2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

 Alternatively you could take one long, wide strip, sew it up the first leg, over the crotch and down the other leg, to be a "design feature".  You may need to re-dye the jeans to get consistent colour throughout, because the last thing you want is a darker patch, which would make it look as if you'd wet yourself.

- Pip 

I used to avoid that 'oops!' look by using brightly-coloured contrast thread to handsew the patches onto my jeans - I actually used two long rectangles, as the crotch isn't a right-angle from the leg-seam so one long rectangle ends up bunching up (!). 
I used to just shove an old hardback book or handy offcut of wood up the trouser-leg and smooth the leg flat so the worn area was all spread out, and then used pins to get the patch in place- always make it bigger than you think! The patches were any spare strong fabric I had - the calf of another pair of jeans were often cannibalised! I just cut or tore it to shape and folded the edges under once. Then I just sewed along the two long edges and across the bottom short edge; repeat for other leg and sort of just fold and tuck to make the bit in the middle look ok and sew that. I didn't use any particularly fancy stitch, just over-sewed, and then back again in the other direction so it looked like a row of little Xs, and as I learnt the areas where it tended to pull a lot I did a bit of backstitching (second stitch in same holes as first, and sometimes a third one) for extra strength. 
A bit of trial and error - patch one pair, @Gem-gem, and you'll find where the pull-points are on your legs on your jeans-style, and then the next time you'll know whether to make the patches wider. Sometimes I used bright red thread on black jeans or bright royal blue on faded blue jeans. It worked fairly well and surprisingly often just didn't even show... 

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

 Alternatively you could take one long, wide strip, sew it up the first leg, over the crotch and down the other leg, to be a "design feature".  You may need to re-dye the jeans to get consistent colour throughout, because the last thing you want is a darker patch, which would make it look as if you'd wet yourself.

- Pip 

I used to avoid that 'oops!' look by using brightly-coloured contrast thread to handsew the patches onto my jeans - I actually used two long rectangles, as the crotch isn't a right-angle from the leg-seam so one long rectangle ends up bunching up (!). 
I used to just shove an old hardback book or handy offcut of wood up the trouser-leg and smooth the leg flat so the worn area was all spread out, and then used pins to get the patch in place- always make it bigger than you think! The patches were any spare strong fabric I had - the calf of another pair of jeans were often cannibalised! I just cut or tore it to shape and folded the edges under once. Then I just sewed along the two long edges and across the bottom short edge; repeat for other leg and sort of just fold and tuck to make the bit in the middle look ok and sew that. I didn't use any particularly fancy stitch, just over-sewed, and then back again in the other direction so it looked like a row of little Xs, and as I learnt the areas where it tended to pull a lot I did a bit of backstitching (second stitch in same holes as first, and sometimes a third one) for extra strength. 
A bit of trial and error - patch one pair, @Gem-gem, and you'll find where the pull-points are on your legs on your jeans-style, and then the next time you'll know whether to make the patches wider. Sometimes I used bright red thread on black jeans or bright royal blue on faded blue jeans. It worked fairly well and surprisingly often just didn't even show... 

Do you have any photos you could share of your patches, please, Laura?  Ditto @CapricornLass.  Not modelled garments, just a photo that shows the finished handiwork would be lovely.  I'm having trouble visualising the repairs.  (Time for bed, me-thinks.  My brain just can't process the words into a picture....)

- Pip

thriftwizard

@PipneyJane, yes, the loom (an Appalachian Twining Loom) is warped with strips of old sheet, then "twined" with two wefts - the best way I can "explain" it is to send you to a YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ADwc-5jRC0 - hope that helps!

Baileys_Babe

I like both your examples of upcycling old jeans @thriftwizard is that a Bongo i spy hiding behind the pocket tidy?

prepareathome

Two pairs of socks ordered - as they are uni-sex mid-calf mainly wool I guess 3 coupons each (bought DH some as well but they can come out of his coupons).  Also ordered a couple of hats - both mainly wool and both fleece lined - one a sloppy beanie type and one a 1920 cloche style - no idea what coupons to use for these as cannot see hats mentioned, not sure if just missing the entry.    Still on hunt for wool socks for daily wear (those I bought are for wearing under wellies and walking boots - military socks for keeping feet comfortable during long marches in cold/wet weather and still need wool gloves will update on coupon use when found and ordered them. 

diminua

Another spend to declare. One pair of boots. I've had my eye on a pair of Woodman boots from C&co for a while (someone here mentioned them, I'm sure) and I got a 15% off voucher that needed to be used by the end of the year bundled in with one of my magazines - probably the first time I've used one of those vouchers, usually it's cruises and jewellery - so it had to be done. 

I won't get them for two weeks - presumably they don't expect many people to want size 36 woodman boots in olive green - but I'll take the coupons off now.  I've gone for the green as there's nothing really wrong with my brown boots, but those polish up nicely for going into the office and the green will be for everyday tramping about.

On the subject of work, my employer had a big event just over a week ago to welcome us back, opened up all the desks again and the meeting rooms, put the chairs back in the kitchen and canteen, took down all the one way signage, but have gone very, very quiet on the subject since. I think they've gone back to 'wait and watch the figures for a bit'. 

PipneyJane

diminua said:

Another spend to declare. One pair of boots. I've had my eye on a pair of Woodman boots from C&co for a while (someone here mentioned them, I'm sure) and I got a 15% off voucher that needed to be used by the end of the year bundled in with one of my magazines - probably the first time I've used one of those vouchers, usually it's cruises and jewellery - so it had to be done. 

I won't get them for two weeks - presumably they don't expect many people to want size 36 woodman boots in olive green - but I'll take the coupons off now.  I've gone for the green as there's nothing really wrong with my brown boots, but those polish up nicely for going into the office and the green will be for everyday tramping about.

On the subject of work, my employer had a big event just over a week ago to welcome us back, opened up all the desks again and the meeting rooms, put the chairs back in the kitchen and canteen, took down all the one way signage, but have gone very, very quiet on the subject since. I think they've gone back to 'wait and watch the figures for a bit'. 

Hi @diminua.  It was probably me, who mentioned the boots.  I'm a big fan of their products.  It wouldn't surprise me if they're making them to order.

prepareathome said:

Two pairs of socks ordered - as they are uni-sex mid-calf mainly wool I guess 3 coupons each (bought DH some as well but they can come out of his coupons).  Also ordered a couple of hats - both mainly wool and both fleece lined - one a sloppy beanie type and one a 1920 cloche style - no idea what coupons to use for these as cannot see hats mentioned, not sure if just missing the entry.    Still on hunt for wool socks for daily wear (those I bought are for wearing under wellies and walking boots - military socks for keeping feet comfortable during long marches in cold/wet weather and still need wool gloves will update on coupon use when found and ordered them. 

Hmmm....Hats.... @prepareathome, they aren't on the original listing because not many were made during the war and the assumption was that they were a luxury item, so would be excluded from most people's shopping because of their cost.   I'm pretty sure that I've bought hats in the past and counted them in the Challenge, but I went all the way back to the 2018 Fashion on the Ration Challenge and couldn't find a mention. I know that I bought them from a charity shop in Harrow, on my way to watch the NFL in Wembley Stadium, which means that they were purchased in October.   (I wish they hadn't mucked around with the search function on the Forum. It used to be good.)

I'm almost certain that I costed hats as 2 coupons each, since they were brand new and sold as stock from the shop, not as donated goods.  Let's call hats  2 coupons and leave it at that.

- Pip

joedenise

Wouldn't hats be something you'd  knit yourself rather than buy?  I think everyone knew how to knit in 1942, unlike now!  I can knit but don't as I find it boring.

prepareathome

It's a sore subject re - knitting as have had to give up after 55 years - am 65 and had to stop 5 years ago.  So, this is the first time I have ever had to buy myself knitted hats, gloves and socks as last ones made at least 5 years ago are going sadly.

Ordered now another 4 pairs of socks - 3 ankle   - merino and cashmere mix (1 coupon each) and one mid -calf (3 coupons) - pure cashmere as a treat to myself, others are mainly merino wool with some cotton.  Also bought 2 pairs of gloves - one felt wool and one knitted wool, so two more coupons for that.   Taken off the 4 coupons for the hats.  That is my winter items in now as with my me-made ones they should last me this winter and hopefully a few more.   Bought DH a few more pairs but again that comes out of his coupons.

I will make some more hats and gloves via sewing machine but have the fabrics for those and most other things already in.  

Do need still to buy some new slippers so will go and have a look for them now and update when bought x

PipneyJane

prepareathome said:

It's a sore subject re - knitting as have had to give up after 55 years - am 65 and had to stop 5 years ago.  So, this is the first time I have ever had to buy myself knitted hats, gloves and socks as last ones made at least 5 years ago are going sadly.

Sorry to hear it, @prepareathome. If you don't mind me asking, was it due to arthritis? If so, you may find one of the other styles of knitting do-able.  Have a look at YouTube for videos of the Portuguese style - that uses a pin or alternatively putting the yarn behind your neck to tension the yarn, so you only have to hold the needles, not move your fingers.

- Pip