2023 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

flamingo747

Pip my husband is also a runner and his trainers drive me mad with the miles limits hehe. I don't dare count his coupons! 

Laura_Elsewhere

Twenty or more years ago a very lovely friend gave me a jumper she had knitted from an Alice Starmore pattern; it had taken her five years to knit, during which time she'd had her daughter and gained weight such that she was never even able to try on the beautiful, complex jumper... so, sadly, she had washed and blocked it and carefully packed it away, hoping someday to meet someone she felt she could pass it on to... 13 years later, she surprised me with it!
For 15 years or more, I wore it a lot in winter- a lovely big jumper, hip-length and cosy. 

Then I moved in with Mr N, and he just had the most useless things he called "jumpers" that had little or no wool and did nothing for warmth.... so I lent him my big jumper... 

Nearly a decade after moving in with him, I have decided it's time to knit my own big jumper  

My friend kindly gave me the pattern book as well (Starmore patterns are never published online, and getting hold of the old pattern books is very difficult!), so I have decided to use wool I already have and use the same basic pattern as the existing one.... my friend chose very dark blue with a golden-yellow contrast colour, and I am considering a mid-dark green with cream as contrast colour. I shall change the patterned-band along the hem and cuffs and do a different neck. 

I have Xmas knitting still to finish, but it will be lovely to have a big cosy project for myself some Christmas! The original must now be getting on for thirty years old and going strong...

The basic pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/armagh-sweater

CapricornLass

Another 5 coupons on a zipped chenille cardigan.  Quite heavy, and a beautiful marine green.  It was love at first sight.

I've started knitting a slipover for myself from the wool I bought earlier.  ITs knitted in the round, and in my first attempt I managed to get it all twisted up,  I had to rip it all out and start again.  Sigh (!)

Cherryfudge

Oh my goodness, @Laura_Elsewhere, my head is spinning just looking at that pattern! Not the sort of spinning that turns into yarn, either. Please send pictures though - your colour combination sounds perfect for it.

@CapricornLass, I love chenille and there are some beautiful chenille items around at the moment. You are brave taking back your knitting, though sometimes it's the only way to be happy with it. I put it down to experience which is why I'm not quite experienced with not much to show for it.  

Cherryfudge

I had fun today: the town climate action group had a festival which was full of interesting things and people (and a lot of it was over my head, I admit). Aside from making new friends, having very good refreshments and getting a tour of the town's community gardens (all but one new since lockdown), I have a bundle of leaflets of interesting stuff, have signed up to help with sewing if we can get a local Repair Shop going and was given time and one to one tuition from the ladies demonstrating clothing repair techniques.

I can vouch that sashiko is more beautiful in real life than in photos, and it was nice being able to handle the samples they brought to show. Am I the only one whose hands can see things the eyes don't notice?

The ladies told me, for instance, that sashiko on jeans knees is better with a big piece of fabric inside to support the thinning cloth, and I could feel how they had fitted the backing piece (though they'd not secured the edges inside: I wonder if they normally do?). One lady also showed me tiny crocheted flowers using embroidery thread which would be great either to decorate or to patch lighter fabrics.

I'm inspired to try some of the things I've seen. I've done some before, but seeing others' work gave me a kick in the right direction. One of the joys of visible mending is you can let your imagination have fun!

PipneyJane

@Laura_Elsewhere that jumper is beautiful.  I had the privilege of taking a class with Alice Starmore 15+ years ago.  She’s a lovely lady, a good teacher, and an excellent designer.

@Cherryfudge  - sounds like you’ve had a great day out.  I’ve never seen Shashiko “in the flesh”.

CapricornLass said:

Another 5 coupons on a zipped chenille cardigan.  Quite heavy, and a beautiful marine green.  It was love at first sight.

I've started knitting a slipover for myself from the wool I bought earlier.  ITs knitted in the round, and in my first attempt I managed to get it all twisted up,  I had to rip it all out and start again.  Sigh (!)

I usually knit my jumpers in the round, @CapricornLass.  My big trick is to work the first 3 rounds backwards-and-forwards like I was knitting flat and then, at the end of the third row, make sure everything is pointing in the right direction, join the knitting and continue onwards.  To help avoid twisting, I clip the bottom row together at the join.  (There is a proper description on my blog, but I’m not allowed to link to it.  It’s my name at blogspot.com.  The post is called Spilling the Secret Sauce - Knitting in the Round.)

HTH

- Pip

Gem-gem

Forgot to declare a spend: 1 pair of running trainers (5).

Helped Mum to start to clear out two of the six double wardrobes that she has! She was a little reluctant to get rid of anything. But eventually with some gentle persuasion we discarded a bag of old shoes, also paired up another bag to sell. Of the clothes, I came away with 1 cape, 1 purple linen top, 1 black T-shirt with labels still on and an oversized cardigan. Plus a nearly full black sack to sell. There was a dress that had mould on it, I have washed it and managed to get the mould off.  (0 coupons)

I have also put two skirts into the secondhand shop to sell. Fingers crossed that they will go quickly. 

Spend 2023:

5 x jumpers 30; 3 x 3/4 length trousers 18;          

2 x summer top 10; 1 x slippers 5

4 x vests 12; 1 x trainers 5

Coupons Spent 80/66

CapricornLass

Oddly enough, PipneyJane, I did just exactly that this time round, deciding it was better to do a little bit of sewing up rather than risk my work being twisted again!  But thanks for the tip.

CheeryFudge,  Sashiko is wonderful and satisfying to do, although you need careful measuring to get the stitches in the right place.  But even if its not terribly in straight lines (like mine) it still looks good.  Its extended the life of one of my pairs of jeans by at least 2 years, and I plan to do some more sashiko on one of the thighs and knee so that they carry on lasting for another couple of years.  I've found that its worth paying out for the needles that have been made in Japan by a Japanese maker.  Apart from being beautifully packaged, they seem to be much smoother. Also, one of the Japanese thimbles, which are fit over the middle finger and are more akin to a sail-makers palm.  Saves a lot of pain when trying to push a needle through demin and a backing fabric behind.  

Cherryfudge

Thanks @CapricornLass - between this and the upholstering I've not yet made decisions on, I can see myself spending a bit! On the other hand, favourite jeans are favourite jeans and should be kept going as long as possible.  

@Gem-gem, want to come and sort my loft? I've just been up there and fetched down two bin bags of winter clothes. I've not sorted through them yet. There are also a carrier bag of gloves and hats and another of nice trousers that I outgrew. I'll try them on again but they will probably be passed on. It sounds as though you did quite well out of your Mum's wardrobes, and if things are getting mould on, you've done her a big favour. I keep hanging those dehumidifying things in wardrobes and running the dehumidifier in the room but it's an ongoing battle.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, coupons spent . Today we went shopping for a friend's birthday present and some christmas presents. The things bought for the friend I am sharing coupons with OH as they are a joint present. This friend is lucky enough to be able to fit into age 11 - 12 but as I have no idea at what age girls became women in the ration world and she is an adult I have based the coupon spends on the adult amounts . So 2 cardigans and a jumper, a pair of trousers and 2 pairs of leggings = 25 coupons ÷2 = 12.5 coupons. I also bought a jumper for OHs sis so another 5 coupons so 17.5 spent leaving me with 19 coupons. I have promised OH a couple of pairs of jeans for christmas so I will count those when I have got the jeans but it will leave me with 7 which is ok as I really don't need anything though I am looking for a pair of flat waterproof shoes/boots along the lines of dms, but I haven't found any yet. I will have to do the rounds of the shops but I have been issued with orthotic insoles so they will have to come with me to make sure they fit in

On an interesting note I am sure you will appreciate OH recently bought a new jumper which although not 100% wool has a large % of wool and low and behold OH feels warm while wearing it It has only taken about 12 months of me saying you are wearing the wrong clothes, that's why you feel cold and no we are not putting the heating on . I have also tried to explain that jeans are not the warmest type of trousers but I am still working on that

I haven't completely caught up with everybody but on the subject of sewing machines, I have a singer that I inherited from my Mum so must be at least 60 years old. Unfortunately it currently resides in the loft as I don't yet have anywhere to set it up and it will need a service before I do use it. I used to make lots of my clothes when I was younger but once I left home I only managed a few things when I visited. 

@Laura_Elsewhere that jumper is lovely. I must say most if not all of my jumpers and cardigans are at least hip length and cosy. I generally only wear them in the colder weather.

Well better get weaving with some food for tea.
Take care everyone
Coupons left 19/66