2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

dolly84

Twibbledee - I'm a history buff too, social history in particular.  I was never into it at school as the only thing they taught was the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution and it was very, very boring, now I am older I find the Industrial Revolution interesting from a social point of view whereas in school it was about the machinery for some bizarre reason, I have never found an interest in the French Revolution however.

I've never heard of Tales from the Green Valley, I will have to keep my eye out for a copy of that.  I do have the Victorian Farm book, it is lovely.

Rah - that cake looks good, thanks for the recipe.  I make a vegan one with coconut milk which is very nice.

Laura_Elsewhere

Wheeee, yards and yards of gorgeous lovely fine needlecord has arrived - and no coupons, I believe, since it's been bought from that marvellous woman who has a stall at the Much Mending on the Borrow market, a real @thriftwizard she is...! 

I don't have immediate plans for six metres of 60" needlecord, but am regarding it as an investment, as I certainly shall find several uses for it, such as making good-quality wearable-toiles for new designs - added bonus of its arriving wrapped up in a pretty square of flowered poly-satin which I shall definitely also find a use for - and a lavender bag in the middle of it too! 

Laura_Elsewhere

Treading delicately as politics generally doesn't sit well in here but...


I know I'm not the only fan of John Arbon knitting wool - in this morning's Guardian newspaper online, they are quoted in an article about major problems exporting to the EU directly to a private purchaser, which many many small businesses rely on for a fair bit of their custom:
"John Arbon Textiles in Devon was told by its courier company that its knitting wool, spun from local sheep fibres, would no longer be accepted with hauliers now trying to mitigate the risk of one package in their van or lorry causing their entire load to be delayed because they are missing a health certificate."

the official response is that the govt is "continuing to negotiate" - but small companies don't have time and resources to wait weeks, maybe months, for this seemingly just overlooked, forgotten, loophole to be sorted out.

If you care about a small company, please please please go and look at their website and see if they are mentioning any problems - if they are, PLEASE buy from them if you're within the UK, even just one small purchase. 
When these brilliant wonderful small business fold, as many already have done this year due to this screw-up, they aren't going to come back. We lose them. 

So, regardless of what your political beliefs are, if you love a particular yarn or cheese or whatever, PLEASE support those small businesses just now! 

*::gets off soapbox::*

(Hope that's ok and politically-neutral enough - @PipneyJane, please let me know if you would rather I removed it and I shall do)

Wraithlady

skogar said:

Many thanks for the information about Ruth Goodman. as we don't have a TV I have never seen the series but it sounds great. I have had a little look and the victorian book looks facinating - I'll have to see if I can track down a copy.

She also wrote 'How to be a Tudor' if you're interested in that time period

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Treading delicately as politics generally doesn't sit well in here but...


I know I'm not the only fan of John Arbon knitting wool - in this morning's Guardian newspaper online, they are quoted in an article about major problems exporting to the EU directly to a private purchaser, which many many small businesses rely on for a fair bit of their custom:
"John Arbon Textiles in Devon was told by its courier company that its knitting wool, spun from local sheep fibres, would no longer be accepted with hauliers now trying to mitigate the risk of one package in their van or lorry causing their entire load to be delayed because they are missing a health certificate."

the official response is that the govt is "continuing to negotiate" - but small companies don't have time and resources to wait weeks, maybe months, for this seemingly just overlooked, forgotten, loophole to be sorted out.

If you care about a small company, please please please go and look at their website and see if they are mentioning any problems - if they are, PLEASE buy from them if you're within the UK, even just one small purchase. 
When these brilliant wonderful small business fold, as many already have done this year due to this screw-up, they aren't going to come back. We lose them. 

So, regardless of what your political beliefs are, if you love a particular yarn or cheese or whatever, PLEASE support those small businesses just now! 

*::gets off soapbox::*

(Hope that's ok and politically-neutral enough - @PipneyJane, please let me know if you would rather I removed it and I shall do)

@Laura_Elsewhere, don’t remove your post.  I am in total agreement.  I have been predicting “trouble at port” since 2016, doubly so since it was announced that we’d be leaving the Custom’s Union.

I’m not certain that I’ve ever bought John Arbon label yarn, but they used to spin and sell UK Alpaca’s yarns, so I’ve been on their mailing list for years. I’ve knitted several pairs of socks, a few hats and two pairs of gloves with their UK Alpaca yarn.  It is very good stuff.  Also, they have excellent customer service.  (I think I met John once, at a show.)  

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

I may treat myself to a quickie of the John Arbon Devonia from Ewe & Ply, thus supporting a good ethical yarn-maker AND good old Ewe&Ply, who do also dye and spin and sell their own yarn (they have their own sheep I think!) but also supply it to us lot out here who don't do that end of fibrey stuff... 

https://eweandply.co.uk/collections/yarn/john-arbon

TwibbleDee

Laura_Elsewhere said:

We have recordings of them all... I really am a fan of hers, which is why I'm so relieved!

16th-century - Tales from the Green Valley - was the original, with Peter Ginn and Alex Langlands but a slightly different format, although still the basic notion, living a year authentically on a farm in the Welsh borderlands.
Then there is variously the Tudor Farm (not the same as the Green Valley), Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, Wartime Farm... 

And now I have more things to try to find...

skogar

Hello - just seen that Maddie May has posted but unfortunately under last years thread. Hope it's not too late: Sorry looks like it was 8pm but maybe you can see it on a dellayed thing or something -- I have no idea about these things having no TV.

"

Ruth Goodman Alert
Ruth and the boys are on BBC4 atm (20,00 Sat) in a programme called Full Steam Ahead."

thriftwizard

Perhaps we should have a kind of "coupon amnesty" for "made in Britain" wool etc. - say, half-coupon-price for the duration?

In other news, I'm spitting mad because I need to spend some coupons & buy some new walking boots, as my old ones are coming apart at the heel and becoming quite uncomfortable. But I really need to try them on before buying... I have wedge-shaped feet, with second toes that were originally longer than my big toes but are now bent up thanks to years of not-ideally-shaped footwear. So buying online won't do... I want to keep walking, or I'll pile on the weight, but I don't want blisters! 

ETA: I'm so glad the fabric has arrived safely, Laura - enjoy!

maddiemay

skogar said:

Hello - just seen that Maddie May has posted but unfortunately under last years thread. Hope it's not too late: Sorry looks like it was 8pm but maybe you can see it on a dellayed thing or something -- I have no idea about these things having no TV.

"

Ruth Goodman Alert
Ruth and the boys are on BBC4 atm (20,00 Sat) in a programme called Full Steam Ahead."

Oh silly me, was in such a hurry in case anyone on-line. It is the first of 6 episodes.
It seems it was first shown 2016 and is available on i-player too
Here