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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge
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Welcome @2Scratters, you will certainly find your soul-sisters here. Please draw up a chair to the table in our virtual village hall and have a cup of tea and a slice of cake. (Today’s is ginger.). Do you sew or knit?
Re your shirt from the 1980’s and you comment that quality is most cost effective, I totally agree. Tomorrow, I’m going into the office and while I haven’t quite decided what to wear, my “job hunting suit” from 1999 is front runner. If I recall correctly, it cost me £120 at the time, and my soon-to-be-manager-and-friend later told me that her first thought, when seeing me at the interview, was “Great suit!”.
Speaking of sewing, has anyone been watching Sewing Bee? I find the skill levels disconcerting.
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.' "
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 30 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)
6 - Ukraine Forever Tartan Ruana wrap
7 - Nobody’s Child brand Blue Cotton Denim Midi Dress from M&S
16 - 4 x 100g/450m skeins 3-ply dark green Wool Local yarn8 -
@PipneyJane thanks for the welcome. I can do basic sewing and have a sewing machine but it is very shy and hides in the wardrobe for long periods of time. Needs to be teased out of there
I can knit basic again and have knitted an odd garment or 2 for DH in our early days. I am almost at the end of my wool stash which has been used up making simple crochet blankets and have donated them to Night shelter previously for the young adults. I have 2 left to finish which are both at different stages of size and am thinking of keeping them for us due to the current situation with utilities.
I have some mohair up in the loft somewhere and need to find this as this is probably the last of any quantity of wool that will make a garment.
I have now completed 2019 posts, so am working my way through and learning something each day. I will be practising the ethics and doing my 3 questions too.
I am looking forward to the posts of how you all managed through lock down too - every day is a school day.
2 Scratters xxAnything is better than nothing-check back and see
On the declutter journey since 2023 with Mrs SD. Tilly Tidy since 2023.4 -
Cherryfudge said:I hope he's okay @Gem-gem? Did you go to A&E?2025 Fashion on a ration 0/66 coupons
2025 Frugal challenge6 -
Gem-gem said:Cherryfudge said:I hope he's okay @Gem-gem? Did you go to A&E?
Big hugs to you both.
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.' "
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 30 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)
6 - Ukraine Forever Tartan Ruana wrap
7 - Nobody’s Child brand Blue Cotton Denim Midi Dress from M&S
16 - 4 x 100g/450m skeins 3-ply dark green Wool Local yarn5 -
@Gem-gem, I hope your OH gets sorted quickly, I think it's one of the most scary things to cope with. Big hugs3
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@Gem-gem
So sorry to hear about your DH's problem. This is one of the times where the NHS usually gets cracking quickly, so at least he will know if there is a blood clot or not. I had a similar issue a few weeks ago and had two scans in two weeks. Thankfully I'm ok, I hope your DH is too.
Sending huge virtual hugs. You must be very worried.x2025 Fashion on the ration
150g sock yarn = 3 coupons
Lined trousers = 6 coupons ...total 9/66
2 t-shirts = 8 coupons
Trousers = 6 coupons ... total 23/665 -
@Gem-gem , I had the same thought as @PipneyJane: I was taught to look for those symptoms as a warning of a possible blood clot but I'm not medically qualified so I didn't feel at ease suggesting it. However, your other half is in good hands now and hopefully you will soon have resolution.
I do think it's one of those things that benefits us to know about as people become more at risk so easily - immobility is a risk factor which is why they advise moving around on a long haul flight.
And on a completely different note, I'm knitting swatches for a new project. Brand new pattern and a reliable source but I've already gone down two sizes of needles and I'm still gaining half a centimetre per swatch. Could it be the yarn? It's a DK but not the recommended DK. I do tend to knit a bit loosely but I'm at the stage where my judgment is saying to go down another needle size and my conformist tendencies are saying 'but the rules say...!'I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration challenge, 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet set 7.5= 12.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, tee shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/224 -
@Cherryfudge - I would say always consider the needle size and yarn thickness as a "serving suggestion" and not as an absolute rule!
Within any yarn category there are thinner and thicker ones, and sometimes you'll get the right stitch-count for "DK" using a thin Aran or a thick 4-ply, let alone with different needle sizes...
The other thing to consider is - have you washed and dried your sample pieces, in the same way you will the finished thing, ideally a couple of times, and also leave the sample pieces to relax for a day or two after washing and drying? It's astonishing how much variation you can get...
I never used to bother with knitting test pieces, but now I do them for just about everything I make apart from socks where I tend to use yarns I'm already familiar with.
I'm knitting a cardigan just now in a Rowan wool I've never used before so definitely needs test pieces - I used a couple of different needle sizes, and I also added a strand of cobweb-weight merino - and for a DK yarn, what works best is using 5.5mm needles (with DK!) and adding that thread-fine strand of cobweb merino. It gives me 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch, if that helps...
But everyone knits differently and crucially yarn is a LOT less standardised than you're led to believe...2025 remaining: 37 coupons from 66:
January (29): winter boots, green trainers, canvas swimming-shoes (15); t-shirt x2 (8); 3m cotton twill (6);
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2025 second-hand acquisitions (no coupons): None thus far
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2025 needlework- *Reverse-couponing*:11 coupons :
January: teddybear-lined velvet jacket (11) & hat (0); velvet sleep-mask (0);4
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