2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Gem-gem

Cherryfudge said:

CAFCGirl said:

I've noticed my tension is loosening (maybe a semi consciously subconsciously thing).... 

I was talking to a friend who does the most wonderful crochet and she reckoned she tends to start off tighter then as she gets into the pattern it gets looser - I can see the same with mine. 

2Scratters said:

@Cherryfudge not got a particular style in mind yet, I have a few simple dresses that I could bravely use as a template. Just need some proper material scissors might have to ask elderly parents of what they have in their old store that could be handed down. I do have a shy sewing machine that hides in the wardrobe, so this could take some time.

2Scratters xx

My dream sewing scenario is to be able to copy things. My sewing machine is so shy it's applied to enter a hermitage, but it needs to come out from under the yarn stash first! 

I inherited loads of scissors when clearing my parents' house. One of those things when one wonders how many they actually needed! The kitchen ones are superb but the sewing ones had deteriorated and I suppose I ought to throw some in the metal recycling because they are beyond my sharpening skills and I have others that work well.

Did you know that if you cut foil with scissors it sharpens them? I use old foil that I have finished with. (We have been known to wash it a couple of times, when possible).

PipneyJane

Cherryfudge said:

CAFCGirl said:

I've noticed my tension is loosening (maybe a semi consciously subconsciously thing).... 

I was talking to a friend who does the most wonderful crochet and she reckoned she tends to start off tighter then as she gets into the pattern it gets looser - I can see the same with mine. 

2Scratters said:

@Cherryfudge not got a particular style in mind yet, I have a few simple dresses that I could bravely use as a template. Just need some proper material scissors might have to ask elderly parents of what they have in their old store that could be handed down. I do have a shy sewing machine that hides in the wardrobe, so this could take some time.

2Scratters xx

My dream sewing scenario is to be able to copy things. My sewing machine is so shy it's applied to enter a hermitage, but it needs to come out from under the yarn stash first! 

I inherited loads of scissors when clearing my parents' house. One of those things when one wonders how many they actually needed! The kitchen ones are superb but the sewing ones had deteriorated and I suppose I ought to throw some in the metal recycling because they are beyond my sharpening skills and I have others that work well.

@Cherryfudge, in the 1990’s, I bought a “Scissors Sharpener” tool from ?Robert Dyas.  It was very simple to use and similar to the knife sharpener that my mum used in her kitchen.  (Oh how I regret not nabbing that when she died!)  Just insert the open scissors, with one blade in each slot, put pressure on (as if you want to close the scissors) and and withdraw.  I have no idea where it is now.  My only gripe was that it was designed for right-handed scissors and I bought it hoping to sharpen my left-handed sewing scissors.

HTH

- Pip


PS:  I am off to Royal Ascot today with a friend.  Very MSE:  I’ve had the dress for 15+ years, bought my hat in a charity shop and will be wearing sandals that I’ve owned for a decade.

TwibbleDee

One of the air conditioners at work went out.  They're having to order in a part.  It was getting up to 81 inside, so luckily it's "only" getting to the upper 90s right now.  We're all crossing our fingers that it's taken care of before Sunday (I work at a church).

Laura_Elsewhere

TwibbleDee said:

One of the air conditioners at work went out.  They're having to order in a part.  It was getting up to 81 inside, so luckily it's "only" getting to the upper 90s right now.  We're all crossing our fingers that it's taken care of before Sunday (I work at a church).

Wow... I saw a news report that over one-third of all Americans have been told to stay indoors because it's too hot to go out even if you have no medical conditions... 

I hope your aircon is fixed asap!

Here it's only forecast to be 80 degrees F (27/28C) and probably just below 50% humidity at the hottest times, which is less bad than it could be... 

MrsCD

I've made my rain skirt, @Laura_Elsewhere
I pleated as you suggested and made an extra long waistband to fasten at the side.  I'm quite pleased with it, but I did burn my sewing machine out and had to do the last bit just turning the wheel by hand! 

maryb

My underwear has gone religious!  I've always been good at making sure I don't just wear a few pairs and rotate them so they get even wear.  Which has made them last longer, true - but now they are ALL wearing out simultaneously!

I know if this were 1942 I wouldn't have the option, but since we are doing this to foster mindful consumption, I'm going to replace them but not count the coupons

Sorry  - please don't chuck me out of the group.

Besides I might be injured in an air raid and it would be too shameful to be taken to hospital with tatty knicks!

PipneyJane

MrsCD said:

I've made my rain skirt, @Laura_Elsewhere
I pleated as you suggested and made an extra long waistband to fasten at the side.  I'm quite pleased with it, but I did burn my sewing machine out and had to do the last bit just turning the wheel by hand! 

How did you do that, @MrsCD?  I hope you didn't put yourself at risk of fumes or fire.

maryb said:

My underwear has gone religious!  I've always been good at making sure I don't just wear a few pairs and rotate them so they get even wear.  Which has made them last longer, true - but now they are ALL wearing out simultaneously!

I know if this were 1942 I wouldn't have the option, but since we are doing this to foster mindful consumption, I'm going to replace them but not count the coupons

Sorry  - please don't chuck me out of the group.

Besides I might be injured in an air raid and it would be too shameful to be taken to hospital with tatty knicks!

We won't chuck you out @maryb.  If you were counting coupons for these, how many would you have spent?  And how would that have impacted your overall coupon count?  (I'm sorry.  I don't remember my own coupon count, let alone anyone else's.  Thank heaven for signatures.)

- Pip  

maryb

 It would have been 12 coupons!!!  That would leave me with minus 9 coupons and none for the rest of the year.  It's not a hardship at the moment because everything in the shops this summer is frilly and floaty (dull and dreepy?) and would look ridiculous on a grey haired woman of 68 whose middle age has - spread a little!

Laura_Elsewhere

The knickers I bought this week were £5 per pair, which felt very expensive for undies - but I had gone into town to buy Mr E some undies, and M&S charge £22.50 for a five-pack of cotton briefs.... and they *last*, really properly *last* for years and years, and are far better-made, from better materials, than the women's pants. 

I went into Primark and they had shorts, in viscose with at least 30% recycled fibres, for £5 a pair. They are intended as shorts, not as knickers, but they are perfect for my rotund form as French knickers (aka tap pants, which apparently only appeared as a name in the 1970s) - really, really comfortable, easy-wash, easy-dry... and well-made, too. So after buying one pair, I went back and bought four more  

It made me really think about what I expect re knickers - £25 for five pairs of knickers would be far more than I'd expect to pay for a supermarket multi-pack of standard women's briefs... but then I expect these shorts will last me ten years, whereas I find even better quality women's briefs multi-packs last not much more than a couple of years. 

It also made me really question WHY women's things are made so flimsily, from such thin poor-quality material???? 

Laura_Elsewhere

Oooh, @MrsCD - how on earth did you destroy your sewing machine?! I just did my rain-skirt entirely by hand.... but then again my 1902 hand-cranked Singer would be pretty unlikely to burn out!