2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Wraithlady

Count me in as well - totally lost count last year so I'm going to assume that I have no coupons left.

Did get a rather nice pair of shoes from OH for Christmas, though!

I also got round to sorting out my wool and fabric stash - wow, I have a lot! Once it's been through the freezer (moths) I shall be very busy knitting and crocheting - I'm presently knitting the hats for my niece and nephew which I didn't get to finish before Xmas. I also have a nice new craft room, so will hopefully be able to get my sewing machine set up and not have to put it away all the time.

Brought some leftover mincemeat & apple pies, if anyone wants - in the dog-proof cake tin

weenancyinAmerica

Thank you @PipneyJane, you kept all of us going through the rationing even through your medical problems (scared us, you did). Take care. Sending you many (((hugs))).  

I haven't been posting, but thanks to you I have kept my need for coupons under 66. I only need four things at the moment - a black cardigan, a pair of black trousers, a warm jacket, and a new pair of decent slip-on shoes. Going to try and stick to these. For the clothes, I need to check the charity shops first. The shoes I will be getting free through the diabetic medical program of my health insurance. So not a lot of expenditure here (good because I don't have a lot to spend - aiming for under $20 for the year).

MrsCD

I'm in again, please! Hopefully will do much better at keeping track this year....😉

Bella_Budget

I'd like to try this. Currently I think I pretty much have everything I will need for the year and if I can lose some weight a significant chunk of my wardrobe will be available to me again. I do like a challenge and this sounds like a good one. I can't quite get my head around reverse couponing, what is that?

Thanks
BB

laura_lau

Hi, I am new to this challenge and would like to give it a try to join in 2025! I'm still reading through the materials to understand how it works, but will go with the flow and your examples. I do love clothes and especially dresses and I definitely have more than enough, and I need to rein in my spending anyway, so I really want to work on this challenge. I knit and crochet, and I have plenty of wool in my stash, so definitely can keep the purchases to a minimum on that front too. I have extremely basic sewing skills (meaning: virtually zero, but I do own a sewing machine, lockdown purchase in 2020, which I used once, almost successfully making 2 placemats, but I do want to get back to it and learn to make my own little things to start with - I have plenty of fat quarters which should also go a long way for now, plus some discarded bedsheets which are still nice enough). Looking forward to get into it! 

Cherryfudge

laura_lau said:

 almost successfully making 2 placemats, but I do want to get back to it and learn to make my own little things to start with - I have plenty of fat quarters which should also go a long way for now, plus some discarded bedsheets which are still nice enough). Looking forward to get into it! 

@laura_lau, I think you must be my soulmate!  The good folk of Much Mending have long tolerated my repeated resolutions to put my sewing machine to use. I did make progress in 2024, as in, I got the machine out of the cupboard and set it up on a little table with good light. There it still is, gathering dust. I haven't got as far as attempting a placemat, so you are ahead of me there.

Guess what's on my list of Resolutions as we head into 2025? 

laura_lau

@Cherryfudge very happy to know I am not the only one! You made me chuckle! Mine is not gathering dust, as I do not have space to keep it out and setup, which is also a big blocker, so the specific goal about that is to free up enough space in the cupboard so that I can easily take it out (it's currently covered in balls of wool - so that feeds into the wool stash goal - already layering up goals!) and learn the basics so I feel comfortable, I have found a YouTube channel where they do great tutorials on pretty much anything, so I want to book myself some time on my calendar to do a lesson and subsequent "homework" on a regular basis.

PipneyJane

Welcome everyone. Cup of tea? There’s freshly made pavlova in the cake tin, if you’d like a portion. Please keep it away from the dog - he loves it, but it makes him hyper!

Brie said:

Not going to join in but I must say you do seem to make a fun time of it!!  I don't do clothes shopping other than about once a year when I really need something or I'm off to my homeland where I know I like the clothing and it's a fraction of the price here.

And also I wondered why PipneyJane sounded so familiar but then I remember it's because a have a card in phone pocket that I picked up on holiday for an artist named Pip....  Like the devil comment in your signature too btw.

Sadly, that’s not me @Brie.  I wish it was - I can’t draw or paint.  Please stay and chat to us on the Thread, even if you aren’t going to count coupons.  We’d love the company.  Also, please tell us about the shops in your homeland.  I love to travel and would welcome a) suggestions on where to visit and b) a good excuse for spending my coupons, instead of frittering them away as I have done in some years.

Bella_Budget said:

I'd like to try this. Currently I think I pretty much have everything I will need for the year and if I can lose some weight a significant chunk of my wardrobe will be available to me again. I do like a challenge and this sounds like a good one. I can't quite get my head around reverse couponing, what is that?

Thanks
BB

Welcome @Bella_Budget.  Reverse couponing is the brainchild of @Laura_Elsewhere.  I know she started it to try to motivate herself to use up items from her fabric and yarn stashes, but (apologies) don’t remember the finer points about it.  Laura, can you explain, please?

laura_lau said:

Hi, I am new to this challenge and would like to give it a try to join in 2025! I'm still reading through the materials to understand how it works, but will go with the flow and your examples. I do love clothes and especially dresses and I definitely have more than enough, and I need to rein in my spending anyway, so I really want to work on this challenge. I knit and crochet, and I have plenty of wool in my stash, so definitely can keep the purchases to a minimum on that front too. I have extremely basic sewing skills (meaning: virtually zero, but I do own a sewing machine, lockdown purchase in 2020, which I used once, almost successfully making 2 placemats, but I do want to get back to it and learn to make my own little things to start with - I have plenty of fat quarters which should also go a long way for now, plus some discarded bedsheets which are still nice enough). Looking forward to get into it! 

Welcome @laura_lau.  Lovely to have another crafter on board.  Are you knitting/crocheting anything at the moment? 

We’re down at DH’s best mate’s for New Year and guess who forgot to bring any pairs of socks beyond the pair she was wearing?  Me.  Fortunately, I brought along my knitting bag, with its stash of things to fix/finish/mend, so I finished a pair of after-thought heel socks this morning, by cannibalising the toes of another pair, which I’ve decided have the leg too short for warmth.  (The heels and toes on both are white but I didn’t bring that ball with me, hence the cannibalisation.)



- Pip

laura_lau

Thank you for the welcome @PipneyJane I love pavlova, so will definitely have a bite with my tea this afternoon!

I am currently knitting a pair of mittens for my StepSon (whom I will call DS from now on, as it is basically what he is). He is 17 and recently got a small motorbike from his mum's family, and he asked me if I could make him a good and warm pair of fingerless mitts for when he rides it, I chose a yellow and purple combination (he requested purple) as they have a nice long rib on the wrist and then the hand is worked in 2 colours (very warm) in what I believe is similar to a honeycomb pattern, but not quite as big. I finished the first one yesterday, Just need to add some ribbing to the thumb opening, they were really quick to make! 
I am making a poncho with sleeves for my aunt, but it is proving to be very tedious, as she asked me to use some acrylic she had leftover from many years ago, which is quite thin and very black! It has currently been relegated to the naughty project corner. I also have a number of unfinished projects and projects ready to be started, but not currently "active" so will mention them when I get to them, which I am determined to do in 2025!

Love your solution for the socks! I am flying back to the UK from my mum's house abroad later today (landing fairly late but hopefully will be home well before midnight), and still have to pack my bag and backpack for hand luggage. I need to remember that a pair of socks I knitted a few years ago and I use at home and in rubber boots to walk the dog developed a hole on the heel the day before I left, and I need to mend them, but I've never done anything of the sort, I do not know where to start from and I do not think I have any leftover of that wool (it was DK). Any suggestions?

Bella_Budget

Thanks for the welcome @PipneyJane I do have a sewing machine but have only ever made curtains as they are basically very large squares (or rectangles depending on the window!) Have never tried clothes but do have some fabric I think under the bed. Will dig it out and making one item of clothing can be my new years resolution!
Thanks
BB