2025 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Gem-gem

MrsCD said:

@Gem-gem, I love your shopping bags. They brought back some good memories of using that type many years ago. 😊 Did you use DK or Aran thickness yarn? I've already fallen down the Ravelry rabbit hole looking for patterns!!
I have a couple of spends to declare..
A pair of everyday walking type sandals. I like this sort because they have a bit more support for my gammy foot! 5 coupons
A strappy nightie for these warm nights! 6 coupons.

The pattern says Aran wool. For the lime green I have just used a Dk but for the one I am making at the moment I have combined two colours together making a raspberry ripple effect. I am using my Mum's old wool up. I am also wearing one of my mum's old strapping nightie fur these warm nights. She gave it to me in February and I found it at the bottom of my nighttime drawer when I was tidying it up last week. 

Gem-gem

4mm hook. 

kiwisavings

Liverpool_Anne said:

I am about to head out to the shops to get some baby grows to go with the latest baby blanket so if we are going to be counting coupons for children is there any chance someone could let me know how many I need 😁.

I'm happy to stick with the no coupons needed for baby clothes or to have a vote on this for next year. I guess if we stick with the no coupons, then it would be fairer to have no coupons for baby wool too. 

For any of you who have the following book, there is a list of coupons needed for baby clothes in the Coupon Quiz that was published in September 1941.

PipneyJane

@Gem-gem I love the Market Bag.  Does the pattern have a designer's name on it?  I found it on the Toft site, but only as part of a kit, so will try Ravelry.  (I really don't need to purchase any more yarn.  Worst case, I'll email Toft and ask them if they can sell me a copy of the pattern.)

@kiwisavings I have that book.  I've forgotten most of the contents, because it's nearly 20 years since I purchased my copy.  (Thank you Big River Co for keeping records.)  This is why you are the Librarian/Archivist of Much Mending on the Borrow.  Your skill at finding things out leaves me in awe.

On the subject of babies, what do you think, Ladies?  Shall we keep baby/toddler clothes as free but award extra 50 coupons to the mother, to distribute to her friends if they are making items?  (If any of us is lucky enough to fall pregnant, I think that is fair.)

- Pip

Nelliegrace

It must have been a challenge keeping up with coupon changes. It is good to know that someone in Government was listening. 
This is from Hansard, 8th July 1941. 

PipneyJane

Good find @Nelliegrace.

I'm betting that Lady Young had given her husband what-for about the lack of coupons, the poor quality and the high cost of clothing for babies.  (She probably heard all about it at her village W.I.)

- Pip

Nelliegrace

@PipneyJane, The W.I. used to be sent questions on social and current issues to be discussed a.s.a.p. in all of the branches, by the Government. I remember one in surrogacy. I expect they got in touch very quickly about the issue of homemade versus bought baby clothes.

Angela Thirkell wrote about working parties to make dresses from the dull fabric someone had available, brightened with a bit of trimming, for the children from a nursery which had been evacuated. There must have been a lot of problems with coupons, especially with clothing for evacuees. 

Nelliegrace

I found some new, thick cotton sun hats in the Heart Charity shop, I bought one each for DH and DD. For myself I bought a donated, shady hat for £3.50. It looked new, but it has had a good wash, just in case. I like to support a worthy cause. The ones for children were being sold very cheaply. There was a box of them in front of the shop. So thoughtful on a hot, sunny day.

I visited the bank and the library, paused to watch a bowls match on the green by the town War Memorial, and I took my flask of tea and a cup to sit in the shade of the trees in the park. There was a friendly game of tennis in progress. 

Tomorrow we have our WI meeting, in the morning because nobody wants to go out on dark winter evenings. The talk sounds interesting, “Can one woman change a Country?” The competition is, “The Woman Who Inspires Me.” It is a challenging thought for early morning; do we inspire anyone? I have some surplus eggs to take, and some pre-war hankies for a fellow member. I hope there will be cake. 

alicef

another 10 coupons to declare - yarn of course.   Lots to catch up on the thread.  Have finished my victory jumper; tempted to cast on a version of the 40s jo jo style jumper. 

kiwisavings

Nelliegrace said:

@PipneyJane, The W.I. used to be sent questions on social and current issues to be discussed a.s.a.p. in all of the branches, by the Government. I remember one in surrogacy. I expect they got in touch very quickly about the issue of homemade versus bought baby clothes.

Angela Thirkell wrote about working parties to make dresses from the dull fabric someone had available, brightened with a bit of trimming, for the children from a nursery which had been evacuated. There must have been a lot of problems with coupons, especially with clothing for evacuees. 

Thanks @Nelliegrace for all the interesting information that you find , you should definitely be a librarian too.