2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

alicef said:

I've been away on special ops! 

Thank you very, very much  @Nelliegrace for the author details.  The gentleman is a historian and researcher on the 40s, so if anyone would know!   I'll try to track down some details of his publisher.  The book looks very interesting as well.  Unfortunately our county libraries do not have a copy so I've set up a search to see if I can get an inexpensive 2nd hand volume.  I also thought that I could send a question in to the Imperial War Museum re cloth spec 9.  

A couple of book dealers on Amas0n have the hardback book on sale for <£13 plus £2.80 P&P @alicef.  I don't think it ever made it to paperback, unfortunately.

HTH

- Pip

Nelliegrace

I heard about this today, dear Make Do and Menders, made with love in WW2, treasured by the sailor who received it and re-used by his daughter on cold nights of fire watching for incendiary bombs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6zqFV7JNGo

My father had a WW1 Army leather jerkin, which may have been his father’s, which my brother wore when he was chopping the firewood in winter.

Laura_Elsewhere

I have been about to cut out my winter pinafore dress for six days now but keep procrastinating...

someone make me cut it out tomorrow!!!

thriftmonster

Otherwise you will freeze in your cord one 

Cherryfudge

Please, please dear @Laura_Elsewhere - start cutting your new pinafore out! We are all waiting to see the finished article!

Nelliegrace

A frosty -5°C here this morning. I got out my old thermal leggings yesterday for an extra layer, it was cold walking our old Daisy Dog.
A good incentive to get the warmer pinafore dress made @Laura_Elsewhere? Will you line it? I remember my hand-me-down gaberdine school mackintosh had a cosy, button in, quilted lining. 

Laura_Elsewhere

Thankyou, @thriftmonster and @cherryfudge and @nelliegrace - I have cut it out! 

(Actually even easier as this iteration involves only rectangular pieces with only two curves required for underarms which I shall cut later when fitting- so I was able just to tear all the pieces after labelling to show grain direction and name of piece)

Nelliegrace

The CC41 Utility Clothing book by Mike Brown has some good contemporary photographs and brief articles. A nice memorabilia book, but superficial, no index. 

I found some thick cotton rich men’s socks in shades of blue, for the grandsons at Aldi, 3 pairs for £3.99. The elder will need adult clothes next, at nearly fourteen he is a gangling youth, with size 9 feet already! 

Coupons used,

3 for a bathing costume.

2 for 2 pairs of cashmere ankle socks with in the sales for DD for next Christmas.

10 for 5 pairs of ladies other undergarments. Reduced from 15 to 10 coupons, with thanks to Pipney Jane.

24 for 4 pairs of boys cotton pyjamas. (For Christmas.)

14 for 2 packs of 7 pairs of boys socks.

6 for 2 packs of 3 pairs of thick socks for the grandsons. 

Total 59 coupons.

PipneyJane

Nelliegrace said:

I heard about this today, dear Make Do and Menders, made with love in WW1, treasured by the sailor who received it and re-used by his daughter on cold nights of fire watching for incendiary bombs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6zqFV7JNGo

My father had a WW1 Army leather jerkin, which may have been his father’s, which my brother wore when he was chopping the firewood in winter.

What a fascinating story, @Nelliegrace. 

I don’t know the property where it came into National Trust possession, Hatchlands, but it looks about the same era and size as the Mansion where I worked 25 years ago, firstly in the converted kitchen, but later in the Drawing Room and in the Dining Room.  The basement and ground floor were primarily Finance, with the Board Room occupying the Library, first floor was the CEO, FD, and Company Secretariat offices, Second floor was Legal.  All the Mansion Girls daydreamed about it being a family home.  We felt it belonged to us.  When the company was taken over and the new owners decided to sell of “our house”, we were all gutted.

- Pip

Gem-gem

PipneyJane said:

Nelliegrace said:

I heard about this today, dear Make Do and Menders, made with love in WW1, treasured by the sailor who received it and re-used by his daughter on cold nights of fire watching for incendiary bombs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6zqFV7JNGo

My father had a WW1 Army leather jerkin, which may have been his father’s, which my brother wore when he was chopping the firewood in winter.

What a fascinating story, @Nelliegrace. 

I don’t know the property where it came into National Trust possession, Hatchlands, but it looks about the same era and size as the Mansion where I worked 25 years ago, firstly in the converted kitchen, but later in the Drawing Room and in the Dining Room.  The basement and ground floor were primarily Finance, with the Board Room occupying the Library, first floor was the CEO, FD, and Company Secretariat offices, Second floor was Legal.  All the Mansion Girls daydreamed about it being a family home.  We felt it belonged to us.  When the company was taken over and the new owners decided to sell of “our house”, we were all gutted.

- Pip

Just popping in to say hello. @PipneyJane I would have been gutted too. What a lovely environment to work in.