2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nonnadiluca

I have a coupon spend to report- the first new items of clothing I have bought since December 2019.
A hoodie, which I think is 11 coupons and a long sleeved t shirt at 5 coupons.
As I'm out dog walking every day I need outerwear for all weather conditions and the only thing I was lacking was a hoodie for ' not too cold but need something for the first bit of the walk that I can slip off and tie round my waist if it gets too warm' type weather. I have a half zip, slip over the head one, but my joints are getting less keen on pulling things over my head, hence the need for one with a full zip. Unfortunately, these are as rare as hens' teeth in charity shops so I had to bite the bullet and buy new, shock horror!!!!
I agree with Anna Lappe that every time you spend money you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want, so after much research, I bought the two items from Rapanui. The prices are extremely reasonable for organic cotton and both are absolutely lovely, I'm so happy! ( I usually wear a 12, but using their sizing guide I ordered a 14 and the fit is perfect, I just won't look at the label!)
40 coupons left.

Laura_Elsewhere

Cherryfudge said:

Aren't they just! What do you have planned?

Well the two dark red at the bottom are being knitted as one (Frangipani is pure wool 5-ply worsted-spun; Fyberspates Scrumptious is 45% silk 4-ply) to be a heavily textured Bronze Age Capelet, designed by Sally Pointer the archaeologist, to give to another archaeologist friend of mine who is in need of cosy comforting even in summer, design suggested by her archaeologist husband - all very archaeological!  
This is the pattern - I've done one of the side triangles thus far and it's looking very lush! https://payhip.com/b/624e

The tiny cocoons are for making crochet-lace edgings for my Trousseau undies.
The top three are for making a new Spring Cake hat as the last one wasn't quite right and I wanted to establish what the colours actually are for future reference (I used long-stashed, label-lost yarns). 
The five at the left are for a Spring Flowers slipover for my Trousseau, so now all (!) I have to do is work out designs for knitting stylised, 1930sesque versions of forget-me-nots (blue with gold centres), primroses (pale yellow with gold centres), cowslips (gold with tiny bits of scarlet which I already have), and snakeshead fritillary (purpley-red and off-whie chequered), with leaves in this pale green and a darker green I already have; background, edgings and waist ribbing in cream which I already have. 

The odd Zauberball has pink, blue, green and yellow in it, and I'm using it with some green-and-cream and purple-and-cream, to make summertime-socks... it wasn't a planned purchase so I'm making these up as I go along  
Here the first sock is with is cuff turned down - there's 15 rounds of k2p2 rib beneath the cuff to hug your ankle and I've just started the heel

Nonnadiluca

Sorry, 39 not 40

Cherryfudge

@Nonnadiluca, as a fellow hoodie-wearer, I can see that's a great way to invest your coupons. One of my hoodies has been with me to work as well as tramping across Yorkshire and visiting the outback. Much more versatile than a light jacket, to my mind.

@Laura_Elsewhere, I like the snazzy socks! I'll look forward to seeing how you work out your flower garden.

I'm really in awe of the Bronze Age capelet: partly because it's beyond my skills by an unknown amount (i.e. far beyond...) but also, what a practical and snuggly piece it is! I'd be tempted to a few in different autumnal colours, and a dark blue one too.

wit40iwtwan

Is it too late to join?  I was reading up about the fashion on a ration challenge and I was going to sort out my own holding to account and then happened upon this forum post... If I start today would it be fair to challenge myself to 7 months of coupons - i.e. 38.5 left for the year - or is that really harsh?
One more thing that I have not really researched enough - what about my fabric and wool stash, do I count coupons if it is in my stash or is that free?

MrsCD

@Laura_Elsewhere, your yarn haul is impressive! It's good that you know what you're going to make with it, and the capelet looks amazing. Very pretty, summery socks too. Hope you find the right patterns for your flowers.
Hello @wit40iwtwan, I'm sure @PipneyJane will be along soon to explain everything. Nice to see you. Grab a cuppa from the big teapot and a biscuit from the tin  in the village hall and settle down for the ride!!

CAFCGirl

wit40iwtwan said:

Is it too late to join?  I was reading up about the fashion on a ration challenge and I was going to sort out my own holding to account and then happened upon this forum post... If I start today would it be fair to challenge myself to 7 months of coupons - i.e. 38.5 left for the year - or is that really harsh?
One more thing that I have not really researched enough - what about my fabric and wool stash, do I count coupons if it is in my stash or is that free?

You are most welcome to join.
A year to date equitable allowance sounds perfect. Who wants to wait for the new year to join this lovely lot!
I believe if its in the stash already prior to joining, its therefore free (theory being you'd spent previous coupons/black market dealings on it). We're all about the here and the now though 

PipneyJane

wit40iwtwan said:

Is it too late to join?  I was reading up about the fashion on a ration challenge and I was going to sort out my own holding to account and then happened upon this forum post... If I start today would it be fair to challenge myself to 7 months of coupons - i.e. 38.5 left for the year - or is that really harsh?
One more thing that I have not really researched enough - what about my fabric and wool stash, do I count coupons if it is in my stash or is that free?

Hello @wit40iwtwan.  Welcome to Little Mending!    We're all out on the veranda at the back enjoying the warm air, the breeze and the shelter from the sun.  As @MrsCD said, please come in and take a seat.  Cold drink? (The village hall doubles as the cricket club's clubhouse and the veranda was added by a returning colonial settler, who was cricket mad.)  Please tell us all about yourself.  I gather you knit and sew - what do you like to make?  What are you working on at the moment?
 
People who join during the year normally prorate their coupons, so 38.5 is the correct amount.   If it's already in your stash or wardrobe, then it was purchased before rationing began.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

Welcome @wit40iwtwan - what an unusual name... thus far, I've reckoned "when I turn 40 I want to..." which is a lovely name in itself, never mind the details!  
Most of us are in Much Mending on the Borrow, but Pip and a few others are in Little Mending, and of course our American poster, Twibbledee, is on the American air base up the road. 
Do be wary of swimming in the Borrow though - it's a bit of a deceptive river, and has some fast sections...  mind you, if we have more hot weather, I may have to try making myself a sunsuit that I can splash in the shallows in!

wit40iwtwan

Thank you all... I am likely to be a bit controversial... I am going to sorta buck the trend and start my year June to end May 22 as I have just made a nice page in my bullet journal to track coupon spend (haha ha ha).... I am fairly certain I will not need much but possibly spend on underwear more than anything else... So - a bit about myself, I am an avid knitter, crocheter and I sew a fair amount of clothing for myself and quilting... I am also very bad at not finishing things so hoping that this will make me think twice before adding to my stash of fabric or wool... 
The name was unique nearly 12 years ago when I turned 40 and fancied writing a novel... but I am still writing and the novel is nowhere near finished... and it has changed subject a few times along the way. 
Random question - I am invited monthly to a pattern and fabric swap shop - if I swap my stash I am guessing that does not count - right?