2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, those silica sachets are also in the covid test packs. I did have quite a few saved up but they have gone off to Bequia with my niece as they use them in their draws to keep their clothes dry as it is in the tropical rainforest band and impossible to keep everything dry otherwise.  I should also say that I know that dry cleaners put sheepskin coats in industrial washing machines, I have a friend who used to work in a dry cleaners. I am not sure what washing agent they used or how they dried them but they were definitely put in the washing machine. I do agree with Laura though, the best idea is to air them in fresh air if you can manage it. Maybe inside out on a a hangar on the line if it's a dry blowy day. 
If you think a bit of rain is coming through the letter box maybe stick something across the top of it to cover but not seal it, a piece of a plastic bag should do it, so you can check it to see if it has any damp on it and if it does a more permanent solution could be investigated, maybe some sort of shield put around the letter box to give it a bit of cover from the rain etc. Some neighbours in my road actually have an external post box with no letter box into the house.
Take care everyone

flamingo747

Hello, I'd love to join you

As I bought a winter coat in the sale at the beginning of summer, I think I should pro-rata my coupons for the remainder of the year, starting October 1st. I make that 91 days left of 2022, so 16.45 coupons. I'll count it as 17 and go from there

I am generally a big charity shopper, for myself and my son which helps. I do want to lose weight though, which might mean new under garments. My husband is a big guy and hard to buy for second hand, but he also wants to lose weight. I wont coupon for them for now, though it would be interesting for next year! 

I can just about crochet granny squares and flat things like scarves, so I want to crochet for wrist warmers next.

Hope you have a lovely sunday

thriftwizard

Hello & welcome, @flamingo747! The ladies here are wonderful - absolute founts of knowledge and dab hands with cake whisks & teapots too!

I'd agree with @Laura_Elsewhere and @Liverpool_Anne, @PipneyJane - the sealed garment bag is definitely a no-no, though I'm intrigued by the coffee smell; you do need to get it thoroughly dry before attempting to defeat the aroma. As it's a sheepskin, I might then try dusting it gently inside with bicarb, letting it sit for half an hour, then brushing & hoovering it out; bicarb's good for absorbing smells, and as long as both it & the coat are dry, shouldn't cause any damage. That said, I have washed sheepskin jackets (and rugs) successfully before now, on a wool wash (I have a large washing machine, which can deal with heavy things, as long as there's more than one so it can balance the spin cycle) but have probably just been lucky so far; they'd be ones I've just paid 50p or £1 for, so haven't risked much. And I've only done it when we've had a few days of good weather, to get them as dry as possible gently, outdoors, so as not to harden the suede. I buy them off a local charity that takes stuff out to Calais for the refugees, but sheepskin isn't suitable for them simply because it's a nightmare when wet! Anyway - hope that helps.

PipneyJane

Thanks @Laura_Elsewhere, @Liverpool_Anne and @thriftwizard.  Yes, what you say makes perfect sense.  The coat is hanging on its own and the smell is dissipating slowly. Once I’ve had breakfast, I will turn it inside out and hang it over the bean frame in the garden (which is 6ft tall and up permanently). 

flamingo747 said:

Hello, I'd love to join you

As I bought a winter coat in the sale at the beginning of summer, I think I should pro-rata my coupons for the remainder of the year, starting October 1st. I make that 91 days left of 2022, so 16.45 coupons. I'll count it as 17 and go from there

I am generally a big charity shopper, for myself and my son which helps. I do want to lose weight though, which might mean new under garments. My husband is a big guy and hard to buy for second hand, but he also wants to lose weight. I wont coupon for them for now, though it would be interesting for next year! 

I can just about crochet granny squares and flat things like scarves, so I want to crochet for wrist warmers next.

Hope you have a lovely sunday

Hi @flamingo747.  Welcome to Much Mending.  Did you move into the Tudor house at the far end of the village green?  (I’m sure I saw a family move in there at the weekend.). Please have a cup of tea and a seat by the wood stove.  Don’t mind the dog - he’s just after a pat.

(17 coupons should be workable for the rest of the year.)

- Pip

CAFCGirl

Welcome @flamingo747

Lovely to have you join us.

If you can crochet flat things like scarves, my measly crochet knowledge would tell me you can definitely do wrist warmers and hats! 

flamingo747

PipneyJane said:

Thanks @Laura_Elsewhere, @Liverpool_Anne and @thriftwizard.  Yes, what you say makes perfect sense.  The coat is hanging on its own and the smell is dissipating slowly. Once I’ve had breakfast, I will turn it inside out and hang it over the bean frame in the garden (which is 6ft tall and up permanently). 

flamingo747 said:

Hello, I'd love to join you

As I bought a winter coat in the sale at the beginning of summer, I think I should pro-rata my coupons for the remainder of the year, starting October 1st. I make that 91 days left of 2022, so 16.45 coupons. I'll count it as 17 and go from there

I am generally a big charity shopper, for myself and my son which helps. I do want to lose weight though, which might mean new under garments. My husband is a big guy and hard to buy for second hand, but he also wants to lose weight. I wont coupon for them for now, though it would be interesting for next year! 

I can just about crochet granny squares and flat things like scarves, so I want to crochet for wrist warmers next.

Hope you have a lovely sunday

Hi @flamingo747.  Welcome to Much Mending.  Did you move into the Tudor house at the far end of the village green?  (I’m sure I saw a family move in there at the weekend.). Please have a cup of tea and a seat by the wood stove.  Don’t mind the dog - he’s just after a pat.

(17 coupons should be workable for the rest of the year.)

- Pip

Tudor house would be just my sort of thing, I love all things historical

I ordered the Fashion On The Ration book from ebay for £2.70, I have had a few books about women's lives in that era. The Button Box was an interesting one about fashion history too. I buy secondhand books, and both my mum and my friend read them after me so they get extra usage

white-rabbit_2-2

Morning everyone, gosh what a lovely thread this is. I’m learning lots of new approaches to things. I need to get out of the house to get some darning thread and then I will give it a go. 

Been a busy weekend here. Went to meet some friends of my husbands from years ago who he speaks to regularly on zoom but it’s only the second time I’ve met them in person. It was a meal for a 50th and boy did I stress about what I should wear. I bought a blouse but ended up wearing a linen smock dress with some thick tights. And it was fine! A bit of bling and it looked completely different. So the blouse is going back. 

Before I joined this thread I would have just purchased it and said “to hell with it”! 

Progress may be slow but any step is still progress I suppose. 

flamingo747

That sounds like good progress, don't undervalue any step on your journey @white-rabbit_2-2

flamingo747

Mended a favourite secondhand top today, it's still got lots of life yet. How do people manage when they can't just sew back on buttons or stitch up holes?! 

thriftwizard

They bring it to the Repair Café, @flamingo747! Or they do in our little town. I'm one of the (many) volunteers & buttons, holes & zips are all part of our regular repertoire! But we talk to people as we go & try to instil the idea that this is all perfectly do-able & that they themselves could do it too, with a needle, thread, a bit of bravery & a good YouTube video!