2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PurpleAndGreen

Laura_Elsewhere said:

PurpleAndGreen said:

Hello all

Firstly, thanks for the welcomes @PollyWollyDoodle, @Cherryfudge and @Liverpool_Anne, I feel quite at home here, the fire is keeping me warm on a cold day.

I've been having a debate with myself about a coat that I've seen online, but I've told myself that the three coats I have already are quite enough,  Think this year is going to be more difficult than I thought!

PAG

Hullo P&G! 

Are the three coats suitable for any of the tricks they used in wartime to make it feel like they had more clothes? Can you do clever things with scarves or making extra cuffs/collars that can be tacked on temporarily or safety-pinned from inside, etc.? 

Hello Laura

Now that's an idea, hadn't thought of that.  One of the coats could have contrasting cuffs added. I'll give it some thought and have a look through my fabric stash to see if I've got anything suitable.  The collar would be a bit more complicated but think I could do the cuffs fairly easily.  

Thanks for the idea.

PAG

Cherryfudge

@Laura_Elsewhere, I was meandering in a charity shop today and this pattern caught my eye (beyond my skill so I didn't buy it) - it looked so like your new coat and hat that I did a double take! Is it the same?
(Apologies in advance if I can't make the picture smaller, but I'll try).

Laura_Elsewhere

@Cherryfudge - nope, nothing like!! I didn't use a pattern- or rather I did, but it's one I drafted 15 or so years ago combining several women's sleeved-waistcoats from the mid to late 17th century...! 

In construction, it's more like this 1630-1650 one in the V&A museum, especially the back, with most of the armhole actually cut into the back, and those huge sleeves with the fullness at the back, where in modern ones it'd be on the shoulder... my original draft had the sleeves gathered into that narrow band, but in this jacket I just left the sleeves open. 
It's actually a very simple design- two fronts, one back, two sleeves (each only one piece), and a little plain collar. 

I want to make another one, in spring-flower curtain fabric- you know that stuff with sort of Jacobeanesque flowers embroidered over it? I like the idea of that, in a light linen or cotton, as a really light, swingy springtime or chilly-summer-evening jacket! 

And the hat was just 6 arched shapes sewn together, and a wide band  

Lots more pics of the V&A one here:
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O101730/waistcoat-unknown/

Cherryfudge

@Laura_Elsewhere, yes, I can see the difference now! That V&A one is such an interesting shape. I've been there a couple of times and didn't really get beyond the clothes.

maryb

Laura, it’s not so much that the coat went in a lot, it was fairly subtle but I am an egg on legs with narrow shoulders and a wide waist.  Even when I weighed 7 and a half stone soaking wet I never had a waist.  

Laura_Elsewhere

Cherryfudge said:

@Laura_Elsewhere, yes, I can see the difference now! That V&A one is such an interesting shape. I've been there a couple of times and didn't really get beyond the clothes.

Can you picture the V&A jacket made in a light curtain material? I think it could look really good, worn with modern clothes, jeans or whatever!
The shape is fairly obscured by the opulence in the velvet and teddybear version!  

@maryb that does sound tricky- I sympathise as I am that sort of shape these days and most size-24 clothes assume I have a bust like Dawn French when I have one more like Jennifer Saunders! When I was a size 16-18, which was my usual size for many years, I had broad shoulders and long legs but never did have a waist. Even in my early 20s when I was eleven stone of pure muscle, lean as anything and very very athletic, I still never had a waist shape at all! 

I think it helps if you can find a manufacturer who makes clothes the right kind of shape, but it's not easy... I've only just found Joanie who make dresses that more or less fit me with minimal adjustment! 

PipneyJane

Welcome @PurpleAndGreen and thank you for the scones.  The jam is lovely!  I’ll add you to the list of participants.

I feel your pain re too much stash and shrinking out of your clothes.  What are you knitting plans?  While my current project is from a 1940’s pattern, the next jumpers on my list are a classic cricket sweater and something to use up some Alpaca that has been in my stash for 20 years.  I also want to lengthen a jumper that I finished this year - I have the yarn, just panicked and made it shorter - and to change the collar on this jumper to a regular one, because the one I knitted is really annoying.



My other plans for this year are only to buy yarn if I need it to finish a garment - say if I’m a ball short - and, once I’m certain my weight has stabilised, to take in various pairs of trousers and skirts.   I’ll also make the clothing for which I have fabric.  (A skirt and trousers of Harris Tweed, and a suit from the wool coating I got at a fabric swap a few years ago.  However, I am loath to do either until I know I won’t gain weight.). 

  - Pip

Nelliegrace

We were startled by a dozen or so very loud explosions last night with no warning. DH and the dog came in very shaken. The snow was less than we expected, and rain is washing it away now.

I have removed the Christmas greenery, and shall take the cards down this afternoon. I shall save the pretty pictures and thin card to use again, stored with the cards we have bought for next year. We had a craft session on making little boxes. 

I have saved a bit of the sugar ration week by week, eking it out with a bit of grated carrot in cakes. Now I am on the hunt for bitter oranges for marmalade. The local grocer Mr S, may have some for regular customers. We have WI at the church hall on Thursday morning, the best place to get the news. There is usually a table for unwanted Christmas presents, Secret Santa presents from the December meeting. 

Bad luck about the duffel coat, @maryb. The men’s ones come in two fits, with a baggy one to wear over thick jumpers. I bought DH one for Christmas two years ago, and he hasn’t worn it yet. I may borrow it. Dad wore his Royal Navy British Warm for decades, it was an old friend. It was boiled pure wool. There is no wool shortage now so why is synthetic yarn added to modern coats?

PipneyJane

MrsCD said:

First spend of the year...2 balls of sock yarn from Mr L, but when I looked closely they're only 75g each! Bit of a swizz. So only 3 coupons used.

My guess, @MrsCD is that you bought the Verena DK yarn, in the blue colourway.  75g is enough for one pair of ladies socks if you follow their sock recipe.  You’ll need 3mm needles.  Below is my version:

Cast on 48 st 
Work 10 rnds K1P1 rib 
Rnds 11-50 knit 
Heel work over 24 st 
Gusset pick up 16 st 
Foot 30 rnds 
Toe work down to 8st on each side

HTH

Pip

MrsCD

Yes, that's right, @PipneyJane, that is the yarn I bought. Thanks for the sock pattern! I usually have some left from 100g balls so they should be enough.
I'm still wading through the caterpillar..... It may take a while!
We cancelled church today because of the snow. We have a good four inches in our garden, and most of the congregation are older, so it was decided it was safer to stay at home today.