but when she pointed out a nice one while we were out, Mom and I would just say, "Oh, yes, that one looks perfect, I wonder if it has heated seats like ours does," and just let her talk about it.

Laura_Elsewhere

@PollyWollyDoodle, I googled "floral print dresses elderly uk" and got a number of useful sites. I can't recommend any from personal use, but it might give you a starting point?
For instance https://www.rivalclothing.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d17_Dresses_for_older_Women.html
or https://www.chums.co.uk/ladieswear/dresses

Simple, wide, front-fastening style and a belt would be useful, from what I recall of helping to dress older women when I was a care asst. 

DrCarrie

I bought a sassy little dress / top in the charity shop last week, and have got fabric on the sitting table to make a summer shift dress. Had the fabric in my stash. So no rations required. Also, my Dad bought me some lovely new converse for my birthday. 

PollyWollyDoodle

@Laura_Elsewhere thank you so much - that’s EXACTLY the sort of thing I am looking for but my searches failed to come up with anything like that. I’ll order one as a trial, my friend is 99 and she doesn’t take easily to change. If the carers tell her it’s new she is likely to take against it, but if they just slip it  on in the morning she probably won’t even notice. You are a star, thank you so much for finding those

MrsCD

My mam used to like Damart clothes. They do nice tops, skirts and dresses for older ladies.

diminua

Another spend to declare. Two pairs of trousers, which is the last of last years coupons spent and leaves me with 66. 
I need a long a-line skirt as well, I think, and some day to day shoes rather than boots or high heels for weddings. 

CAFCGirl

Coupon free spends of a summer dress, a boxy striped plant print shirt and a small cross body bag which I got for dog walking so everything isn't shoved in my pockets. 

PipneyJane

Hi Everyone.

I need some inspiration, please, to do a "transformation challenge".  DH has a blue, cotton work shirt that has "gone" at the elbows.  The collar is pretty ropy, too.  It's at least 22 years old; I'm pretty sure he owned it when I met him.   It's currently waiting for me to strip off the buttons and put it in the fabric recycling.  However, there's at least a metre of good fabric in the fronts and back.  I'm wondering a) if there is anything I can make with it and b) how to test for wear, when it's not immediately visible (i.e. no thin patches). 

Any suggestions / ideas would be appreciated.

- Pip