2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Gem-gem

Have finished sampler blanket nos. 2.
Most of the wool was from old stash. The only wool that I bought for it was 75g of red. 

No new clothes purchased since my last declaration. 

PipneyJane

Gem-gem said:

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. 

The mansion has been turned into flats!  Honestly, @Gem-gem, it felt like we were the kids who’d gone off to boarding school, only to discover that our parents had sold up and moved while we were away.  We never really got to say goodbye.

Bill, our founder, is probably turning in his grave.  Sadly, I never got to meet him, but the stories were legendary.  (He died a decade before I joined.).  He bought the estate in the 1950’s, built a 3-story office block in the grounds, converted the stable block into offices and a staff canteen.  The Drawing Room was his office and he’d yell out the window at people taking a shortcut across the lawn, telling them to get off the grass.  On payday, he’d deliver all the payslips and thank people for working for him.  He also knew everyone and would ask after their families, etc.  A lot of the company traditions were down to him, including the official 1% Christmas bonus - paid in November, everyone received it because “Christmas is expensive” - and  unofficial Christmas Eve Party Day, when everyone would bring in their children and play games instead of working, then we all knocked off work at lunchtime.  (Finishing at lunchtime on Christmas Eve was also contractual.)

When the Mansion Girls meet up, we always drink a toast to Bill.

- Pip

itsthelittlethings

Have been doing pretty well at not buying any clothes since I ran out of coupons. Not even sure if I've picked up any second hand bits.

I got some boots without coupons due to my job (don't ask) but hopefully they will last.

Cannot wait for next year, hopefully more coupons and new fashions.

PipneyJane

itsthelittlethings said:

Have been doing pretty well at not buying any clothes since I ran out of coupons. Not even sure if I've picked up any second hand bits.

I got some boots without coupons due to my job (don't ask) but hopefully they will last.

Cannot wait for next year, hopefully more coupons and new fashions.

If your work boots are anything like mine, @itsthelittlethings, they're steel toe capped and have a steel liner in the soles.  (My one regret, when I had to go hi-vis-ed to the airport is that I didn't get to see them go the x-ray machine.  Security wouldn't oblige.)

I still miss that employer and that job, but I have an interview this afternoon for something similar.  (While I like the people I work with, I'm utterly bored and under employed, despite asking for more work.  I reached this point 2 years ago, just before I got sick.)

- Pip

moginstein

Oh Pip, fingers crossed for you (oops, struggling to type!)
I hope that they see your talent, its really frustrating in a job when you're underutilised and bored.

PipneyJane

moginstein said:

Oh Pip, fingers crossed for you (oops, struggling to type!)
I hope that they see your talent, it’s really frustrating in a job when you're underutilised and bored.

Thank you @moginstein.  I think it went well but you never really know.  I’m just grateful for getting an interview.

Got a catchup with my boss tomorrow, so I am going to ask her for more work.  🤞

- Pip

MrsCD

Hope you get some good news, Pip. It's bad enough having to go to work, but it helps if you have enough to do, and get along with the people there.  🙂

itsthelittlethings

A friend of mine runs an outdoor company in London and she said I could buy a coat if I send her the coupons in January. Am conflicted about it. Hopefully we won't lose the war because of me. I get the impression she's a bit desperate for new material to get manufacturing for next year. She's resorted to curtain material for child's clothes and next summer's dresses so if you are purchasing a dress next year get ready for some chinz.

As she is doing me such a huge favour (the coat I bought to start my new job has completely fallen apart as it was very shoddily made) I am sending her two (two!) pots of chicory coffee. She said she would take one to the factory nearby that makes army clothing. It's hard for her as people don't tend to like you having your own business especially if you're a woman. I'm not sure she would have got the chance without the war. She used to work in the West End but when her shop got shut down she used her savings to get a small unit and open her own fashion business. I'm in awe of her! Beats being a typist any day. I am starting some land girl stuff at the weekends soon (hence the boots). They said I could just do when I could.

PipneyJane

MrsCD said:

Hope you get some good news, Pip. It's bad enough having to go to work, but it helps if you have enough to do, and get along with the people there.  🙂

Thanks @MrsCD.  Yes, it helps if you are busy and have great colleagues.  The interview went well but I won't know the outcome for at least a week.

itsthelittlethings said:

A friend of mine runs an outdoor company in London and she said I could buy a coat if I send her the coupons in January. Am conflicted about it. Hopefully we won't lose the war because of me. I get the impression she's a bit desperate for new material to get manufacturing for next year. She's resorted to curtain material for child's clothes and next summer's dresses so if you are purchasing a dress next year get ready for some chinz.

As she is doing me such a huge favour (the coat I bought to start my new job has completely fallen apart as it was very shoddily made) I am sending her two (two!) pots of chicory coffee. She said she would take one to the factory nearby that makes army clothing. It's hard for her as people don't tend to like you having your own business especially if you're a woman. I'm not sure she would have got the chance without the war. She used to work in the West End but when her shop got shut down she used her savings to get a small unit and open her own fashion business. I'm in awe of her! Beats being a typist any day. I am starting some land girl stuff at the weekends soon (hence the boots). They said I could just do when I could.

@itsthelittlethings you are lucky to have such a good friend.  If you need a coat, then buy it.  There is nothing worse than feeling cold and miserable because of the weather, and that will inevitably reduce your productivity.  (The war effort needs us all to be as productive as possible.)

Is it just me, or has anyone else started planning their coupon spends for next year?  Depending on how lucky I get with Charity shop spends, I reckon that I'm going to need to spend at least 16 coupons on long-sleeved t-shirts to get me through the winter months.  

- Pip

CapricornLass

I've just bust my allowance and have had to spend on the black market   4 pairs of knickers and a light fleece comes to 13 coupons - whoops!