2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nelliegrace

@diminua
Was the green coat  part of your WVS uniform? They did not require coupons initially, though they did after 1st, November 1941.

Nelliegrace

I frittered some money on two prewar handkerchiefs at a fund raising sale, (£9.50, no coupons.)

I would rather do that than give my aluminium saucepans to the National scrap collection where they will be worth a shilling if they are useable, and have to buy another at 10 shillings each. 

Cherryfudge

Those are exquisite, @Nelliegrace. Such a lot of work has gone into them - all those drawn threads!

I have a no-coupon scarf from a car boot sale today. DH is trying to buy slippers that don't have black soles as the carpet cleaning chap told us the black soles mark the carpet. Nothing found locally so an Internet search seems necessary.

ETA: completely forgot - M&S trousers from a car boot sale for self, second hand so no coupons.

Nelliegrace

“…do bear in mind that second hand is coupon free,” I was having a senior moment when reading the post about the pair of fingerless gloves. 

I am still convalescing from a day trip by coach, not many miles from here, a special event for our holiday from home.
It was a lovely day, visiting a country market town with produce stalls, then going further and enjoying my picnic in a popular village, by the shallow river where children were paddling on a hot day.
I saw a small egg in shiny stone in a fund raising shop, and pounced on it. The ceramic ones have been as rare as hens teeth, and they are necessary sometimes to get young hens to lay their eggs in the nest box.
The coach had been diverted, filled up so no space was wasted, and then it was delayed, as so many journeys are, which meant that it was a very long and exhausting journey home. I should have headed the warning posters. (1942)
The good news is that many of the bomb craters affecting the local roads are getting repaired. Some were very dangerous in the dark and filled with rain. Our friend fell down a hole a few weeks ago where the metal cover had been taken for scrap, and broke his ankle.

diminua

Nelliegrace said:

@diminua
Was the green coat  part of your WVS uniform? They did not require coupons initially, though they did after 1st, November 1941.

Sadly not, (although I just looked that uniform up and the colour isn't as far off as I  expected. I'd assumed the WVS would be in a khaki green). Those are great coats though - and they're the sort of length I mean, over the knee so your legs don't get wet. 

Laura_Elsewhere

@Nelliegrace those handkerchieves are exquisite!!

I have a lovely trench-coat from when I worked in France before the War- obviously I bought a trenchcoat and a beret  

Sadly, it's too small for me at present but I am working on it, and intend to be able to wear it in a year or so. I love the idea of re-lining it in some colourful Liberty-print fabric, perhaps... and will paint the outside well with Fabsil Gold, which we use on Mr E's lightweight zip-front rain-jacket, my bicycle panniers and saddle-cover, etc. Excellent stuff! 

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Nelliegrace those handkerchieves are exquisite!!

I have a lovely trench-coat from when I worked in France before the War- obviously I bought a trenchcoat and a beret  

Sadly, it's too small for me at present but I am working on it, and intend to be able to wear it in a year or so. I love the idea of re-lining it in some colourful Liberty-print fabric, perhaps... and will paint the outside well with Fabsil Gold, which we use on Mr E's lightweight zip-front rain-jacket, my bicycle panniers and saddle-cover, etc. Excellent stuff! 

Agreed. Someone put a lot of time and care into those hankies.

@Laura_Elsewhere what is this Fabsil Gold of which you speak?  Where do you buy it and how do you use it?  (I might as well try to resurrect my old summer coat since, with the detachable lining it is warmer than the new one.  It’ll be shabby but waterproof.)

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

@PipneyJane - I buy mine by the 5-litre from the Bay of E...  

It's the stuff I've used since the 1980s for waterproofing tents, jackets, bags... Fabsil is the original, Fabsil Gold is just the more heavy-duty version. It is petrochemical-based, sadly, and it also makes the fabric less breathable, so if the garment originally had a waxed finish you may want to consider having it professionally re-waxed. 
But for most purposes, short of strenuous hiking in foul weather then it works well ime  

You can paint it on, or put it into a spray-bottle and spray it- I reckon the spray works best, but just make sure you get good coverage (first time might need two applications), and use a paintbrush to work it well into the seams and topstitching. I use a smallish 2" paintbrush. 
I just use Ecover washing-up liquid and warm water to clean everything. 

And definitely hang it in a very well-aired place to dry, nowhere near your living space!

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@PipneyJane - I buy mine by the 5-litre from the Bay of E...  

It's the stuff I've used since the 1980s for waterproofing tents, jackets, bags... Fabsil is the original, Fabsil Gold is just the more heavy-duty version. It is petrochemical-based, sadly, and it also makes the fabric less breathable, so if the garment originally had a waxed finish you may want to consider having it professionally re-waxed. 
But for most purposes, short of strenuous hiking in foul weather then it works well ime  

You can paint it on, or put it into a spray-bottle and spray it- I reckon the spray works best, but just make sure you get good coverage (first time might need two applications), and use a paintbrush to work it well into the seams and topstitching. I use a smallish 2" paintbrush. 
I just use Ecover washing-up liquid and warm water to clean everything. 

And definitely hang it in a very well-aired place to dry, nowhere near your living space!

Thanks @Laura_Elsewhere.  Do you reckon it’d work with microfibre fabric?  (I think that’s 100% polyester, in real life.)

I’m finally back in the hospital for my prophylactic treatment.  They put the line back in my arm this morning, but I didn’t get a bed until late afternoon.  At least all the beds are in private rooms, even if this one is hot and stuffy.   I reckon I’ll have at least one pair of socks finished by the end of the week.  I decided against bringing anything more complex.

- Pip

Cherryfudge

Sending you lots of good wishes @PipneyJane. I hope you can sleep okay.