2023 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

DrCarrie said:

I am still thinking about what I need / want - my style and sustainability as a whole. I am working on a fair few areas of my life and looking forward to simplifying everywhere. I definitely don't need anything. 

I was wondering if spending a voucher on clothes counts against my coupons? I have a £25 voucher for John Lewis and £50 fr liberty. 

Thank you. 

Sadly, @DrCarrie, yes, vouchers count.  They’re a mechanism for payment not a gift of coupons.

(You aren’t alone.  I have use-them-or-lose-them vouchers to spend this year:  £50 from Next and £70-odd from M&S, thanks to work.)

Do you remember the skein of yarn I ordered from Whistlebear just before Christmas?  Well, it arrived on Friday.  Sadly, but not unexpectedly, it isn’t the same dye lot as the three I purchased in February, but I have techniques to minimise any visual difference in colour.  This brings up my own question of conscience:  do I count the 2 coupons spent on this yarn as 2022’s or 2023’s?  (I am torn.)

- Pip

Cherryfudge

Hello all! I thought you were really quiet then realised I needed to go on a search - and found I'd either forgotten to hit the subscribe button, or accidentally hit it twice and unsubscribed. I'm back! I have ten pages to read, and life outside The Mendings has been demanding. I have days off from tomorrow, so I hope to catch up soon.

Meanwhile, lovely to see all you new people and some familiar faces in the queue for the new ration books. With so many like-minded people and such a knowledge bank, I'm looking forward to sitting down and chatting.

I've spent one whole coupon so far, on a ball of craft yarn where I've been unable to find the right colour from stash. I've also found two more balls of yarn via a charity shop (one was exactly what I needed for the above project, the other was too nice to leave behind) and a cardigan to wear for work, also from a charity shop. Very pleased with that as it's a nice warm colour and an easy wear.

This year's remaining coupons: 65/66 (not totalled up 2022's yet).

borscht

TwibbleDee said:

So, my experiment with my woolen dresses from Wool&: I now have 5 Sierras and 3 Camillas, all in various colors.  I think I've had one day since May that I didn't wear them. I wash them only every few weeks and spot clean as needed (I managed to splash oil & egg on one whilst making bread--perhaps I should learn to wear my apron?--and it came right out with a bit of gentle soap and a toothbrush).

I have 6 pairs of shorts and 4 pairs of leggings that I wear under them, but still need a few more pairs of shorts.  I rarely wear the leggings, so no need to invest in more of those.  

Hi. 

Another Wool& wearer here. I bought my first dress, a black Sierra, in October 2021, and apart from a 10 day hospital stay and one wedding, I’m still wearing it every day. 
437 days. I love it. 

I wash it in the evening every few days and hang it in the bathroom and it’s dry in the morning. 
Last summer I bought a second one (airforce blue) and I’ve worn it half a dozen times for going out in. 

I plan to retire the black one when the weather improves and use it for gardening clobber, and I’ll buy a replacement for however many coupons a dress is. 

Does stash count? I have a fair bit of sock yarn and some dress fabric in cotton and linen. Do I deduct coupons for that? 
And what about thread and buttons? 

I’d like a new warm winter jacket for next year, but apart from that I’m not planning any other big items. 

I’m quite used to just throwing on my black dress in the morning and getting on with the day. 

PipneyJane

borscht said:

TwibbleDee said:

So, my experiment with my woolen dresses from Wool&: I now have 5 Sierras and 3 Camillas, all in various colors.  I think I've had one day since May that I didn't wear them. I wash them only every few weeks and spot clean as needed (I managed to splash oil & egg on one whilst making bread--perhaps I should learn to wear my apron?--and it came right out with a bit of gentle soap and a toothbrush).

I have 6 pairs of shorts and 4 pairs of leggings that I wear under them, but still need a few more pairs of shorts.  I rarely wear the leggings, so no need to invest in more of those.  

Hi. 

…
Does stash count? I have a fair bit of sock yarn and some dress fabric in cotton and linen. Do I deduct coupons for that? 
And what about thread and buttons? 

I’d like a new warm winter jacket for next year, but apart from that I’m not planning any other big items. 

I’m quite used to just throwing on my black dress in the morning and getting on with the day. 

Hi @borscht.   No, stash does not count.  You bought the yarn and fabric before “the War” and before rationing was introduced.  

Thread, buttons and other notions were never rationed.  They may not have always been available, due to shipping issues, but they didn’t cost coupons.

- Pip

DrCarrie

Thanks, @PipneyJane for clarifying regarding vouchers /coupons. 

I washed my mac, rucksack and trainers yesterday - they are all yellow - very cheerful. However, on inspection, I raised that my trainers will be wearing through before too long. 

I will have to do a bit of research on replacements. 

Laura_Elsewhere

I've got new mitts for cycling to the quarry on cold mornings to swim - and no coupons spent  

I always loved these socks but sadly they felted very quickly, shrank 'orribly and also the wool turned out just not to be sturdy enough for socks so they got holes under the heels very quickly... 

So now I have mitts  

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

I've got new mitts for cycling to the quarry on cold mornings to swim - and no coupons spent  

I always loved these socks but sadly they felted very quickly, shrank 'orribly and also the wool turned out just not to be sturdy enough for socks so they got holes under the heels very quickly... 

So now I have mitts  

I do so like those, Laura - mostly for the colours but also for the reuse!

I accidentally got myself a wrist warmer when I was using a stripe of coloured sock to reinforce a seam on a jumper, and the cut-off cuff of the sock sat round my wrist all evening, definitely keeping the blood supply warm. Yours are more complete and pretty by quite a way, though!

Laura_Elsewhere

@Cherryfudge, tbh these were completely accidental too - I stuck my hand in to see how badly worn-out they were and my thumb went through a hole and ta-da, mitts! I popped them in a 40-degree wash and tumble-dried them and then just cut away the excess and no need for any sewing at all. Literally just socks and scissors  

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Cherryfudge, tbh these were completely accidental too - I stuck my hand in to see how badly worn-out they were and my thumb went through a hole and ta-da, mitts! I popped them in a 40-degree wash and tumble-dried them and then just cut away the excess and no need for any sewing at all. Literally just socks and scissors  

How serendipitous @Laura_Elsewhere.  They do look lovely and the thumb "gusset" looks designed, not like a repurposed heel.

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

I was just about to ask how you'd made them, that's marvellous!  They look as if they were made for it, such pretty colours.