2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

@PollyWollyDoodle - I loathe milk so I always think I'd be fine but then I think about how I merrily throw half a pint into bread sauce, and how I use it for all sorts of other things, baking, glazing, yoghourt, etc. - and bear in mind that even as late as 1961, only two per cent of British households had a refrigerator so how much of the milk got chucked out? Same problem with the meat, cheese, etc...! Especially for working women who couldn't go and queue half the day at shops - which is where the British Restaurant scheme came into its own... 

I'm definitely getting a lot better with buying far fewer new clothes - two as-new shirts and an M&S lambswool poloneck jumper from that market-stall run by Mr.E.Bay and co...  but also I buy far fewer clothes generally now. 

My wool-buying has gone up partly because I am keen to support my beloved Ewe & Ply and Ippikin through these difficult times... 

Wraithlady

maddiemay said:

Laura_Elsewhere - much appreciated and gladly accepted, I had better start canvassing my friends to see who might have a suitable (or any) frock that I might borrow.

I have a few suitable dresses in the 14-18 size range

CraftyLittleLisa

I haven't posted for a while because I haven't made/got any new clothes since October (and then they were second hand).  However, this month I have made two tops to wear over Christmas.  I used material from my stash for one and material that I got this month in my sewing box for the other.  I will take coupons off for both (because I am trying to be mindful of what I spend on crafting etc as well).  I used 1.5 metres for each of the tops which I work out as 4.5 coupons each.  That is 9 coupons which added to my rather large tally takes it to 110 coupons this year.  Not good considering last year I had coupons left over.  Perhaps I can improve next year.

As to everyone's thoughts on this thread for the new year I would agree that a new thread will be easier, I love the awards idea (although I think I will have a wooden spoon for my overspend) and I would agree to carry over from the previous year (if I had any).

I just want to emphasise I do always read the posts, even though I don't comment regularly, it feels like a really cosy and friendly community and I love being part of it even if only in a small way.

florianatwobob

TwibbleDee said:

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Gem-gem - 12oz every four weeks for sweets - and 8oz sugar a week - and 1lb of preserves six times a year. 

It's less than it sounds....

Here's a hand list, weekly rations for one adult (it varied, but this gives an idea)

• Bacon & Ham         4 oz
• Other meat            value of 1 shilling and 2 pence (equivalent to 2 chops)
• Butter                      2 oz
• Cheese                     2 oz
• Margarine              4 oz
• Cooking fat            4 oz
• Milk                       3 pints
• Sugar                    8 oz
• Preserves            1 lb every 2 months
• Tea                        2 oz
• Eggs                     1 fresh egg (plus allowance of dried egg)
• Sweets                  12 oz every 4 weeks

I wonder how many people ended up using preserves in their tea to save the sugar!

One of my grandma’s (born 1896) went on a little mission when war was announced and built up a stockpile of sugar. The stockpile was still going strong at the end of the war. 

Jam often ended up in porridge though. 

florianatwobob

I wonder @Laura_Elsewhere what Malteasers would have been classed as? Sweets or chocolate? My mum (born 1939) remembered being in a shop with her mum (who died 1945) and asking for ‘teasers (which is what malteasers where and are still known as in our house). They’d have made imported chocolate stretch further with their thin chocolate coating. 

Laura_Elsewhere

@florianatwobob - chocolate and sweets were all just lumped in together in one category... but maltesers weigh very little so you'd have got "more" for your 12 ounces! 

florianatwobob

That’s a very good point @Laura_Elsewhere, I’d not put two and two together re weight! 

Cherryfudge

I spoke to soon about not buying socks. I've just added a massively thick pair of slipper socks to my husband's stocking fillers so there go another 3 coupons though they are so thick it's a bargain and uses about as much fabric as around three ordinary thick pairs.

Remaining coupons now 43.

I had second thoughts about fleece for a backing for the baby blanket, on the grounds it's bad for the environment, then thought again as the yarn is acrylic so it can withstand multiple washes, so the whole thing is non-degradable. Then I went in a couple of shops and the only white fleece I can find is far too thick so no progress made. I might search online...

Baileys_Babe

No physical progress made on the blanket @Cherryfudge but lots of mental progress made, which often is the stumbling block on my projects.

Cherryfudge

Baileys_Babe said:

No physical progress made on the blanket @Cherryfudge but lots of mental progress made, which often is the stumbling block on my projects.

Oh, so true! I left the current project for a few days because I knew I'd have some working out to do but the previous big project (the jumper) got shelved for some six years because it was such a struggle to see what I was doing with a dark fluffy yarn and cable stitch! At last a friend pointed out the cable was wasted on the yarn, or vice versa, because the cable wouldn't show up. Once I started knitting it in stocking stitch it was such a relief!