2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nelliegrace

A find! Someone put a box of 4 pre-war, men’s fine lawn handkerchiefs in the second hand sale for £5. 
It is 100 days to Christmas. I must get on with my knitting. The traditional tea cosy is annoying me, I knitted a purl row instead of all plain. I plan to save some of our rations for a packet of tea to go with it. My oldest sister would appreciate it. I have given a packet of tea, a bar of scented soap, a jar of our honey, and handkerchiefs as raffle prizes to raise funds. They were appreciated in these frugal times. 

There are some useful knitting patterns here. A member of our Smallholders group was in the WLA and milked cows by hand dawn and dusk every day, for the war effort. 

https://www.womenslandarmy.co.uk/world-wide-knit-in-public-day-gumboot-stockings-and-mittens-knitting-leaflet/

Cherryfudge

I hope the coat comes good Pip! And @Nelliegrace, thank you for the link. I will look into that.

Yesterday I frogged a crochet scarf that I realised I would never wear. It’s a very garish yarn that I imagine was for socks, so now I’m wondering about crocheting garish socks. A lot of work had gone into the scarf but I’ll put that down to hours of practice and new skills learned, and turn the resulting ball of yarn (artificial, but fun) into something wearable.

This morning I looked in local charity shops where we are staying and came away with a very good haul. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80998216/#Comment_80998216

The dress is one that could go over some tee shirts I already have, which would extend the season, and the scarves are just lovely even though I already have around 30 big scarves!

I’d better not say that too loudly in case I get accused of hoarding.

CAFCGirl

Hello!!!!

It has been some time and I fear my face and name may be forgotten but just in case its not, I'm returning from war business and thought I'd show my face at the village hall

Wishing you all well and may your coupons be lasting!

PollyWollyDoodle

Good to see you back CAFCGirl.  We’re used to people being away on overseas postings and the like, always a welcome in the village hall. 

Cherryfudge

Lovely to see you @CAFCGirl, how are you?

I raided another charity shop this afternoon and couldn’t choose between two pairs of jeans so I bought both - coupon-free of course. 😊

One pair is inelegant but winter weight and a perfect fit (so if I manage to continue my slow but steady weight loss they will be too big in a few months). The other pair is a snugger fit but flattering, so will be worn when I want to look smarter.

PipneyJane

Welcome back @CAFCGirl.  Please take a seat, a cup of tea and a slice of cake and tell us all about your War Work.  Did anything exciting happen or was it all paper pushing?

I’m happy to report that the damp smell is gone from my leather jacket.  It was replaced by a dry-cleaner-chemical smell, which has almost dissipated/evaporated, since I put the jacket in the kitchen - warmest place in the house - to air.  

Can anyone tell me, please, how sewing machine needle sizes work?  Are the higher numbers thicker or thinner?  I have several sizes from a L!dl sewing kit.  To my knowledge, I’ve only ever bought three types of sewing machine needle: a one-size-fits-all for regular sewing,, a jersey needle, and a leather needle (very tough, used once).

What needle would you use on denim?  One of the happy side effects of my lymphoma is that I lost nearly two stone on weight  and gone down a dress size.  It means that I can now wear the size 10-12 jeans which were lurking in the bottom of a box and, amazingly, appear to be fashionable.  However, one pair desperately needs the inside leg seam topstitched for reinforcement.  Another pair is “gone” where the rear pockets join the main fabric - caused by carrying my mobile phone in the back pocket and then sitting/bending down - once reinforced/patched they will then become my gardening jeans.

- Pip

Sarahspangles

PipneyJane said:

What needle would you use on denim?  One of the happy side effects of my lymphoma is that I lost nearly two stone on weight  and gone down a dress size.  It means that I can now wear the size 10-12 jeans which were lurking in the bottom of a box and, amazingly, appear to be fashionable.  However, one pair desperately needs the inside leg seam topstitched for reinforcement.  Another pair is “gone” where the rear pockets join the main fabric - caused by carrying my mobile phone in the back pocket and then sitting/bending down - once reinforced/patched they will then become my gardening jeans.

- Pip

Unfortunately - a denim needle. They’re sharper to get through the tough fabric, and on a strong shank. The attrition rate on other needles is high.

PollyWollyDoodle

A useful guide here https://singeroutlet.co.uk/blogs/news/sewing-machine-needle-sizes-a-guide

I am guilty both of using the same size for nearly everything and of rarely changing the needle, I know you should really start each new project with a new needle. 

thriftwizard

I'd use a denim needle, but failing that, at least a 16, maybe an 18 if you can get hold of one & there are heavy seams involved.

dND

Now I’ve actually picked them up, I have a spend to declare.  I took advantage of the Sparks card discount on multipacks of knickers and am now the proud owner of 10 new pairs which I believe is 20 coupons.  That brings my total 46.  I think I am going to need some winter footwear so I might be blowing the budget but I may strike lucky in the charity shops.

What I may need is shoes or boots that I can wear with the socks I’ve knitted. 😁

This is the first pair and there are lots of faults if you look closely but I really don’t think anyone is going to look that closely at my feet.  They were fun to knit – once I got over being all thumbs with the double ended needles.  I’m now halfway through the first sock of the second pair which are being made from the multi blue coloured balls of yarn.  

I’m going to rummage around in my wool stash and see if I can find enough yarn to knit a cardigan or jumper next with ¾ length sleeves.  I really don’t like full length sleeves – and having short arms most commercially produced sleeves are too long for me anyway.  I’m itching to get my knitting books out of their boxes and see what old patterns I have there.

Thank you all for the inspiration you’ve given me to try knitting again. xx