2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

@PipneyJane - I don’t know about the 1930s but certainly I have read wartime diaries and M.O. accounts that mention knitting on trams and trains and in waiting rooms and during lunch-break at offices and any other time! 

My Great War books mention knitting for the troops but I can’t recall (off the top of my head) any mention of knitting in public. I suspect it may have been Not Really A Thing until the second War when it became a necessity. 

Cherryfudge

I remember my Mum telling me she knitted a waistcoat on her commute (I still have it) but it was black with glitter so I very much doubt that was during the war. Probably any time up to mid-fifties.

I went back to the favourite tiny charity shop this morning on the off-chance: it was less busy and I came away with two tops and a pair of gloves. One of the tops is really pretty but when I tried it on at home, it's too narrow so it will be re-donated. The other is the perfect colour for me but has shiny faux buttons rivetted on the side seams which are really not me. Any ideas how I get rid of them?

The gloves are sheepskin and fingerless. I can't believe they were just £1. Now I need to learn to look after sheepskin, as I've never had any before.

Nelliegrace

I have been resisting the temptation to buy a dark brown cotton chore jacket in the Tu sales. It is a bargain, I have the money, they have my size, it is beautiful, it would last for ever, but I don’t need it. I really don’t need it. Sigh.

PipneyJane

Nelliegrace said:

I have been resisting the temptation to buy a dark brown cotton chore jacket in the Tu sales. It is a bargain, I have the money, they have my size, it is beautiful, it would last for ever, but I don’t need it. I really don’t need it. Sigh.

When would you wear it, @Nelliegrace?  How many of your clothes does it go with?  Would you be replacing an existing coat, which you could donate/give away?

If you can answer those questions, with positive, detailed answers, then buy it.

- Pip (enabler)

Cherryfudge

That reminds me of spotting a particular blue sweatshirt in Pr1marni years ago. I was newly into not buying on impulse but it really caught my eye.

All these years later, it's worn almost to grey but is still an absolute favourite and has had its fair share of compliments.

Sometimes the common sense thing can be chucked out of the window, especially if you usually resist impulse. 

CapricornLass

PollyWolly,  it would be worth doing a bit of searching on the internet, especially if you are only going to one place in Norway.  OH and I went to Tromso last  December, and we were able to hire the heavyweight, Norweigan made for the weather clothing in Tromso.  Or there may be somewhere in the UK you can hire from.  But it saves you buying heavyweight clothing which you wouldn't ever wear again, -40 not being a common temperature in the UK!

The only things I did buy were merino wool vest and leggings, and the Norweigan cardigans.  They turn up fairly regularly on E of Bay, often new or lightly worn, but you want the ones that 100% wool and which are made in Norway, not the acrylic Chinese copies.  I wore mine as a jacket over the rest of the winter in the UK, but like a normal cardi under my coat in Norway.

PipneyJane

Cherryfudge said:

I remember my Mum telling me she knitted a waistcoat on her commute (I still have it) but it was black with glitter so I very much doubt that was during the war. Probably any time up to mid-fifties.

I went back to the favourite tiny charity shop this morning on the off-chance: it was less busy and I came away with two tops and a pair of gloves. One of the tops is really pretty but when I tried it on at home, it's too narrow so it will be re-donated. The other is the perfect colour for me but has shiny faux buttons rivetted on the side seams which are really not me. Any ideas how I get rid of them?

The gloves are sheepskin and fingerless. I can't believe they were just £1. Now I need to learn to look after sheepskin, as I've never had any before.

Thanks for the feedback re your mum’s knitting, @Cherryfudge.  Also, congratulations re the sheepskin gloves.  You got a bargain!   The only place I can think of that has care instructions for sheepskin are Celtic&Co (used to be Celtic Sheepskin).  Here’s a link to their care instructions for their sheepskin boots.

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@PipneyJane - I don’t know about the 1930s but certainly I have read wartime diaries and M.O. accounts that mention knitting on trams and trains and in waiting rooms and during lunch-break at offices and any other time! 

My Great War books mention knitting for the troops but I can’t recall (off the top of my head) any mention of knitting in public. I suspect it may have been Not Really A Thing until the second War when it became a necessity. 

Yes, of course, the Mass Observation diaries!  Thanks for the reminder, @Laura_Elsewhere.  IIRC there is a mention of a letter to a newspaper by someone complaining about the clack-clack of multiple knitting needles at the cinema.  (That may be in Nella Last’s diaries.)

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

Thanks, @CapricornLass, I’ll look into that.  I’m going on the Hurtigruten up (and back down) the coast of Norway. Useful advice about the merino wool, I have already got some base layers but could use some more.  

Cherryfudge

Thank you for the sheepskin care instructions @PipneyJane. I've had a look and it's helpful. I might pass it on to my daughter too, as she has a sheepskin coat. 

moginstein

Just seen this and thought I should share:
The Great British Sewing Bee will be returning to our screens on Tuesday 15th July at 9pm on BBC One
Strangely it said it was confirmed by Channel 4
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/great-british-sewing-bee-season-11-release-date-newsupdate/
but it is showing on the BBC website,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03myqj2/broadcasts/upcoming
so I think that was just a mistake.