2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

clairemr28

My round up for January (assuming I don't add anything in the next few days).

I pair of joggers (for running around with small GD) = 6 coupons I think.
Multipack of 5 knickers = 10 coupons  
I skein of pure wool = 2 coupons. I was gifted 3 skeins at Christmas but the pattern I want to make needs four so I purchased the extra. However, it also requires one skein of contrast which I've had sitting in my stash for a while, so I'm pleased to be able to use it.

Given how many coupons knickers take I really would like to learn to make some.
In terms of finishing projects I have finished a coat and a skirt, both only needed buttons/snaps, and both in much use now.
Coupon balance 66 - 18 = 48. 

thriftwizard

Splendid to see you, @PipneyJane! But do make sure you are getting enough rest, sleeping fabrics notwithstanding.

I'm definitely going to overspend my coupons this year; DD2 has taken to machine-knitting like a duckling to water and has already worked her way through half of the vast quantity of yarn that was hiding under her bed. Even some of her sister's loom-warping threads have been turned into machine-knit lace. She's even mooted a trip to Wonderw00l Wa!es - there goes the holiday fund! But it's sooo good to see her engaged with something; I need to keep her from overdoing it, and make sure she's getting enough food & exercise, as otherwise she'd just sit there concentrating for 24 hours straight. I do hope she'll realise one day that no-one "stupid" (which she's always thought she is, thanks to her social difficulties) could possibly master the machine, never mind work out how to design stitch patterns and entire garments inside a month.

dND

thriftwizard said:

I do hope she'll realise one day that no-one "stupid" (which she's always thought she is, thanks to her social difficulties) could possibly master the machine, never mind work out how to design stitch patterns and entire garments inside a month.

This almost makes me cry. 😢😢  I can't 'see' words or numbers so spelling and mental arithmetic were a nightmare and I must be "stupid". Give me pencil and paper or a spreadsheet and I can do maths fine.  
I'm hoping that the realisation that neurodivergence is commonplace keeps growing and that 'normal' is the minority.  Our survival as a species has and always will be due to thinking 'outside the box'.

Congratulations to DD2 on mastering the knitting machine so quickly and here's to a blossoming career as a knitwear designer. 🧶⭐

flamingo747

Oh @thriftwizard your poor DD. Is she on the spectrum or adhd? I have felt similar to her many times, led by my either hyperfocus or complete lack of interest in things

MrsCD

Laura_Elsewhere said:

MrsCD said:

Not sure if it was Pip or Laura who mentioned 'running' a sock heel to strengthen it, but Messrs Goggle and Utube don't appear to understand what I mean when I did a search on it, as they came up with running socks(whatever they are 😉).
All this came about because I was watching catch up with Matt Baker's Christmas Travels with his parents. They were at Dove Cottage and they read a bit from Dorothy Wordsworth's diary from Christmas Eve. She wrote that she was running a sock! But it just went over their heads as though they didn't understand what it meant.
Please tell me it's not all in my imagination! 😄

That would be me! And the best explanation to show you how to do it is my friend Sally Pointer on her YouTube channel  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fKKLOUNOHU

It's so much easier than darning after the place has worn thin- but you're right, it's not really remembered nowadays. 
I'm always one for the lazy route- prevention is less effort than cure!  

Thanks, Laura!😊

Wraithlady

Cherryfudge said:

Teadrinker_4 said:

Bought a pair of gloves today as a treat to myself during a visit to the theatre. Could someone tell me how many coupons they would have been please 🙏 
Also bought 200 grams of yarn knit my granddaughter a cardigan.

Gloves are two coupons, and the guidance for yarn is as follows: in actual wool, it's 1 coupon for 2 oz, but synthetic is charged differently, so I think that's 1 coupon for 4 oz (100g) for synthetic.

• 2 ounces of wool knitting yarn equals 50g of any knitting yarn containing natural fibres. Note: according to a display I once saw at the Imperial War Museum, there was a different coupon cost for man-made fibre, but I've never found out what so let's assume acrylic is half the coupon cost of wool, i.e. 100g acrylic equals 1 coupon.

Sorry, I've been trying to learn some Maths today and my brain has packed in for the night and left me unable to do any further conversions! Perhaps someone can help out?

200 grams (synthetic/non-wool) yarn = 2 coupons. 

Cherryfudge

Thanks @Wraithlady! All the Maths really did run my brain to a standstill, though I had a bit of a breakthrough and one of the tables made sense in the end. It was so I could help out in a Maths class, but it turns out I can't now (DH has Covid and while I don't have any symptoms, I can't risk passing infection on as a member of the class has to protect a vulnerable person).

So here I am at home and I've grabbed my various bags of knitting projects to give me something to do that's not at a computer. Of course, I'm tempted to start something new, but that will get me nowhere.

@thriftwizard, how fantastic for your daughter to have a talent like that! My Mum had a knitting machine which I've inherited, but my sister had one too and we haven't sorted out which bits go with which machine... besides which, I have my other projects to finish. What is she making?

Cherryfudge

@thriftwizard, just a thought but could your daughter's knitting supplies come out of her coupons? Unless you are commissioning her to make things for your use, of course.

PipneyJane

Good morning Ladies

@thriftwizard your daughter sounds incredibly talented.  I will keep my fingers crossed that, in real life, she can find a patron to pay her for her talents and promote her skills.

 Meanwhile in 1942, does anyone have contacts at the Ministry of Clothing?  Perhaps they could give her a job and all the fibre/fabric etc she needs as part of her job 

Watty1

Can i just check second hand items are coupon free?  I purchased a cape at the weekend at the charity shop.  Gorgeous (I wouldn't mind using coupons!) brown knitted with a faux fur trim.   I popped in the washing machine on a hand wash with a bit of soap powder and when dry used a hair brush to brush out the trim. Looks like new, and feel v glam in it.  Added a vintage ((although very modern for this thread) broach on date and yes! Very nice date too