2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

A word of caution as I learned the hard way that yarns that appear superficially to be the same wool weight (e.g. chunky) may have very different yardage. So I had a pattern in mind that used chunky but I went for a different chunky yarn and half way through it was evident I didn't have enough as the yardage per ball was very different from that for which the pattern was designed. A whole saga followed but the jumper was eventually a success.

So I'd recommend a bit of googling as to the recommended yarn: somewhere it should tell you what length per ball. Do the sums, look at the ball ban for your yarn of choice, compare lengths and that should make sure you don't fall short or have too much left over. Hope that makes sense?

Nonnadiluca

Thank you all for your advice, I can't believe I didn't know all this stuff, having knitted on and off since I learned aged 7!!

SpikyHedgehog

I found the same thing,  though luckily for my project, I'd bought too much yarn.  

The different materials used to make yarn are different weights,  so a cotton yarn of double knit thickness will be heavier than a ball of double knit weight wool,  which will be heavier itself than a ball of double knit weight acrylic yarn.   And since yarn is sold by weight...  that means the acrylic yarn is the longest ball,  wool middle length and cotton the shortest.  That's a generalisation,  of course!  

daisy_1571

I've always found it odd that we buy yarn by weight and have no idea what length you get in the ball.  We don't buy material by weight, we say we want 6 yards not a pound and a half 😆.  Presumably it goes back to the old ways of buying and selling wool ?

Nonnadiluca remember also the your pattern may require more balls as a 2 colour than you might need as a single colour.

Dxx

CapricornLass

Happy New Year everyone -I’m a bit late to the party, I know but better late than never! I ended up going onto the black market last year so my aim for this year is just to keep within the limits! 

Fortunately I’m fairly well stocked at the moment. 

Diane1276

SpikyHedgehog said:

Ooh, I made a lovely post,  with intelligent* replies to relevant quotes,  and lost it to the Internet 😐

Thank you PipneyJane!  Good news that my uniform doesn't need coupons. 

KeepCalmandCraft, the Lord be with you! Where are you studying,  if you don't mind me asking?   I'm part time at Cuddesdon for self sustaining ministry.

NellieGrace, there are patterns for clerical tops,  but I've not sewn clothing for a few years,  and what I've done is more around the house clothing...  I do want to sew clothes using the material and patterns I already have,  so we'll see how I can improve my skills ☺️

Thriftwizard, how kind! 

Laura_Elsewhere,  I think if the parish church isn't willing to serve the whole parish,  it's a bit useless 😁 It might not have the capacity to provide everything everyone wants.  

In real life,  my church hosts a top up shop, or non referral food bank, as well as wellbeing cafe, toddler group and youth group.  And church services, of course.  And warm spaces. 

There were more things I wanted to say,  but either they'll come back to me,  or they weren't important.

Ooh, new socks.  Started Oct 2023, finished yesterday.   3 years of other socks in this yarn told me I needed to do reinforcement in an attempt to minimise the darning.   So I added a better sock yarn to the heels and toes,  and did heel stitch over the whole sole.  



* I mean,  I thought they were intelligent as I typed them...

What beautiful socks!

Diane1276

daisy_1571 said:

I've always found it odd that we buy yarn by weight and have no idea what length you get in the ball.  We don't buy material by weight, we say we want 6 yards not a pound and a half 😆.  Presumably it goes back to the old ways of buying and selling wool ?

Nonnadiluca remember also the your pattern may require more balls as a 2 colour than you might need as a single colour.

Dxx

I reckon you're right, back when all yarn was 100% wool, and fairly standardised in terms of both the industrial processes and the variety of thicknesses available, there would have been less variation in length.
Although I've noticed a lot of vintage patterns have little disclaimers on them about how only the stated yarn will guarantee good results!

Diane1276

Nelliegrace said:

Probably not St Francis, @PipneyJane. With rationing, if it moves it is food. The pigeon risotto was tasty, and I have been given a pheasant. 
How about James, John or Andrew? All skilled freshwater fishermen, very good in a storm now. How one’s mind dwells on food. St Peter would be rather busy at this time. 

Hansard records discussion in Parliament about 10 supplementary clothing coupons for required work clothes, mainly protective clothing, but the St John’s Ambulance workers were allowed them. I couldn’t find any reference to clergy uniforms. It is such a special occasion, I wonder if friends and family might donate a coupon or two. 

I went on a silent retreat day with The Mother’s Union, forty women together and not allowed to talk! One lady was embroidering a white clergy stole for weddings, and we were longing to ask her about it. Second hand sounds thrifty, @spikeyhedgehog, are there sewing patterns for clerical tops? I was thinking of blackout fabric. I loved my days as a student, (not training for ministry,) at St John’s College.

Was that Ripon St. John's @NellieGrace?

PipneyJane

cowboymum said:

Would love to join if I may? 

Got a few things on my list to buy this year. Waiting until my 2 months break from paying council tax to have the spare money to buy anything else (mainly new underwear and some plain t-shirts). We have a family wedding in July so will have to think about saving some coupons for that (even though I will probably just wear something I already have).

Over Christmas holidays, I have managed to darn a pair of socks with massive holes in them and the elbows of a lovely cashmere jumper which now has more darning than original jumper.

Have had far too much time perusing knitting patterns online (even though I currently have 2 projects on the go) and have a bit of a wish list for next projects. Have just bought sock wool from vinted so thats 2 coupons used.

Have also bought 2 pairs goats socks for husband and second hand climbing shoes for oldest son but I'm thinking this would all come out of their coupons not mine

Welcome @cowboymum. Always great to have another knitter.  Please take a seat by the fire.  Cup of tea?  

The yarn you’ve bought on Vinted is second hand, isn’t it?  Secondhand purchases costing less than £100 are coupon free.  That’d include your son’s climbing shoes, too.  With gifts, we normally assume you’re spending the recipient’s coupons but you get to choose.

- Pip

PipneyJane

Nonnadiluca said:

Can I ask a question of all you experienced knitters please? How much wool would I need to knit a jumper, size 12ish? I learned to knit about 65 years ago and have made loads of hats, scarves, mittens and baby clothes but never had the confidence to knit myself a jumper, no idea why: I can knit and follow a pattern ok. I've decided that the time has come to give it a go, something fairly plain and easy but don't want to spend too much. I've been looking on vinted and there's quite a bit of wool but the largest amount is 10 x 50g. Would that be enough do you think? Thanks 

@Nonnadiluca the only answer I can give is “it depends”.  What yarn does your pattern call for?  What yarn are you looking at buying?  The best yarn database is on Ravelry.  You can search there and, if the yarn is listed, it usually shows the yardage/meterage, even if it is discontinued.  For example, the 3-ply yarn specified in my 1949 cardigan pattern is listed as having 207 yards/189 metres per ounce (28g), despite being discontinued for decades.  (I’m using 4-ply from stash, purchased a decade or so ago.)

As to coupon cost, well, again that’s an “it depends” answer.  I can knit a long sleeved sweater in 4-ply for between 6 to 8 coupons, but that’s because I knit vintage patterns and am relatively small.  A full-sized sweater for my 6ft tall DH, in DK or Aran would come closer to 20 coupons.

HTH

- Pip