2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Are you sure that was your first attempt at knitting socks dND 😉 They look wonderful 🤩 Well Done 🥳

Laura_Elsewhere

dND said:

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.  

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

Those look brilliant- and tbh you've done far better than most other knitters on their first pair- it's highly usual to come out with two socks that are not the same because you improved so much on the second sock and end up knitting a third so that socks 2 and 3 make a pair So you've bypassed that, and made a pair to begin with- well done!! 

dND

Thank you Mrs SD and Laura.  I've done a lot of crochet so I think that helps with the tension.  The buried memories of primary school knitting - I was really proud of my tea cosy - meant that I didn't have any problem changing which hand holds the yarn either. ❤️

PollyWollyDoodle

Well, the bad news is that my sewing machine is not repairable.  That is to say, it could be repaired but the cost of a new motherboard plus the servicing charges would be close to the cost of a new machine.  

My 110+ year-old hand crank is looking smug and saying nothing ☺️

However, much as I love that machine, an electric one which does buttonholes, zigzag etc is essential to me. Sewing is really important to me (even though I never do quite as much as I want) so this will qualify as a ‘rainy day’ purchase.  I think it’ll be another Janome as I’ve got quite a few specialist feet that I want to go on using.  Just wondered if anybody has bought a new machine recently, and if you’ve got any recommendations?  

Most models will cover the basics, ie needle up/down, reverse, lock stitch and have a variety of different stitches of which I’ll probably only use three! 

Sarahspangles

I’ve liked, but sorry to hear that. I hope you find a good one.

I was impressed to see that a local sewing group had arranged a demo from a local sewing machine repair man to show how to do basic servicing. Not that a motherboard can be serviced. I wish I’d gone, I know I need to use the Singer oil but not how much…..!

I saw the event because I was looking at local art and craft groups, thinking forward to retirement. There are a few but quite far to travel. I will have to investigate the ones that don’t have an online presence. I was enjoying our local Art Club but it’s been infiltrated by A Dreadful Woman.

Laura_Elsewhere

@PollyWollyDoodle my 1902 Singer has an attachment I bought for a fiver at a jumble-stall which means it does buttonholes- it’s wonderful and very efficient. Because the needle cannot move side to side, the little device moves the fabric from side to side, as well as forward for the specified distance and then across for the chosen width and then back and then across to where it started. 

There is a related device that does zig-zag stitching- I keep meaning to find one.



So perhaps save the money and keep using your old hand crank machine?

The person to ask about *anything* to do with old hand-crank or treadle machines is Helen Howes who knows more than almost anyone since Mr Singer, imo... https://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/
She also sells parts as and when she can get them. And is very nice  

Laura_Elsewhere

Sarahspangles said:

I’ve liked, but sorry to hear that. I hope you find a good one.

I was impressed to see that a local sewing group had arranged a demo from a local sewing machine repair man to show how to do basic servicing. Not that a motherboard can be serviced. I wish I’d gone, I know I need to use the Singer oil but not how much…..!

I saw the event because I was looking at local art and craft groups, thinking forward to retirement. There are a few but quite far to travel. I will have to investigate the ones that don’t have an online presence. I was enjoying our local Art Club but it’s been infiltrated by A Dreadful Woman.

If it helps, my 1902 Singer ran perfectly from 1980 when I acquired it until 2015 without any oil whatsoever because I just never got round to bothering to use any, ahem, ahem, *::looks mortified::*. I have apologised profusely to it...

I use light machine oil in a fine-nozzle bottle, just cheap stuff from online- and I do now apply it to half a dozen specified points, following the instructions in the manual- literally just hold the bottle tilted, and let one drop fall and straighten the bottle back upright. I do that every time I use the machine after a break even of only a week, and if I'm using it repeatedly I oil it every day before use. 

TC77

Hope it's ok to pop in as I haven't caught up having been absent for months but wanted to declare my spends this year,

2 macs - I short and 1 abit longer 14 and 11
2 hoodies, and 4 t-shirts , all seem to be 5 (but haven't worn one t-shirt so a lesson learnt) 20
I pair jeans  5
Trainers 5
2 x jumpers 10
Total 65 assumed jeans like men's trews (basic).
I haven't counted 2nd hand or the seconds sold in my charity shop (would be far more) but will next year. Have to see if I can stick to no more purchases, although I am passing many items on so want to see these and CS seconds as swaps. Putting it down makes me more accountable and this morning thought I had bought less then thing kept popping into my head as I remembered I had bought hoodies and extra t-shirts.
Hope to pick up on knitting and sewing as so many of you do.

PollyWollyDoodle

Thank you for the link to Helen Howes @Laura_Elsewhere, that’s a really interesting site and very useful if I ever need any spares.  

I can do most things on the Frister & Rossman, and it’s much better at handling heavy fabrics like denim or upholstery-type. I’ll never part with it.  However, I would prefer to have another electric machine for every day stuff. It took me a while to get used to not having to turn the handle and having both hands-free for the fabric! But I like some of the conveniences like being able to finish with the needle up, ‘locking’ the end of seams etc. so I am going to replace it.  

I believe sewing is essential to my mental health - it’s my ‘happy place’ even though I often spend a lot of time unpicking what I’ve just sewn!  

dND

PollyWollyDoodle said:

Well, the bad news is that my sewing machine is not repairable.  That is to say, it could be repaired but the cost of a new motherboard plus the servicing charges would be close to the cost of a new machine.  

My 110+ year-old hand crank is looking smug and saying nothing ☺️

However, much as I love that machine, an electric one which does buttonholes, zigzag etc is essential to me. Sewing is really important to me (even though I never do quite as much as I want) so this will qualify as a ‘rainy day’ purchase.  I think it’ll be another Janome as I’ve got quite a few specialist feet that I want to go on using.  Just wondered if anybody has bought a new machine recently, and if you’ve got any recommendations?  

Most models will cover the basics, ie needle up/down, reverse, lock stitch and have a variety of different stitches of which I’ll probably only use three! 

Oh Polly!  I'm praying that mine have survived all the jiggling about they have had with removal and storage.  They're nothing special, a cheap modern Toyota for everyday sewing and a very old flatbed, (Jones I think), bought when I was 21.  I'm 70 very soon but it weighs a ton and therefore means it doesn't move when I sew heavy stuff like curtains.  Not that I've sewn much for years and years.  That's another thing I need to rediscover. 😁