2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

Thank you for the extra information about foxes, @Laura_Elsewhere. So sad that urban foxes have to eke out a meagre existence, but the fox family watching you as 'TV' made me smile. I do wonder what animals make of us sometimes.

If anyone is zealous with rationing, they could start early! The group as a whole will have to pull in our belts (belts are off ration, I think) come January, and there's me having spent some of mine on gifts! Never mind. Did anyone decide the rate for men's tee shirts by the way? I've looked at the list a couple of times and not found where they'd fit in.

alicef

phew @kiwisavings, what a relief!   

I've just caught the trailer for 'Outrageous' - a new TV drama about the Mitfords which will be available on the U&Drama platform around the 18th June I think, (free to stream if in UK).  Looks like there will be loads of vintage knitwear amongst the costumes.  I shall be sitting there with my finger over the pause button! 

thriftwizard

Well, I've just wandered in to add 5 coupons to my total, as I've "invested" in a pair of leather "barefoot" boots; I'm taking part in our local archaeological dig for 3 days a week this month, and boots are a necessity. Really they'd like steel toe-caps (oooh, work boots?) but my feet would curl up & die after one day in those, and I won't be wielding the mattock (chief danger to toes) anyway. I got away with my winter barefoots last time, but it's warmer this year so I needed something more breathable but still sturdy. Checking on the updated list, ladies - erm, shoes? - are still 5 coupons, whichever way we go!

diminua

Thanks to those who commented re the handbag - my reasoning was split the difference at the item is newmade but recycled materials, but very happy to keep the coupons.

Re changing the list - I think the start of next year is probably the point to do it for everyone, although if anyone wants to change over now I'd be interested to read along. I'm still looking for some trousers myself, but still haven't seen any I like more than the ones I have, even though they are a bit loose on me. 

Nelliegrace

I am resisting the impulse to buy more handkerchiefs from the second hand store eB, but aren’t these a find?



This celebration is being run again. It was very busy last time we went, it would be necessary to buy tickets in advance. Most of the visitors were dressed up for the occasion, and we oldies knew the words to join in the songs.



About the foxes, Daisy Dog and a fox stared at each other for about a minute before she chased it off the front garden at 2 a.m. It ran up the gulley back into the park, where there are plenty of rats for it to eat. We have been lucky with our small flock of poultry, the coop manufacturer claims that it is fox-proof. 

Sarahspangles

Laura_Elsewhere said:

I agree that Jan 1st 2026 is the most sensible time to bring in the new coupon list, and also that yes, we should bring it in! 

I would love to bring it in today, with no notice, as being very very typical of what happened in the war- there's you'd be, carefully budgeting for that winter coat and boots, and suddenly in the middle of summer, your coupons won't go as far! 
But I absolutely agree that it would cause minor chaos in this group because we aren't actually living in the war with govt-imposed rationing that everyone is informed about! (What?! We aren't?!?!?! )

I must sort out my coupons-list...

I feel like we’ve recently experienced much moving of goalposts, due to the Pestilence, so we can appreciate how discombobulating it all is, but defer revision of our spreadsheets.

Of course if there’s a rush to use coupons in December before the coupon cost increases, the Village Hall may be a little chilly…..

PipneyJane

Thanks everyone for your feedback.  I think we’ll stick to the current list for this year and move to the July 1941 coupons in January 2026.

@Alicef your knitting looks lovely.  That’s the “Victory Jumper” pattern, isn’t it?  I think we can get that as a free download from the Imperial War Museum (or is it the V&A?).  

@Cherryfudge, in the current list men’s tee shirts would fall under “Shirt or combinations, other material” and would be 5 coupons.

@Laura_Elsewhere love your fox story.  About a month ago, I heard a lot of bird screeching and looked out the kitchen window.  A fox was curled up on our garden wall, sunbathing and comfortably surveying her domain.  She’d stood up by the time I’d grabbed my phone, but here she is:



- Pip

CapricornLass

One of my son's snakes loves watching TV, and sulks if he can't see it.....

Foxes are destructive, but on that basis, you'd think they would have put rabbit fur on the list too as the dear little fluffy things ate their way through precious crops.

alicef

yes, @PipneyJane it's the Victory Jumper - free from the V&A site.  I find that my gauge with the Jamieson's is slightly larger than the stated pattern gauge but I won't drop down the needle size as the jumper has negative ease.  I'm now quite bitten by these vintage lace patterns because I have found that they don't use that much yarn.  I have quite a stash of J&S Jumper weight, and with a couple of purchased balls I can do another version,(with a different balance on the colour bands)  - here's my new possible colourway to match a coral bead necklace that I have been meaning to sit down and restring with silk with knots between the beads....



@Nelliegrace those lovely handkerchiefs have the utility mark! What a find!

@thriftwizard I would love to hear more about your dig!

Nelliegrace

I know @alicef, but what would you do with them? 
I bought these pre-war ones instead, as part of a bundle, and including postage, they were £4. They will make a pretty present, to be used and enjoyed. 



I bought 2 pretty vintage brooches to wear to ring the changes on an old tweed jacket, £7.47 spent. Unexpectedly, the smaller one is hallmarked silver, marked B I for Bernard Instone, the Langstone Silver Works in Digbeth, Birmingham. I shall treasure it.