2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Wraithlady

Hi again, yes count me in for this new year - I have 24 coupons left on top of the new year allocation of 66, but I really need more trousers/leggings and I may treat myself to enough denim to make a pair of jeans (which I've been meaning to do for ages) - also need a new pair of slippers. 

You remember that Polish airman who married my sister? Well, he gave us a lovely bottle of raspberry vodka (home-made, apparently) which is absolutely gorgeous in hot chocolate - I'll bring some over if you want. It's best in small doses, as it's deceptively powerful.

PipneyJane

Wraithlady said:

Hi again, yes count me in for this new year - I have 24 coupons left on top of the new year allocation of 66, but I really need more trousers/leggings and I may treat myself to enough denim to make a pair of jeans (which I've been meaning to do for ages) - also need a new pair of slippers. 

You remember that Polish airman who married my sister? Well, he gave us a lovely bottle of raspberry vodka (home-made, apparently) which is absolutely gorgeous in hot chocolate - I'll bring some over if you want. It's best in small doses, as it's deceptively powerful.

Thank you.  That is very sweet of you.  I’ll trade you some home-made Chocolate Vodka.  Not certain where the recipe came from originally but, basically, you melt 4 Mars bars in a basin over  boiling water, add a litre bottle of vodka and blend until smooth with an electric hand blender.  Decant back into the vodka bottle and, once cold, store in the freezer.  

OMG it’s strong. The Christmas pre-COVID, I made a batch and gave it in small milk bottles to members of the Finance team.  One team member - Eastern European so should have known better - poured herself a large glass once her children had gone to bed and got quite a shock.

- Pip

FluffyBabyPenguin

I'd love to join this year please!

I don't usually buy much clothing, but I do need a new coat soon. I've been wearing one my sister gave me 3 years ago, and the zip has gone in it.

Over Christmas I was gifted some nice jumpers and scarves, so I don't need any new ones. I have yarn sitting waiting to be knit into a cardigan if ever I can decide on the size I should make. Plenty of yarn for other small projects, I'm currently knitting mittens for my teenage daughter and I'm loving the soft 4ply wool (Drops Alpaca) and it was a bargain when I bought it (and 40 other balls...). 

I seriously need new undies and bras. I have fabric and patterns to sew them but not the enthusiasm! New tights also. I have bought from Snag tights before and impressed with the quality and how many wears I've got out of them so I will buy 2/3 more pairs. I may need to buy new socks at some point, but OTOH I have plenty of sock yarn to knit with so I could get away with not buying any if I really tried. I'm happy to sew some new skirts and dresses, but I could do with buying a few basic t-shirts to go with them. I have various sewing patterns for tops, but it can be tricky to find suitable fabric at an affordable price. 

For sewing, I like to use old duvet covers and flat sheets as the fabric. It's usually cheap this way, won't use up coupons and there's plenty of material to work with for a dress or long swishy skirt.

For now, I must get back to this second mitten, DD is excited for them to be finished!

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, I am in again, I have 8.5 coupons left from last year. For Christmas I got a new pair of pjs, a pair of slippers, 2 lovely tea towels and a lovely warm scarf. I honestly can't think of anything I need but I am sure something will crop up through the year. I too have lots of clothes and need to wear some out
Take care everyone

Baileys_Babe

I'm in again. Last year I spent 0 coupons so I am carrying over my year's allowance of 66 coupons. I am trying to wear out clothes before replacing them, but I still need a bra, some plain T-shirts and trousers, the latter are likely to be from a charity shop.

Laura_Elsewhere

I'm in again too! My Intended and I have both been working hard lately at trying to get me to work out what clothes I really need and want, and what supplies I have to make things, and trying to be better at prioritising... knickers, for one thing!  

I have some coupons carried over from last year (want to double-check everything in my calculations) plus 10 coupons as a lovely Trousseau-present from @Nonnadiluca, thankyou again! 

And on that note, still no date as we await appts in a week's time to sort out when M.I. will have his six weeks of radiotherapy, but we are now a step further onwards with the last legal muddle finally sorted. I shall OF COURSE let you all know!! 

CraftyLittleLisa

I would like to join in again this year.  I overspent in 2021 by 25.5 coupons.  I wasn't doing too badly until I needed some things when I went on holiday.  I needed knickers, slippers, bras and a mac none of which I felt able to make and that all came to over 50 coupons.  I'm contemplating whether I take that off the 2022 coupons or whether I just accept it and start fresh.

I did have some success this week though.  I bought a man's shirt in a charity shop, as I loved the fabric, a couple of months ago and I have now finally turned it into a new top for me which I love.  I have also decluttered and re-organised my craft cupboard and fabric stash so I know what I have.  I can make quite a few garments with what I have and I should be able to sell some fabric on that I won't use now.  The one thing I fall down on is my purchasing fabric.  I get a sewing subscription every month which always includes some fat quarters and a length of fabric.  I will only count them as coupons if I do actually turn it into something for me to wear but I do really need to work through my stash now.

I am a bit fed up at the moment (I think Covid is getting to me a bit now) so I really want to start making more of an effort and dress smarter even when working from home.  It might help me feel better about the future. 

As I am actually having to isolate at the moment, I may go and assess/declutter my wardrobe.  I'm getting a bit bored of sewing at the moment so I need a break.

Have a fabulous New Year all.

Laura_Elsewhere

@CraftyLittleLisa, I'm doing two different coupon-counts this year, if it would help you. 

Mainly, the usual - I have 66 clothing-coupons and anything I buy new will use up however-many coupons. 
But separately, just as my own little challenge, I thought it might be fun to try to sew, knit and crochet my way up to 66 coupons'-worth of clothing! So if I buy a blouse, it's 5 coupons deducted from my annual clothing-coupon allowance of 66, and if I buy fabric to make a blouse, it's 3 or 2 coupons a metre deducted from my annual clothing-coupon allowance of 66. 
BUT if I use fabric I already have then I use no clothing-coupons, and instead when I've finished making the blouse and it's all done and wearable, then I can add 5 to my Make-It-Myself tally, and see how high I can get that over the year. Does that make sense? It's solely for using fabric or yarn I already have, not for anything I make using newly-bought materials. 

Cherryfudge

I've given some thought to your reverse coupons, @Laura_Elsewhere and I'd like to join in too, if I may? I don't think I have enough stash/abilities to make it to 66 coupons but there are a few projects to knit (excluding the baby's things which are currently being supplied by the Government) and I've had a thought... There are a few items which I don't wear because they need significant repair or alteration, so if I get any of those back into circulation, I'll add them to my reverse coupons.

MrsCD

I did French and German at school but only used it when we went on battlefield tours around Europe. I can't have a conversation but somehow manage to understand/ be understood!
DD has just told me about the 1000 outdoor hours challenge. It's mainly aimed at primary children, but I'm sure it would benefit most people. I'm going to try to increase my outdoor hours next year but may not manage1000 hours!
During the war years, children would have spent a lot more time outside, and were probably a lot healthier for it. Apparently, American children spend 1200 hours a year on screen time, so the possibility is there, and I'm sure British children are more or less the same.
(copied from the 2021 thread as I thought  I was on this one!)