2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

thriftmonster

Delurking to ask if I can join this year. I am determined to use up both wool and fabric stashes this year but am still losing weight (on purpose) so my coupons may need to go towards underwear in the first instance. My sewing machine needs a service - it's a Pfaff from the mid 70s so coming up for 50 years old. I just need to find somewhere.

PipneyJane

thriftmonster said:

Delurking to ask if I can join this year. I am determined to use up both wool and fabric stashes this year but am still losing weight (on purpose) so my coupons may need to go towards underwear in the first instance. My sewing machine needs a service - it's a Pfaff from the mid 70s so coming up for 50 years old. I just need to find somewhere.

Welcome @thriftmonster.  Please take a seat by the fire.  Cup of tea?

My mum used to drool over those Pfaff's.  It was her dream machine.  If you live anywhere near West London, I can recommend the people who service my machine, Tyson Sewing Machines in Southall.  They are mainly focused on industrial machines, but they're happy to service domestic ones.

- Pip

flamingo747

@thriftmonster I started part way through the year last year with 15 coupons, spent 14, 12 of which were knickers! Some things you just can't go second hand lol. 

Cherryfudge

flamingo747 said:

@thriftmonster I started part way through the year last year with 15 coupons, spent 14, 12 of which were knickers! Some things you just can't go second hand lol. 

This got me thinking - people were making their own knickers at some point - last year, I think. The first post has a link https://indigorchid.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/sewing-underwear-the-free-pattern/ but it no longer leads to an actual pattern.

Does anyone have a recommendation for 'brief' pattern for those of us who have saved an old tee shirt or ten to try making underwear? Please?  

pixtotts

Cherryfudge said:

flamingo747 said:

@thriftmonster I started part way through the year last year with 15 coupons, spent 14, 12 of which were knickers! Some things you just can't go second hand lol. 

This got me thinking - people were making their own knickers at some point - last year, I think. The first post has a link https://indigorchid.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/sewing-underwear-the-free-pattern/ but it no longer leads to an actual pattern.

Does anyone have a recommendation for 'brief' pattern for those of us who have saved an old tee shirt or ten to try making underwear? Please?  

I haven't checked them all but I did check 4 or 5 which were all working  - https://gwenstellamade.com/blog/10-free-underwear-sewing-patterns 

From the ones I did check Paper Theory was my favourite, they have a free skirt pattern I like the look of too... I really need to figure out how to work the sewing machine I inherited it's far too fancy for me >.<  

Laura_Elsewhere

I find the style known in modern times as 'tap panties' much more comfortable, known in my younger years as French Knickers- although that now seems to be used to mean short tight briefs made with some gathers at the edges! I mean knickers made from woven cotton or linen or silk, non-stretch, like a pair of flared shorts. 

Anyway, those are incredible easy to make yourself, much easier than trying to faff about with cutting and sewing t-shirt material that stretches so you end up with skewiff-knicks! you can always buy cotton and polycotton cheaply- duvet-covers are a great source of cotton-rich fabric that is lightweight yet sturdy, dyefast and intended to be machine-washed/dried  
I have some lightweight linen intended this year for making knicks and camisoles... pure linen is THE best stuff to make hot flushes just not-a-problem Even a small percentage of cotton or viscose or anything else will stop the linen's thermoregulation, so I am looking forward to spending next summer in pure, 100% linen!

Elisheba

PipneyJane said:

flamingo747 said:

If you make one thing 'womens' and one 'mens' you can sell more and at a higher price. For example, pink razors! 

There is an excellent episode of the BBC Podcast, The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread, where they examine razors.  When asked about the difference between men’s and women’s razors, a dermatologist responds that women’s are “pink, so they can charge three times more”.  There is no difference beyond marketing, so don’t be a mug: buy a man’s razor.

- Pip

Just catching up. I have a wooden handle safety razor (as it's more environmentally friendly) and when I bought it I bulk bought razor blades for it, and have enough to last about a century 😂. No gender involved, and a very thrifty option. What I will say though is they may well be safer than the previous open blades, but they are not nearly as safe as modern multibladed razors and many is the shaving cut I've given myself!

Cherryfudge

pixtotts said:

I haven't checked them all but I did check 4 or 5 which were all working  - https://gwenstellamade.com/blog/10-free-underwear-sewing-patterns 

From the ones I did check Paper Theory was my favourite, they have a free skirt pattern I like the look of too... I really need to figure out how to work the sewing machine I inherited it's far too fancy for me >.<  

Thank you - I will investigate!

@Laura_Elsewhere, I never knew French knickers had changed their name! Shows how behind the times one can be. It's probably due largely to you singing the praises of pure linen that I now have quite a few linen items, though underwear is still cotton. Odd, really, when in some ways it's still referred to as 'linen'. 'Washing ones dirty linen in public' comes to mind (!) but I'm not sure younger people would be familiar with that phrase!

Now I really ought to be doing other things, I only stuck my head round the door of the village hall because I heard a buzz of voices.

dND

First vouchers spent!  I took a look at the weather forecast for next week and have purchased 2 thermal vests, (3 vouchers each), and a 3-pack of thermal short socks, (1 voucher per pair).  So 9 vouchers used.

I held out for as long a possible as I have some thermal underwear, all be it ancient, but it's in storage still. 😞

Cherryfudge

I was just thinking this morning, @dND, that for all it's been wet and windy, this really hasn't been all that cold a winter. Then I heard that's set to change from next week.

I've been missing the layering up, though I'm much more comfy when I'm not wearing umpteen layers. It's as though I programmed myself to hunker down with hot water bottles and extra blankets, a vest, long sleeved polo neck top, jumper, fleece, tights under trousers, long socks and thermal boots. After a while I began to feel something wasn't right and I've got used to more or less what I'd wear in autumn.