2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

MrsCD

Thanks Laura, they look delicious! Do I see a 'vintage' biscuit cutter there, and maybe a similar aged knife? I inherited some similar ones which may have been my grandma's originally.
Yes, Pip, the cloth needle holders probably won't stop the bamboo needles from breaking. I thought they were an interesting project for 'when I have the time'! 😂😂😂
Good to hear you've managed your latest bout of treatment so well.🤗😊

PipneyJane

Yummy!  Thanks @Laura_Elsewhere.  

I’m currently resisting the urge to buy HFW’s latest book, following his appearance on BBC Breakfast earlier this week.  I only want the recipes for the two samples he brought along, an oat-based bread and some sort of breakfast bar.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

MrsCD said:

Thanks Laura, they look delicious! Do I see a 'vintage' biscuit cutter there, and maybe a similar aged knife? I inherited some similar ones which may have been my grandma's originally.

Well-spotted! Yes, I have three biscuit-cutters (and the two wire racks) which were Gran's (born c.1908 iirc), but the knife is my pride and joy- I have two, bone-handled and steel-bladed (as in steel, not stainless-steel- incredibly sharp if I sharpen them, but must be cleaned immediately after use and wiped dry and lightly-oiled, or they rust!) which have a crown and VR stamped on the blade so must have been her mother's, my great-grandmother's! I have her handwritten recipe book, started in 1903, and really enjoy using her old kitchen knife to mix up recipes she made.... four generations and a hundred and twenty-one years later... 

PollyWollyDoodle

Sharp eyes, @PipneyJane - I was just focused on the biscuits!  My mum had a steel knife like that, she used it for everything. 

Funny you should mention yarn stash, I have just gone through mine this morning. Two crates sorted (by weight of yarn) and repacked, and a carrier bag to take to the next WI Craft group to see if anyone wants it, if not I’ll drop it at the charity shop. 

I really should have got rid of more, but I have got some ideas for reducing the stash. I have also made a mental note that if I haven’t done some of them by next year, then the rest of it needs to go.  

Sarahspangles

Sarahspangles said:

Can I get a ruling on swimwear?! I’ve now also bought a tankini and bikini bottoms, is that two items?

Thanks all, 3 it is (it’s not like I can wear either top or bottoms separately, tee hee).

This puts me at coupons so far this year:

Sports shoes, January sale: 5 
Swimsuit: 3
Tankini suit: 3
Two vest tops: 2 x 3 = 6
Four pr knickers: 2 x 4 = 8
Sandals: 5
100g Yarn: 2
Balance: 34

That’s half my vouchers gone and I don’t have any new day wear! But I shouldn’t need scanties, sportswear or footwear for the duration.

The yarn is BFL from Eden Cottage Yarns. I had to do a sort of reverse search on Ravelry to see what 4 ply BFL people have recently added to their stash, and found this company, also in Yorkshire.  The weight is a good match for the yarn I’m reusing. I’m not sure about the colour, the yarn I already have is berry colours, the new yarn is a taupe and slightly darker than I thought it would be. Although I don’t want a really light colour for gloves, patterns may not show up.

In the evenings this week I’ve been replacing a handbag lining. I got it second hand, the leather is in good condition but the lining has gone on every seam, beyond repair. I took it out as the pattern for a simplified lining. It has two zipped sections, so I made two ‘bags’ with gusset to drop in . The slow part is stitching them in, as the original was attached by top stitching through the leather and zip and I didn’t want to redo the top stitching I’m having to use blanket stitch to attach it to the zip. The lining fabric is left over from a skirt my sister made me in 1996.

alicef

The biscuits look utterly divine @Laura_Elsewhere!  Baked goods - another thing I have no willpower over.

Hmmm time for me to 'fess up @PipneyJane .  My recent yarn purchases - Valley Yarn Huntingdon (4 ply) to knit Patricia Roberts Brownie - I've always wanted to knit this sweater, (cables and bobbles!)  and a little more Drops Soft Tweed, to augment stash, so I have enough to do a 2 colour version of the Rowan Midwinter Blanket, (I did the Rowan Garland colourway as part of 2023 KAL - which I'm still sewing the ends in during my Knit & Natter sessions, but Rowan Felted Tweed is a bit pricey - hence opting for Drops).  Both yarns were on sale, sooooo  some damage limitation.  Top photo taken by me of P. Roberts book; bottom photo is nabbed from Wool Warehouse site.

MrsCD

Laura_Elsewhere said:

MrsCD said:

Thanks Laura, they look delicious! Do I see a 'vintage' biscuit cutter there, and maybe a similar aged knife? I inherited some similar ones which may have been my grandma's originally.

Well-spotted! Yes, I have three biscuit-cutters (and the two wire racks) which were Gran's (born c.1908 iirc), but the knife is my pride and joy- I have two, bone-handled and steel-bladed (as in steel, not stainless-steel- incredibly sharp if I sharpen them, but must be cleaned immediately after use and wiped dry and lightly-oiled, or they rust!) which have a crown and VR stamped on the blade so must have been her mother's, my great-grandmother's! I have her handwritten recipe book, started in 1903, and really enjoy using her old kitchen knife to mix up recipes she made.... four generations and a hundred and twenty-one years later... 

Did you see The Repair Shop on Wednesday? They repaired a recipe book which also had coding in it from a WREN who wrote some of her notes in it during the war! It was amazing how he managed to put it all back together. 😊

PipneyJane

@alicef love the cables in that jumper.  Am I correct in assuming the pattern is from the 1980’s?  (It’s the styling that gave it away.). I’m curious to hear what you think of the Valley Yarns’ Huntingdon.  It’s the house brand of the American yarn shop, Webbs, who have the best website address ever (https://www.yarn.com/).  I used to listen to their podcast.

I finally finished the Five Hour Baby Sweater.  Aren’t the buttons cute?

PipneyJane

Sarahspangles said:

Sarahspangles said:

Can I get a ruling on swimwear?! I’ve now also bought a tankini and bikini bottoms, is that two items?

Thanks all, 3 it is (it’s not like I can wear either top or bottoms separately, tee hee).

This puts me at coupons so far this year:

Sports shoes, January sale: 5 
Swimsuit: 3
Tankini suit: 3
Two vest tops: 2 x 3 = 6
Four pr knickers: 2 x 4 = 8
Sandals: 5
100g Yarn: 2
Balance: 34

That’s half my vouchers gone and I don’t have any new day wear! But I shouldn’t need scanties, sportswear or footwear for the duration.

Remember, @Sarahspangles, it isn’t what you wear, it’s the way that you wear it, that’s what makes an outfit work.   You still have enough coupons that, if you find the perfect item, you can buy it.  (If it’s not perfect, then don’t.)

In the evenings this week I’ve been replacing a handbag lining. I got it second hand, the leather is in good condition but the lining has gone on every seam, beyond repair. I took it out as the pattern for a simplified lining. It has two zipped sections, so I made two ‘bags’ with gusset to drop in . The slow part is stitching them in, as the original was attached by top stitching through the leather and zip and I didn’t want to redo the top stitching I’m having to use blanket stitch to attach it to the zip. The lining fabric is left over from a skirt my sister made me in 1996.

A good handbag is worth its weight in gold.  Good luck with the repair.

- Pip

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, listening to radio 4 this morning there was a lady on who said she hasn't bought any clothes for 5 years. She is involved with something called Edinburgh street stichers and they run workshops to show people how to repair clothes and make their own clothes. She buys things from cs to make herself new clothes from the fabric. She can be found on Instagram at Edinburgh street stitchers but I don't do insta but if anyone does it might be an interesting read
Take care everyone