2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nonnadiluca

Thanks for that tip Laura, our bedding is white cotton and DH's pillowcase in particular has gone a bit yellow. I will get some when I go to Waitrose; if anyone is interested, they have the ecover bio 42 wash, on offer at £6 ATM.

skogar

Hi Laura,

Many thanks for the suggestion - that is definitely worth a try and less likely to cause damage than bleach. I've chucked the sheet through the washer twice already on a high temperature wash and it looks a lot better - but I have other sheets I also need to do something with.

We always use non bio here but that is because OH reacts to the biological stuff, however definitely worth a try and I'm sure if subsequently rinsed enough or rewashed afterwards it should be fine.

skogar

Nonnadiluca - many thanks for the tip on the liquid being on offer.

Liverpool_Anne

They have it on offer in mrA as well for the same price if you don't have a W nearby

Laura_Elsewhere

Ah, very useful, just as we're running low! That spiv Mr A is often hanging round near here, and Mr Wait and Mr Rose are not too far by car... 

I've spent some coupons! [EDIT: and on going to change my sig, I find I already had done!]

I bought eight 50g skeins of Rowan Tweed Valley - 5 pale grey, 1 dull mustard, 2 dark grey with infuriating white flecks... not at all what I wanted, but a week of white vinegar and Pro-Gel food colouring, and big pyrex lidded dishes in he microwave, and ta da, my new cardigan is nearly there, just the designing and knitting to do  

The dark grey along the top now has its irritating flecks dyed darker; and the mustard and pale grey are a riot of autumn-leaf colours... it's 4-ply, so I plan to knit with it held double on about 5mm needles. 



Here are a few inches I kept of the original... not offensively-bland but I knew what I wanted and it wasn't these!  

skogar

Lovely colours Laura - that cardigan will look great.

We had good weather when we were there in the Lakes (the odd bit of rain but mostly dry). The autumn colours were lovely. Sorry - realised I'd forgotten to mention it.

skogar

Liverpool Anne - Many thanks - could be useful as Mr A is  closer.

skogar

Hi Pip and Laura,

Is there a type of cast off you recommend for ribbing on wrist warmers so it is stretchy enough please? I know some different ways of casting on some of which are more stretchy than others but only 1 way to cast off. Have now realised the big advantage of knitting hats is you don't need to think about this.

skogar

It's 2x2 rib in case that makes a difference.

Laura_Elsewhere

skogar said:

Hi Pip and Laura,

Is there a type of cast off you recommend for ribbing on wrist warmers so it is stretchy enough please? I know some different ways of casting on some of which are more stretchy than others but only 1 way to cast off. Have now realised the big advantage of knitting hats is you don't need to think about this.

There are oodles of cast-off methods   

tbh, I only use two - that old one everyone's Grannie taught them: knit two stitches, pull the first over the second to leave only the second; knit another stitch, repeat...that isn't very stretchy, as you've spotted

The one I use on everything stretchy works really well ime. Here isa good explanation https://verypink.com/2015/03/04/simple-stretchy-bind-off/

Very simply, you work two stitches, and then you work-together the two on the right-hand needle to leave just one new stitch. Then you work one more stitch from the left-hand needle, giving you two again on the RH needle, and whatever type of stitch that was is how you work the two together. 
So on the LH needle, the next stitch is a knit stitch, then you knit it onto the RH needle, and then k2tog on the RH needle, giving you just the one new stitch on the RH needle.
If the next stitch on the LH needle is a purl, then you purl it onto the RH needle and then you p2tog on the RH needle giving you just the one new stitch on he RH needle. 

It's just really nice and simple to remember...