2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

TwibbleDee

My mother is doing crazy things like asking me if I’ve knit up the sock yarn I bought last year. I’ve seen her fabric stash. She should know better. 

PollyWollyDoodle

Ha ha, she definitely should know better! 

So in January I still had 29.5 coupons left from last year. This year I have bought:
ten pairs of knickers - 20 coupons 
5 pairs of socks - 5 coupons
a new jacket for work - 11 coupons 
just remembered I bought a pair of socks as part of a present so that’s a total of 37 coupons I believe.

Using up the carried over ones first, I have spent 7.5 coupons out of this year’s allowance - so can I carry over 58.5 to next year?

No fabric or wool, mainly due to moving house, my word am I embarrassed at the volume of fabric I had (and that was after giving some away!). I also haven’t reduced the stash much because I haven’t had the chance to do any sewing. I’m hoping that will change in the New Year. 

I have bought clothes this year but they’ve all been secondhand, and I’m really proud of that. It’s not just about the coupons, but the environmental cost of new clothing; I set out to make 2021 the year that I wouldn’t buy anything new, but I had to make a few exceptions. I definitely want, sorry I mean need, some new boots next year!  

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,
I have no new spends to declare after nearly finishing my Christmas shopping. I wavered over a pair of jeans for my BiL for his birthday today but as he has lost some weight my DS wasn't sure what size he would be so got some nice smellies instead. So I have spent 57.5 coupons leaving 8.5 
Slippers.                  5
Wool                         31
Fat quarter              2.5
Leggings & top       7    
pj bottoms x 2       12
All except the slippers were gifts for friends and family or to make gifts apart from the fat quarter which was a temporary reversion to previous behaviour of impulse buying just because I loved it

I have no real thoughts on carrying over coupons other than to say when I started this challenge this year and realised some people had coupons from the previous year it made me think about what I needed rather than wanted knowing it was possible to not only cope with 66 coupons but actually save some. I would like to carry over the coupons I have saved this year though.

Yes please to a new thread if you have the time to set it up Pip.

Awards, well why not , I don't have a posh frock, not really my style, but I have some nice trousers I haven't worn for a while and a few nice tops to choose from, also not worn for a while

Liverpool_Anne

@Cherryfudge, if you can't get fleece the right weight could you maybe use brushed cotton? 

Laura_Elsewhere

Liverpool_Anne said:

@Cherryfudge, if you can't get fleece the right weight could you maybe use brushed cotton? 

I love brushed cotton - and I'd rather a baby or toddler was snuggling up in cotton than plastic! 

I am still searching for a really easy-care solution to the infant-present problem of How To Ditch Acrylic Yarn, and I reckon fleece probably goes in there too... cotton of course involves ghastly quantities of pesticides and oceans of water...

Argh, why is it all so difficult?!?!  

PipneyJane

On the baby-blanket backing front, what about woollen felt?  

I don’t understand why commercially made felt is only used for craft projects and not for other things around the home, including garments.  Surely it’s reached maximum shrinkage, so washing won’t be a problem?  (Mind you, I’ve never seen it for sale in the UK.)

- Pip

retiredinfrance

Can I join. please? I've been on a no new clothes year , buying secondhand or making-do and mending, but had to buy
Ipair trousers
2 bras
1pair leather gloves
Of course, after buying the gloves, didn't I get a brand new pair in my local charity shop. That is the way it works sometimes.
I would like to carry over, if possible, as I need to buy new wool, quality stuff, for a single bed size ,granny quilt for my third grandson and it will be expensive. That much new wool would have been well-nigh impossible in wartime, but I'm not going to the black market. 
I do read along here - two reasons - being brought up on wartime stories from my Mum and Gran  mywho lived with us and an interest in WW2, my Mum's 23 yearold brother going down with his ship and my Dad a career RAF man. Here in France there are so many reminders of the war.
Hope everyone's rations make for a tasty feast for Christmas. I have the Ruth Goodman et al Wartime Farm book and it makes interesting reading. 

TwibbleDee

retiredinfrance said:

Hope everyone's rations make for a tasty feast for Christmas. I have the Ruth Goodman et al Wartime Farm book and it makes interesting reading. 

If you haven’t read it yet, The Domestic Revolution by Ruth is fascinating. At least I thought so!

retiredinfrance

Thanks for the suggestion,Twibbledee  If I get a voucher for Christmas I will order it.  Keep safe!

BabyStepper

Can I please join in with this challenge for 2022? I think I tried before but then ended up getting distracted and wandering off on my own. I'm back though and would love the opportunity to join in. 
 
I discovered crochet during lockdown and recently made some hats, scarves, mittens, and finally a new cardigan for myself. I even made a few pounds selling things at a craft fair. It was an amazing day and I'm now addicted to crochet and all things crafty.   

I'm looking forward to getting started and have been doing a mental clothing stock take for the coming year. Glad to be here.