2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

thriftwizard

Laura_Elsewhere said:

I got a French knicker pattern 3/4-drafted today...

Oooh la la! Sounds kind of odd, but I'd like to see that; I have no idea whatsoever about pattern-drafting, but would love to learn. I did manage to reduce a pattern to make some boxer shorts for OH; the pattern in the size that he actually measures came out enormous, so I just - made it smaller. But it didn't involve a lot of curves or other complications. And I have made a corset to my own measurements, in a workshop, but whilst it taught me how to do boning etc. it didn't actually give me a clue how to draft the pattern up for myself - the tutor did all that. I have a feeling it's not rocket science, but trying to find out more is a bit like trying to apply for a job in MI6 - mysterious! Of course there's the very-prestigious fashion department of the Arts University just down the road, but I don't want a degree, or a (somewhat belated) career in high fashion, just to be able to design & make up my own clothes!

Laura_Elsewhere

@thriftwizard, in that case, what you want is the Utterly Brilliant book, *The Odhams Encyclopaedia of Needlecraft* which is early 1950s, but covers all the basics to explain, clearly and in simple terms, with sensible line-drawings, how to draft your own pattern-blocks for upper and lower body, and then to use those blocks to draft almost any pattern. 

Do I follow it? Er, well, um...  

In fact I've been frustrated this last year with my dressmaking not quite working how I intended, so thanks for the nudge and I shall get my copy out tomorrow and go over the French knicker pattern in here and check my draft today against that. 

It's a superb book and only about a tenner online. There are masses of vintage sewing books, but frankly some of them are rubbish. The Odhams one is good. 

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@thriftwizard, in that case, what you want is the Utterly Brilliant book, *The Odhams Encyclopaedia of Needlecraft* which is early 1950s, but covers all the basics to explain, clearly and in simple terms, with sensible line-drawings, how to draft your own pattern-blocks for upper and lower body, and then to use those blocks to draft almost any pattern. 

Do I follow it? Er, well, um...  

In fact I've been frustrated this last year with my dressmaking not quite working how I intended, so thanks for the nudge and I shall get my copy out tomorrow and go over the French knicker pattern in here and check my draft today against that. 

It's a superb book and only about a tenner online. There are masses of vintage sewing books, but frankly some of them are rubbish. The Odhams one is good. 

I think I hear a stampede towards the vintage sewing book section...

Would love to be able to draft a pattern myself. I've kept a few favourite clothes in the hope I can one day copy them.

Cherryfudge

CAFCGirl said:

No coupon spending for me to report, but I did have a thought that I thank the heavens I am not couponed for houseplants!
Otherwise I'd have spent mine, my husbands, my neighbours' and probably everyone on the threads.

I went back to check out the winterish coat I spotted a while back, in case it was still there, but alas gone.
I am learning I need to stop dithering. That's two items I've missed out on since moving here. 

It wasn't me, honest! (CAFCGirl and I are in the same town).

I was charity shop shopping today but didn't buy anything. Is it just the shops I looked in or are there suddenly far fewer clothes in our charity shops? The market was far too crowded for my liking too: I preferred it when the street was closed so us pedestrians could space ourselves out.

Liverpool_Anne

@Cherryfudge, I have a skirt somewhere in the loft that I wore to death waiting for me to work out how to replicate it
I have resisted the urge, for the moment, to join a crochet club. They are about to start a beautiful Christmas blanket and even though I am a firm believer that you can never have too many blankets, the coupon spend for something which will only be used for about 4 weeks in the year stopped me in my tracks I can't promise to resist once the Christmas stuff is done though

TwibbleDee

Huge work project for the year is now DONE!  And now I can actually sit down this afternoon after church with a nice cuppa and start plotting out the rest of the year. Here’s hoping I’ll not be needing to work late this next week at all.  I might even try to sneak out for a day, but I’m probably going to hold on to that until we start having the cooler autumn days. 

florianatwobob

I reclaimed a pair of boots from the shoe repairers yesterday.  I’m now £40 poorer due to the soles needed but far better and cheaper than buying new ones.  The shoe repairer I use is also an independent trader and willing to tackle more technical jobs than the high street chains. 

Ive also been through the drawers and wardrobe and I think I have enough clothes to last me for quite some time! 

Baileys_Babe

florianatwobob said:

 The shoe repairer I use is also an independent trader and willing to tackle more technical jobs than the high street chains. 

Our local independent cobbler is the same

Wraithlady

I do actually have a spare copy of 'Pattern Cutting made easy' by Gillian Holman if anybody wants it

CAFCGirl

Cherryfudge said:

CAFCGirl said:

No coupon spending for me to report, but I did have a thought that I thank the heavens I am not couponed for houseplants!
Otherwise I'd have spent mine, my husbands, my neighbours' and probably everyone on the threads.

I went back to check out the winterish coat I spotted a while back, in case it was still there, but alas gone.
I am learning I need to stop dithering. That's two items I've missed out on since moving here. 

It wasn't me, honest! (CAFCGirl and I are in the same town).

I was charity shop shopping today but didn't buy anything. Is it just the shops I looked in or are there suddenly far fewer clothes in our charity shops? The market was far too crowded for my liking too: I preferred it when the street was closed so us pedestrians could space ourselves out.

The road opening back up has really changed the vibe of market I find. I was enjoying my jollies to market twice a week, mainly for the greater pavement space and being able to walk up the road to avoid the congested areas or stalls/shops I don't need.
Will stick to Wednesdays with fewer people I think....

Where's your favourite jaunts for clothing? I actually find quite a few of the shops hard for browsing, well the ones I like anyway LOL SR is nice space wise, but I find it quite expensive for clothes, and YCT is small and I feel a bit hemmed in if more than one person is in the front shop, I still thoroughly enjoy the cave at the back though. BHF tightly packed in, and a bit costly. Blue Cross a bit pricey but when they reduce, its quite significant. Age Concern is probably another good one for browsing space wise.
On the whole I'm finding most things either a bit costly, or a bit advanced in years for my style....