2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

nannygladys

Welcome Mrs O,  I live in the very small cottage on the green with the veggie beds in the front garden, there's plenty of wild blackberries behind the cottage for jam making later on in the year

When I was at 'little' school we were taught knitting and sewing and I can remember having to smock a square to put on the front of the pj cases we made and being a very enthusiastic simple living mum, made one of my dds a gingham dress complete with smocking, when she was young! Those were the days, I used to make both dds clothes when they were small (a very long time ago) but only recently started to make clothes for me - which hasn't been that successful yet! Knitting fine, sewing not so!

I've had a look at my summer stuff and its a right old mix, so I need to try them on to see if I have complete outfits (and if they still fit), I know I need a jacket or something similar though, but that will be for another day!! But if I want to knit a thick cardigan I'll have to make a start soon.

Don't eat all the scones, I'll be there soon just got to put the hot water bottles in bed and clean my boots.
Nannyg

florianatwobob

Welcome to the village hall Mrs O. You’re not the only one rebuilding your house. 

I’m continuing my programme of works and nurturing various tradesmen as I go. 

They and I are mostly fueled by copious cups of tea! 

OldWomanWhoLivesInAShoe

Well I must say it's lovely to be so welcomed.

I have just been through the drawers and have got rid of anything that can't be salvaged to the rag bag and tomorrow will have a tot up and write down all I have so I have a better idea of what I'm likely to need throughout the year.  I've a few bits in the laundry that need to make their way upstairs before I start a list though.

Ration is rather simple here, we're large in number so find we don't ever really go without. Most of the food is bought at once and the milkman visits three times a week with top ups. I limit myself to two loaves of bought bread weekly from the baker and make the rest (bread machine, not domestic goddess).

I think once you adjust your mindset it's really very simple and I'm quite sure we eat better than most people we know. Most meals are 3 courses and we always have 3 square meals a day with a snack usually cake at elevenses and something sweet with a hot mug of milk before bedtime.

Hubby works from home here in the Norfolk countryside and pops to kings cross once a week, all very hush hush though.

All in all It's not been a bad old war for us.

Gem-gem

Oooo scones and jam. I love homemade food, welcome Mrs O to the village hall. 

Pollywollydoodle, I have not managed to keep to me 85g a week. 😔 To my defence I have shared some of my rations with my family. I have a Hotel Choc 450g wreath left. This should last five weeks. Which will take me to the end of February. As, I had rations to last till end of March, that means March could be 'sweet free. 

Ten days ago, I won a tub of sweets in a raffle. I am not including these. They have been put away, out of sight, out of mind, hopefully to Easter. Would like to get out when family come over, but once opened...harder to resist. 

On the clothing front, still no spends. So all coupons in tact. 😀

On Saturday, friend gave me the end of a ball of wool that she had left over, so that I could crochet 4 legs to the sheep that I am learning to make. She has another end of a ball, in a different colour that I can use for head/ body. I am going to give it to my new nephew for Christmas. I did offer a coupon but she refused. 🐑 🧶. Mum has some left over stuffing from another project that I am going to use to stuff it. 😀

MoneysavingmadGem

Welcome to the village, I have had a special occasion and so there is some victoria sponge to have with a cuppa. I'll pop kettle on. 

I'm afraid I have spent some coupons on a pair of fabric slippers, the sort that dust the floor whilst walking around! 

I had worn two large holes that were un mendable in my last pair, but they have last 3 years! 

New pair was only £3 half price in a sale. No one visits so the fact they are bright pink (not my style) won't hurt, and easy to chuck instead bag when I go to visit my dearest father. 

But not sure how many coupons this is? As they are like slipper socks? 

nannygladys

Been looking after dgs today, whilst dd was at work. So just been playing with trains, trucks and diggers oh and don't forget the dinosaurs. The road outside her house has been dug up, not sure why but if any tanks go down there I'll be hitching a lift, as she's had to walk her bike down in the dark!

I forgot to say, when I was having my sort out yesterday I came upon some mending that I had forgot to do last year, so I'll have to get the machine powered up. My eldest dd managed a few years ago to acquire an old singer machine for me with a really strange liking bobbin, long and thin, does anyone know of any tube channel that may help me, it's a lovely  machine but I've never been able to use it.

Nannyg

PipneyJane

MoneysavingmadGem said:

Welcome to the village, I have had a special occasion and so there is some victoria sponge to have with a cuppa. I'll pop kettle on. 

I'm afraid I have spent some coupons on a pair of fabric slippers, the sort that dust the floor whilst walking around! 

I had worn two large holes that were un mendable in my last pair, but they have last 3 years! 

New pair was only £3 half price in a sale. No one visits so the fact they are bright pink (not my style) won't hurt, and easy to chuck instead bag when I go to visit my dearest father. 

But not sure how many coupons this is? As they are like slipper socks? 

Ooohhhh..... Very good question @MoneysavingmadGem.  I’m going to give you one of my famous “It depends...” answers.  Generally, slippers cost 5 coupons, just like shoes because they are a type of shoe.  However, if they’re more like slipper-socks, then treat them as socks (1 coupon per pair) and cost them up accordingly.  I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

(When I was in the tax team for a large PLC, I used to routinely get asked tax questions while not being given full information about the circumstances, hence my responses would alway be “It depends...”. I’d go on to list different circumstances and the different answers depending on that circumstance.)

- Pip

Wraithlady

nannygladys said:

I forgot to say, when I was having my sort out yesterday I came upon some mending that I had forgot to do last year, so I'll have to get the machine powered up. My eldest dd managed a few years ago to acquire an old singer machine for me with a really strange liking bobbin, long and thin, does anyone know of any tube channel that may help me, it's a lovely  machine but I've never been able to use it.

Nannyg

Like this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283999979174?hash=item421fb7c6a6:g:ENAAAOSwz7FfUgNf

Laura_Elsewhere

nannygladys said:

My eldest dd managed a few years ago to acquire an old singer machine for me with a really strange liking bobbin, long and thin, does anyone know of any tube channel that may help me, it's a lovely  machine but I've never been able to use it.

Nannyg

On the Singer's enamelled base, typically somewhere in front of the hand-wheel, nearest you, there'll be a flat grey metal plaque with a number stamped onto it, about two inches by half an inch. with a letter at the start. 

Look that number up on this website, and it will tell you the precise model-type of your Singer, and the year it was made - mine starts with an 'R' and the number starts 500- so I know it's a 27K (that's in the third column over) made in the second half of 1902. the K means it was made just outside Glasgow   
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-sewing-machine-serial-number-database.html

Once you know what model of Singer it is, I can point you in the direction of videos and the one person for buying spares/new parts from - they are BRILLIANT machines. I can use modern electric ones but I've only ever owned old Singers... 
I've had my one for 41 years iirc, and I've had to replace one small tension-spring which cost six quid.    

skogar

Cherryfudge - The Chrysalis cardigan sounds interesting. So far the work outfits thing is going a bit better than I thought. I located a long dark green linen skirt (I have a similar navy one) which I knew I still had but couldn't remember where this week so that will get brought into play. I need to have a bit of a sort out of the skirts now and see what I can find to go with them - hunting through what I already have is much easier than going shopping. I suspect I do need a couple of tops but if I can work out what I have hopefully I can think of what colours would go best with what I have so if I spot anything suitable I can pick it up.

Have ordered another navy cardigan (hopefully this time will be 3rd time lucky - we will see). Veering towards charcoal as a suitable colour for a second cardigan as I think it would go with most of the things I have - can't rush into a critical decision like that though....

Nannygladys - It was funny, when I started hunting through the bits I had I found more things that went together than I thought and on my recent hunt through the scarves although i was really looking out what could be worn with a black or navy dress I also found quite a few that could be worn convincingly with the green skirt which I had forgotten where I had put it. Although very short of tops I did find a couple of tops that would go with a couple of skirts which I thought I couldn't wear as I had nothing to go with them.

Have noticed that some of the leggings are getting a bit thin so some replacements may be in the coupon spend this year.