2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

diminua

More coupons spent - two nightdresses this time. They are nice though, and will take up almost no space when I travel. That's takes me down to 19 coupons.  

Laura_Elsewhere

maryb said:

Presumably the 2 ply wool was knitted on quite big needles so it would trap lots of air but would knit up quickly?  

 The patterns seem to be knitted on quite fine needles, from memory an old UK 14 springs to mind- but then again a good woollen vest would last you years and years, and then almost certainly could be sold into the second-hand market. So the time was an investment. 

And the infants' vests wouldn't take anywhere near as long. 

PipneyJane

diminua said:

More coupons spent - two nightdresses this time. They are nice though, and will take up almost no space when I travel. That's takes me down to 19 coupons.  

Two important points, @diminua.  Also, nightdresses are rarely/never available secondhand, so this is a purchase worthy of your coupons.

- Pip

Sarahspangles

Laura_Elsewhere said:

maryb said:

Presumably the 2 ply wool was knitted on quite big needles so it would trap lots of air but would knit up quickly?  

 The patterns seem to be knitted on quite fine needles, from memory an old UK 14 springs to mind- but then again a good woollen vest would last you years and years, and then almost certainly could be sold into the second-hand market. So the time was an investment. 

And the infants' vests wouldn't take anywhere near as long. 

According to my gauge, a 14 is a 2mm needle. I have knitted ribbing on 2.25 but I can’t imagine knitting a whole garment!

Laura_Elsewhere

Size 14 was the normal needle size for all kinds of things- women's cardigans and so on. All of my Gran's pre-war patterns for socks and stockings use 3-ply wool (thinner than our 4-ply) and c.2mm needles. Mind you, 17th century stockings, men's and women's, were often knitted with about a 1mm needle and laceweight or thinner wool! 

Thick wool and big needles is very much a recent thing!  

Nelliegrace

@maryb 2ply would be very fine, lace weight Shetland wool, knitted on very thin needles, similar to ring shawl wool.
I think this is a 1940s pattern, shorter than 1930 vests.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,

@PipneyJane have you considered contacting the harris tweed shop on the isle of Harris where it's all made. If I remember correctly you can get a sample of their fabrics so you could check the colour against the jacket, just a thought
Take care everyone

PipneyJane

Liverpool_Anne said:

Hi all,

@PipneyJane have you considered contacting the harris tweed shop on the isle of Harris where it's all made. If I remember correctly you can get a sample of their fabrics so you could check the colour against the jacket, just a thought
Take care everyone

Good idea @Liverpool_Anne.  I haven’t had a response from EWM.  I will contact the Harris Tweed shop today.

- Pip

Nelliegrace

This one is pretty, from Trefriw Woollen Mill.  I have sorted a couple of fleece gilets for the bin and the charity shop, and won this today for £9.99. I found it listed under the mill name. There were some from The Cambrian Mill, which was sponsored later by The Royal British Legion, which used to employ disabled servicemen.

Cherryfudge

I have my small piece of Welsh weaving here with me, @Nelliegrace. From memory, I bought it at Merioneth Mill but that may be in error as I found 'Merion Mill' online. That would have been around 1976 and it's still bright and strong!

I had some non-coupon clothing spending today, as I found a couple of large scarves I liked at a car boot sale. Both are now line-drying but I found the red cotton one has some marks that I didn't spot when I bought it. It's quite large and seems to have been in contact with something navy blue so the colour has transferred. After a couple of hand washes and rubbing laundry liquid into the marks, they've faded but they're still there. I might try again as I think it would look nice against a dark coat or jumper - which was probably exactly how it got the blue stains in the first place. (The other scarf is some easy-care fabric, maybe viscose, with lots of yardage and covered in little birds. Not elegant but cute).