2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

Sarahspangles said:

Scarf? You were lucky! [I’m doing the Four Yorkshiremen sketch]. We had to knit cotton dishcloths!

What baffles me is that there is a whole US movement about knitting potholder squares. Which I think are positively dangerous!

Does anyone know a good source for dishcloth cotton? A lot of stuff called that turns out to have a hefty plastic content instead of 100% cotton, and much of it is too thin and smooth thus not absorbent... 

I have to say, the internet really has educated me about just how different everyday life is, either side of the herring-pond (avoiding politics, obv, as instructed by the forum rules!)- I couldn't think why there was so much emphasis on putting jars of pickled onions into a sterilising water-bath and so on, and hysterical shrieks of "botulism! botulism!" all very baffling- UNTIL... I discovered that most American recipes for pickled onions use diluted vinegar, sometimes really diluted! And of course if you dilute the preservative then yes, it can go fairly unpleasant...   

alicef

another 2 coupons to declare - yarn, (but in my defence, it is yarn provided as part of a workshop I attended). 

Confession here, @Sarahspangles, I really like knitting dishcloths, (doing one now) - I find them quite meditative.

My big knitting project is not progressing - I've already ripped back several times, so I shall put it on the back burner for now and aim to get my KAL from 2024 finished in February, (finish stitching squares together and knit border).

I love your skirt project @Laura_Elsewhere - the detail is so pretty.

PollyWollyDoodle

I’ve got some dishcloth cotton, I bought it at The Knitting and Stitching Show, but I can’t remember the name of the stall, sorry Laura.  I thought I might have a go at knitting one.  

I’ve just had cataract surgery on one eye which is great, but I can’t see very close to any more. I don’t think I can do anything complex till I’ve had the other eye done (three weeks away).  

weenancyinAmerica

I used to take children's plastic scissors on flights. Worked really well on paper and thread. Don't show up on scanners.

Nelliegrace

A WW1 poster.  Still relevant!

Sarahspangles

Nelliegrace said:

A WW1 poster.  Still relevant!

No servants to declare here! Though OH says he is looking forward to me sharing the ‘domestics’ when I’m demobbed.

PipneyJane

@Laura_Elsewhere - I love that lining fabric.

@PollyWollyDoodle and @Sarahspangles - I've knitted on a lot of flights, usually on a sock.  Never had a problem going through UK, European or American airports.   I use wooden/bamboo DPNs.  The only time I had an issue was transiting through Bali, where my "widget" - a Victorinox Swiss Card - was confiscated.

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Sarahspangles said:

I’m not sure how knitting-on-the-tv will work, knitting in front of it is more like it! It’s one reason you don’t see classes for beginners, it would be frustrating to pay to do an hour a week to create the first few inches of a scarf.

That’s why I always teach beginners to knit wrist-warmers in the round in a k2p2 rib as their very first project. They can complete a pair in a few evenings with minimal help after the first session, and get to wear something that is useful and looks great  

I have been baffled all my knitting-life by the concept of a ruddy scarf as a beginner’s project- unbelievably boring and tedious, every tiny error shows up really glaringly, and either they lose interest before completion or else they finish it too early and have a scarf they don’t wear because it looks awful…

I like this idea. (Wristwarmers)  When I've taught beginners, the first item I teach them to knit is a hat.  That's after a session where they just knit and/or purl until they run out of the first ball of wool, casting off and on as they go.  (I tell them to do that because it helps get their tension set and also enables them to make all the mistakes they can, without fuss.) 

@Liverpool_Anne - there is some stuff called "fray check", which I've heard about. Might be worth looking into. (I've never used it or seen it in the flesh.)

Re Tom Daley's new show, I have no idea how they'll make it work.  It would have to be filmed over months, since even knitting a pair of socks takes 16 hours.

- Pip

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Sarahspangles said:

Scarf? You were lucky! [I’m doing the Four Yorkshiremen sketch]. We had to knit cotton dishcloths!

What baffles me is that there is a whole US movement about knitting potholder squares. Which I think are positively dangerous!

Does anyone know a good source for dishcloth cotton? A lot of stuff called that turns out to have a hefty plastic content instead of 100% cotton, and much of it is too thin and smooth thus not absorbent... 

I have to say, the internet really has educated me about just how different everyday life is, either side of the herring-pond (avoiding politics, obv, as instructed by the forum rules!)- I couldn't think why there was so much emphasis on putting jars of pickled onions into a sterilising water-bath and so on, and hysterical shrieks of "botulism! botulism!" all very baffling- UNTIL... I discovered that most American recipes for pickled onions use diluted vinegar, sometimes really diluted! And of course if you dilute the preservative then yes, it can go fairly unpleasant...   

@Laura_Elsewhere quickly rush to your local Lidl and have a look in the Aisle of Surprise.  There may still be some dishcloth cotton there.  (It's about 6 weeks since they did their last knitting yarns promotion and the dishcloth cotton was one thing that didn't seem to sell.)

- Pip 

Laura_Elsewhere

PipneyJane said:

@Laura_Elsewhere - I love that lining fabric.

 I've knitted on a lot of flights, usually on a sock.  Never had a problem going through UK, European or American airports.   I use wooden/bamboo DPNs.  The only time I had an issue was transiting through Bali, where my "widget" - a Victorinox Swiss Card - was confiscated.

I like this idea. (Wristwarmers)  When I've taught beginners, the first item I teach them to knit is a hat.  That's after a session where they just knit and/or purl until they run out of the first ball of wool, casting off and on as they go.  (I tell them to do that because it helps get their tension set and also enables them to make all the mistakes they can, without fuss.) 


- Pip

Thanks re the lining! 

Knititng on flights- I know lots of folk who have never had a problem but I also know folk who've had knitting confiscated, and for me it's just an awful lot easier not to risk it. Were I flying again, I would probably start another Edlothia shawl using a 4mm or so wood hook, nothing for them to get upset about there, and would keep my fingers busy for many hours!

Teaching knitting- if I had to just knit and purl a whole ball of wool I suspect I would never ever have learnt to knit. It sounds awful! Why on earth would anyone want to continue after so much monotony?!?! Sorry, it obviously does work as you do it- but it makes me heart plummet within me...! 
I usually cast on the first wristwarmer and work two rows showing them, and then hand it over and get them knitting and purling, talking about the difference, looking for the little bump or 'pearl' at the base of the purl stitches, looking for the two legs of the V in the knit stitches, seeing how they build into columns and how that makes it stretchier, encouraging them to snug up the yarn with a little pull after the first of each pair of purl stitches... and before they know it, they're six inches up the tube and can think about making the thumb slit, so then we can talk about how if you're working backwards on the wrong side, you do the opposite, and isn't it clever, and then join up again in the round, a few more rounds and for many people they will actually complete a short wristwarmer in a single 2-hour session, if it's in a larger yarn and needles. If it's a thinner yarn and needles, it'll take a bit longer but still not all that long. If their tension is wonky, or they make mistakes, the wristwarmers are still going to be wearable, and it gives them confidence and encouragement- straightaway, whee, look at these, I made them, woohoo- and they're hooked on knitting  

Sarahspangles

I don’t think my dishcloth knitting lessons can have ‘stuck’, because I remember when I wanted to make baby clothes that I had to borrow a library book. My sister gave me some useful tips which she picked up from an Eastern European lady when they were both on maternity bed rest in hospital. Presumably she was knitting Continental style.

I taught my two to knit when they were children, I think they made teddy jumpers. My daughter knits for friends’ babies and my son sometimes makes little Japanese soft toys. I wouldn’t have the patience for the tiny needles!