2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Cherryfudge said:

I've been going through this year's thread (up to page 70 so far) in the hope of working out my coupons. I see I hoped to copy @Laura_Elsewhere and do a sort of reverse coupon count wherein if I make something from stash, I can build up points with the aim of getting a book full of 'reverse' coupons by the end of the year. I confess I have completely failed! I think the only garment I've actually finished so far is a shawl. I wish I'd allowed myself a few points for darned socks, but even then, I wouldn't have done well. I also had grand aims that this was to be the year of the sewing machine. That hasn't yet happened either, but there's still time for it. 

Oh good lord! I had completely forgotten I was doing that!!!  

Ah well... we can use these three months for properly organising ourselves and planning for next year, can't we?  

And that's the only reason I use my signature for tracking coupons. I used to do it in a sidebar on my blog, but I got out of the habit when I changed jobs.  (Poor neglected Blog.  I really must post something this year.)

- Pip

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, today I found some yarn in the cs. Yay coupon free 600g in a sort of beigey brown dk, 100g in a green chunky, 50g in a different green dk and 100g ish in grey dk that might actually have some wool in it . This is to be used to attempt some hot water bottle covers. I really wanted chunky weight but I can double up the dk I think. I will be doing tension squares with it to see how it knits up before I start a cover as I have no pattern but am hoping I can work something out that looks reasonable and does the job. When I was in the cs I asked if they often get yarn in and she said they did, although it is the first time I have seen any in that shop. She has promised to have a hunt through the back for me and I will call back on Tuesday to see what she has found as I could do with a few more colours for what I have in mind and I am hoping to do 3 covers. I think she would have done it there and then but there were quite a few people in the shop browsing and her assistant appeared to be new as she was having to show him how to use the till. I am, however very pleased with what I found as I am trying to do 2nd hand September and so far apart from food and petrol I have done it, even picking up 2 boxes of disposable masks, unopened, in the cs for OH to have in the car for pupils to use.
@Cherryfudge, I think the sort of clothes you get in cs really depends on where the shop is. My niece regularly used to shop in a cs in Richmond on Thames and managed to get lots of designer clothes that were hardly worn. She even got her wedding dress there which was an amazing 20s style covered in tiny white pearls. I must admit I very rarely find anything but that is usually because of my size, large and because I only really like cotton, wool or silk. I probably need to find a more affluent area to shop in but even then I doubt they would have sizes to fit me. I do know 2 colleagues who only buy clothes in cs and they always look amazing but they are both able to adapt what they buy to fit etc and have stashes of buttons etc to change and have also been known to dye things. They have a good eye for it, me I'm hopeless
Take care everyone

PollyWollyDoodle

I think size is a factor, it seems much easier to get smaller sizes, but really it's a mixture of luck, persistence and yes, the area can make a difference. I've pretty much clothed myself entirely from charity shops (excluding underwear and some work stuff) for the last four years or so. 

I'm lucky enough to be able to visit my local chazzers regularly so I can check for new stock. I am not a label hunter but I've found some good quality stuff e.g. Monsoon, Phase 8 and Boden. I am slightly irritated that a t-shirt from one of the very cheap chain stores will often be priced at not much less than you'd have paid originally!  I find most charity shops are very choosy about what they display these days and anything looking worn or tired is diverted to rags, where they make quite a bit of income. 

Laura_Elsewhere

I've been cracking on with my new cardigan - the previous one was the beautiful lovely green one which then shrank drastically on first wash (which the sample piece hadn't!!) so that although it does go on and do up, the sleeves are literally only to my elbows, so... and the one before that was colours which I had thought would look lovely but on completing the whole darn 4-ply long-sleeved cardigan I discovered it looked awful so it will be frogged in due course...
you can imagine I was starting to question my abilities to design and make a cardi!!

Thankfully this one's working... 

Nonnadiluca

Beautiful autumn colours!

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Cherryfudge said:

I've been going through this year's thread (up to page 70 so far) in the hope of working out my coupons. I see I hoped to copy @Laura_Elsewhere and do a sort of reverse coupon count wherein if I make something from stash, I can build up points with the aim of getting a book full of 'reverse' coupons by the end of the year. I confess I have completely failed! I think the only garment I've actually finished so far is a shawl. I wish I'd allowed myself a few points for darned socks, but even then, I wouldn't have done well. I also had grand aims that this was to be the year of the sewing machine. That hasn't yet happened either, but there's still time for it. 

Oh good lord! I had completely forgotten I was doing that!!!  

Ah well... we can use these three months for properly organising ourselves and planning for next year, can't we?  

I think if you count up things you've made, Laura, you will find quite a few points in your reverse coupons book. After all, you had a wedding! I also think you could count points if you repair something that would otherwise have been unused.

I've just made a start on the button holes on that linen shirt, and boy, I'm tempted to sew the front shut! Finicky button holes with little buttons... urgh. I might pin it together and see whether it would be easy to have as a pull-on shirt. I'm also pinning in possible shoulder alterations, but please don't anyone hold your breath - I'm not feeling too enthusiastic.

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

I've been cracking on with my new cardigan 

Those colours are wonderful Laura. Are you leaving the neckline as a roll neck? It looks good.

CAFCGirl

I was coming on to report a coupon spend for some new footwear but then I suddenly remembered my lovely husband has paid for them for me as a gift, so it can come off of his coupons.

I did buy last weekend (and forgot) I purchased a lovely ochre/turmeric coloured sweatshirt new, which I then 'adorned' with my crafting machine so its now a lovely autumn wear with a retro 'Hello Pumpkin' across the chest.

Please ignore DS's messy room in the background.

Cherryfudge

That's a great font, you clever person! Takes me back to the1970s.  

MrsCD

Reminds me of the Goodies! Good find though.