2023 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

PollyWollyDoodle

 I used to wear suits, easy to just ring the changes with a t-shirt underneath but I had several – I’m sure my male colleagues only had a couple. As said, nobody notices what chaps are wearing unless they have egg on their tie or something. I have been absent for awhile, special overseas work, y’know. 

Very proud of the fact that I didn’t buy anything new for my holiday, I bought a secondhand maxi dress from a charity shop. Everything else was just what I had in the wardrobe. Years ago, I would have gone shopping for ‘holiday clothes’ and probably spent a small fortune on stuff that only got worn once.

However, I am going to have to spend some of my coupons. I want some new pyjamas, or I might have a go at making them, but I badly need new slippers and I’m not going to find those second hand. 

I know there has been discussion about slippers before, does anyone have any recommendations? I need something that will stay on my foot (e.g. not clogs or mules), and ideally, something with a good sole because I am bound to go out in the garden in them to do the bins, yes, I keep a pair of Crocs by the back door to change into but invariably forget. 🙄 

Cherryfudge

PollyWollyDoodle said:

I know there has been discussion about slippers before, does anyone have any recommendations? I need something that will stay on my foot (e.g. not clogs or mules), and ideally, something with a good sole because I am bound to go out in the garden in them to do the bins, yes, I keep a pair of Crocs by the back door to change into but invariably forget. 🙄 

This isn't exactly a recommendation but I save lightweight summer shoes (cloth type flats) or old running shoes for wearing around the house. I think they hold to the feet better than slippers and so are much safer. The problem is I forget I'm wearing them so sometimes I end up wearing them to the shops, however shabby they are!

MrsCD

I gave up on slippers after a couple of times bumping down the stairs on my bottom! I wear my old walking sandals all year round, with and without socks. They have a much better grip on the carpet.

Laura_Elsewhere

another one here who doesn’t wear slippers on safety grounds after a bad fall… imo, there’s a clue in the name!!

 I have various plimsolls I wear with socks, and also a pair of very nice deep-pink hiking-shoes I wear if doing a day in the hard-floored kitchen!

flamingo747

I fell off the face of the earth since last coming into this thread, I find it tough not just having an app for this forum!

I've reset with 15 from Sept 1st, and will try to do better. I don't buy much new, especially with V-inted, but I bought yarn and knickers this year new.

PipneyJane

flamingo747 said:

I fell off the face of the earth since last coming into this thread, I find it tough not just having an app for this forum!

I've reset with 15 from Sept 1st, and will try to do better. I don't buy much new, especially with V-inted, but I bought yarn and knickers this year new.

Welcome back @flamingo747.  We’ll assume you were away on war work.  Please have a cup of tea and a slice of courgette cake.  (There’s loads in the cake tin.)

I’ve yet to work out the coupon cost, but I’ve blown all my remaining coupons and some of DH’s on knitting yarn.  Couldn’t resist “closing down sale” bargains at GB Yarns.  Despite this, I think I’d have made much larger dents in my stash, if I hadn’t spent an entire year knitting and re-knitting my Sandrine sweater.  I’d be finished except that I decided to unpick the bottom hem of the body and re-knit the last 5 rows - which are in K4 P1 rib - with the purl side out, in the hope that that will stop it curling up (or if it still curls, at least it’ll look like a design feature - a hem - instead of a flaw).

- Pip

flamingo747

PipneyJane said:

I’ve yet to work out the coupon cost, but I’ve blown all my remaining coupons and some of DH’s on knitting yarn.  Couldn’t resist “closing down sale” bargains at GB Yarns.  Despite this, I think I’d have made much larger dents in my stash, if I hadn’t spent an entire year knitting and re-knitting my Sandrine sweater.  I’d be finished except that I decided to unpick the bottom hem of the body and re-knit the last 5 rows - which are in K4 P1 rib - with the purl side out, in the hope that that will stop it curling up (or if it still curls, at least it’ll look like a design feature - a hem - instead of a flaw).

- Pip

Itinerary awe of complicated knitting. I can just manage to knit a dishcloth!

Gem-gem

No new spends for me. 

Pip, like you I have had to undo a section of my project - 19 rows of my poncho. I have now caught up and have 16 rows to go. 

Cherryfudge

Welcome back @flamingo747.

@PipneyJane, I haven't tried to make it but the general look of your sweater is appealing and the blues in your stash is gorgeous! Taking back and remaking is such an effort, but it's worth it to get it right.

I have no more spends to declare but I did go a bit mad at last weekend's car boot sale and ended up with six items, of which I've kept three - all off the ration, of course. There's a Next short-sleeved top in grey with a contrast panel: I did hesitate a bit as it's asymmetrical, but not aggressively so, meaning I'm not quite sure of the effect but I did like the colour - dark grey with a white/print panel and for a pound I decided to risk it! There's also a bright pink Boden top in linen, and a striped Gap sundress which was perfect for the weather last weekend but may not be worn again till the next heatwave. the other items just weren't right when I put them on so they went in the donation bag along with a belt and cardigan that aren't right on me either.

flamingo747

I have three balls of yarn, and I want to crochet a new scarf. I've noticed that I keep losing a stitch in each new row, and I don't know why. Of course, I don't really bother counting each line, I just wait until it all looks wonky any ideas?