Charity Shopping - New to You in '22! 24 December 2021 at 11:07AM in Old style MoneySaving 1.6K replies 217.9K views

Rosa_Damascena

Pollycat said:

Pollycat said:

I bought a Lands End boiled wool coat yesterday from the local hospice for £6.00.
It's brown, unlined and just over knee length. No pockets so looks sleek (well, as sleek as a coat can look on me).
No collar so I'll wear it with a bright scarf (Hi Brie).
I thought it would be a fairly dressy Autumn/Spring coat.
And it's crying out for a lovely brooch.
I've always been a brooch lady, I have one on every coat.
The Queen (RIP, Ma'am) loved her brooches too.

I've had a closer look at this coat, it's not just brown. It has hints of wine, olive green and teal, much nicer than I first thought.
I bought a pure wool Pringle scarf a while ago (from a charity shop) and that has an off-white base with all the same colours in the coat.
Not quite the bright scarf I planned but I'll see what they look like together.

It's going to be a challenge to get the coat into the freezer. 

It says 'dry clean only' but I plan to machine wash it on my wool wash using liquid specially for wool.
It's never let me down yet.

What do you all think?

If you can wait for a couple of months, why not stick it on the washing line overnight (on a dry night).

Mixed chazzer day yesterday - went to a furniture shop early in the morning but didn't see what I wanted, then my favourite chazzer in Rochford - came out with 6 books and a pair of jeans for £5 - and lastly another local chaz, came out with two books, a handbag mirror and BNWT game for my little niece for £2.

Brie

Pollycat said:

It says 'dry clean only' but I plan to machine wash it on my wool wash using liquid specially for wool.

It's never let me down yet.

What do you all think?

Check to see if there's any interfacing - particularly in the collar or down the front.  It shouldn't be a problem if it was stitched in but the iron in stuff (massively more common as less expensive in itself and easier/cheaper to use) may bubble after washing.  It may not be a problem if you do things on as gentle a wash as possible and can press it properly afterwards.  It's a problem that can occur from dry cleaning and more often machine washing due to the tumbling more than the actual cleaning method though water and detergent effect things more significantly.  (fyi - summer job in my youth as quality control person in a "hair cloth" factory)

Catsacor

.....not forgetting dry flat, if you can.
When i wash wool, i have a 20 degree 20 minute cycle, i change the spin to the lowest setting and when it's out of the machine i place it on a big towel/bath sheet and roll it up and squeeze, then place it somewhere flat and it keeps the shape.

Miró

Ermm…..if anyone remembers me posting about a couple of pieces of Moorcroft pottery spotted in a chazza a little while ago? *cough splutter*  Had a birthday this weekend and the ‘gentleman caller’ gifted me with…..said pieces!!!  He sneaked back and bought them unbeknown to me!  So embarrassed now as I must have waffled on about them rather a lot at the time.  So out of character for him as previous birthday gifts have been a saucepan, and on one momentous occasion, a loaf of bread, (it was ’artisan’ but…yaknow,!). 

Floss

Ooh, your 'gentleman caller' is learning well! And happy birthday too x

Brie

@Miró
sounds a keeper to me!!!  And many happy returns!!!

Wednesday2000

Happy Birthday!:)

goldfinches

@Miró a very Happy Birthday to you. I think he's a keeper too, someone who pays attention and gets you something you like is rare and should be treasured. 

I popped into my favourite BHF shop yesterday and came out with three books which were the Sainsbury book of children's party cooking, £1, bought purely for the photos which are hilarious. Sandwich house with celery lawn and twiglet roof anyone?



I also snapped up a blank notebook, £2.99, with lovely quality paper and waterproof covers to use as my next kitchen record book and then pounced on The art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking by Yamuna Devi, £3.50.

Frith

@goldfinches we used to have that cookery book growing up and I loved it! Have you seen the boats made from jelly in orange peel slices yet?

Cherryfudge

CAFCGirl said:

Then we called into the library and I had a good raid of the book sale (payment by donations only) and they always seem so surprised by what I put in, even though I feel like I'm being a bit tight but 8 books are home with me now.
I'm debating if I should take the plastic covers back in to them though to reuse?

If the plastic covers come off reasonably well and you can get them off without damage, it's possible the library may be able to reuse them. 

@Wednesday2000 , I don't see why you shouldn't wear a cat jumper whatever your age! If you feel it looks a bit pyjamas-y, could you add a detail that doesn't look at all like nightwear? Whether it's a denim pocket or a shirt collar, it would change the vibe. I really don't think there's much difference between some pyjamas and some tops for day wear, especially among long-sleeved tee shirts.