2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nelliegrace

Well done @kiwisavings, that took some sorting.

I found one notice on changes in coupon requirements.

Cherryfudge

Those are fascinating - look how lean the middle years of the war were, and probably even more towards the end. I see an issue of bonus coupons - was that a change in economic circumstances, a boost to morale, or something different?

@Nelliegrace, this throws a light on the questions we have asked ourselves about things that weren't specifically listed in 1941, like curtains, and it looks as though perhaps there had been a rush on industrial wellies by sharp-eye shoppers (and possibly those working on the land or others who had to be out in all weathers).

I bought myself a baseball cap, but hats and caps weren't on coupons in 1941 so no coupons used.

alicef

oh my goodness - well, all caught up on the thread. Lots and lots of interesting posts.  Adding in my good wishes to your recovery, @PipneyJane.

I went south to Bletchley a few days back.  So fascinating.  I was there for hours!

Wonderful staff/volunteers.

Of course I got so fired up I decided I would knit the 1940s Victory Jumper, (pattern available free from V&A site).  I've missed VE day but might just make it in time for VJ as, being lace, short cropped, short sleeved and close fitting it only takes 6 x 1 oz yarn.  Not that I have any 3 ply yarn, haven't ever done lace, and the Sirdar 3ply, Supersoft Shetland is discontinued. 

Minor details....

weenancyinAmerica

Look like it got much harder as time went along as when your clothes wore out, you had fewer coupons to replace them. Quality secondhand goods would have been much appreciated, but hard to come by. 

Laura_Elsewhere

kiwisavings said:

Hello everyone,
I was looking for some information around quantities of clothes coupons issued during the 1940s and came across a one pound per month subscription to The Times that allowed access to old newspapers from 1785!
So I did a bit of hunting and have put the information that I found  in a chart
 

That’s superb- thankyou very much indeed!

PipneyJane

alicef said:

oh my goodness - well, all caught up on the thread. Lots and lots of interesting posts.  Adding in my good wishes to your recovery, @PipneyJane.

I went south to Bletchley a few days back.  So fascinating.  I was there for hours!

Wonderful staff/volunteers.

Of course I got so fired up I decided I would knit the 1940s Victory Jumper, (pattern available free from V&A site).  I've missed VE day but might just make it in time for VJ as, being lace, short cropped, short sleeved and close fitting it only takes 6 x 1 oz yarn.  Not that I have any 3 ply yarn, haven't ever done lace, and the Sirdar 3ply, Supersoft Shetland is discontinued. 

Minor details....

I loved Bletchley!  We were there last November.  Fascinating.

I know the jumper pattern you’re talking about.  It’s lovely.  I can recommend Jamieson’s of Shetland’s “Shetland Spindrift” yarn which is 3-4 ply weight.  Huge range of colours, 105m per 25g ball, soft, dense and very good quality.  £4.10 a ball from their website. 

- Pip. (I really must get around to sewing up the jumper I just knitted in it.)

CapricornLass

Dior's New Look was launched in Feb 47.  Maybe it was a case of bowing to the inevitable , because the skirt used yards and yards of fabric, and every woman apparently wanted one.....  Understandable with the privations of the war, but the fact that so many women wanted the extra fabric to make a skirt for themselves caused considerable angst to the government of the day!

kiwisavings

Thanks all for your appreciation, I really enjoyed looking through the old newspaper articles and announcements.

@Nelliegrace, loved the handkerchiefs - especially the poppies. I think that I read somewhere  that the term spinster could apply to a women who had an occupation and who could therefore support herself, so a bit more positive than the modern day interpretation.  
Did you find the list of changes to coupon values from a newspaper too? I found some other announcements that I can include (or summarise) if anyone is interested. 

@Cherryfudge, the really lean years after the war ended were probably due to a few things; the need for clothes for people demobilising, fuel shortages and the push to export as much British made products to help with the postwar debt. The 12 bonus coupons issued in May 26th coincided with a drop in coupon value for some items and the end of rationing for ties, gloves and some rayon stocking types. I think by then there was a lot of pressure to fully end rationing, but the Board of Trade held out for as long as they could. As @CapricornLass mentioned, the fashions had changed and I'm sure that the British women wanted a change from the limited styles available in the war. I really feel for the teenagers of the time - so many restrictions even after the war ended. 

Cherryfudge

I would love to see other announcements, @kiwisavings, if you have the leisure to post some. It's fascinating.

My Mum (b. 1928) was a teenager/young adult in these years and I know she really felt the rationing of clothes. She indulged in very feminine dresses and lots of them, throughout her subsequent life.

alicef

@PipneyJane ooooh interesting - is the spindrift scratchy?  Other option could be JC Rennie supersoft but I would have to be 100% sure of my colour choice as no-one hereabouts stocks JC Rennie, whilst quite a number have Jamieson. 

I did a trial swatch - it's surprising how stretchy lace work is.