2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nelliegrace

Not Ripon @Diane1276, the college started in London but was bombed out of Highbury in 41, evacuated to Wadhurst School in Surrey for a while, and was taken in by Oak Hill College.  The National Fire Service has requisitioned our St John’s College, holding prayers and services in the church. 



It has been cold this week with a couple of inches of snow. I have been searching for a large, warm lined, hooded cardigan I remember buying some years ago in the sales, and have never worn, grey for my husband and navy for me. I found them among his unworn clothes in the box room and reclaimed mine. It is cosy as an extra layer for wearing in bed to read, the bedroom gets a bit cold at night. Shopping from home. No coupons wasted.
 
I found my old white cotton beekeeping suit too, it had got too tight but fits once more. I mean to dye it for a siren suit.  My husband started to get a bit of a reaction to bee stings and the work was getting too heavy for me, so a friend took over our hives and we sold all of the honey extracting equipment to a school. 

daisy_1571

I watched inside the factory last night, some fab reels of 1908 biscuit factory and our sisters in the wvs 

Dxx

PipneyJane

Afternoon All

Out of sheer curiosity, I went back through all the Fashion-on-the-Ration threads.  Did you know that we've been doing this since 2018 and accumulated 12,830-ish posts?  (NB:  I'm rounding upon the posts - there are 1,283 pages of posts with a maximum of 10 posts per page)

Nelliegrace said:

Not Ripon @Diane1276, the college started in London but was bombed out of Highbury in 41, evacuated to Wadhurst School in Surrey for a while, and was taken in by Oak Hill College.  The National Fire Service has requisitioned our St John’s College, holding prayers and services in the church. 



It has been cold this week with a couple of inches of snow. I have been searching for a large, warm lined, hooded cardigan I remember buying some years ago in the sales, and have never worn, grey for my husband and navy for me. I found them among his unworn clothes in the box room and reclaimed mine. It is cosy as an extra layer for wearing in bed to read, the bedroom gets a bit cold at night. Shopping from home. No coupons wasted.
 
I found my old white cotton beekeeping suit too, it had got too tight but fits once more. I mean to dye it for a siren suit.  My husband started to get a bit of a reaction to bee stings and the work was getting too heavy for me, so a friend took over our hives and we sold all of the honey extracting equipment to a school. 

I love that you write in the context of our 1942 time-warp, @Nelliegrace.  Hope you aren't too cold. I had to drive to the office yesterday and, despite wearing "the duvet" puffer-jacket-style coat, I shivered most of the way there. Regretted not wearing my sheepskin great-coat, which would have been warmer.  (It weighs a ton and usually only gets worn to football matches.)   

Be careful outside, everyone.  While I went for a run first thing on Monday (6am), because it rained here most of the night and it was "feels like -5C" first thing this morning, I bottled it and didn't run today.  Decided not to risk encountering black ice.  

- Pip

Elizabeth49

Hi, I'd like to join in if it's not too late to sign up please.

I spent far too much on clothes last year and have plenty of coats, shoes and boots, outerwear and nightwear. And with retirement looming I'm not planning to buy any new work clothes. So I'm hoping that I'm not going to be reporting too many coupon spends this year.

But it's the knitting yarn that I'm really going to have to reign in on, otherwise I'll end up spending all my coupons on DK and aran. 

PipneyJane

Elizabeth49 said:

Hi, I'd like to join in if it's not too late to sign up please.

I spent far too much on clothes last year and have plenty of coats, shoes and boots, outerwear and nightwear. And with retirement looming I'm not planning to buy any new work clothes. So I'm hoping that I'm not going to be reporting too many coupon spends this year.

But it's the knitting yarn that I'm really going to have to reign in on, otherwise I'll end up spending all my coupons on DK and aran. 

Hi @Elizabeth49

Yes, of course, it's not too late to join.  Welcome to Much Mending On The Borrow!  Cup of tea?  What are you knitting now?

I feel your pain re knitting yarn.  It's hard to turn down the good stuff, isn't it? Despite my best intentions, most years I'll spend at least half my coupons on yarn, and I really don't need any more.  I'm at SABLE*, with enough yarn to keep me knitting for a decade or two.  My plan this year is to not buy any, unless I desperately need a skein in order to finish a project.  (Yeah, right.  We shall see.)

- Pip

*Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy.

SpikyHedgehog

Thank you,  @Diane1276 !   They're from a free pattern https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sydansukat---hearts-up-and-down-socks

I had a good sort out in my bedroom yesterday when putting some of Christmas away, and organised the yarn that lives in my wardrobe.  This reminded me I've got yarn up there for a navy cardigan,  and a cream lace top.    But they can stay safely there till I've finished the striped cardigan and the cable jumper that are downstairs.  

I finished mending my winter coat the other day,  getting that back into much needed use.   So washed my lightweight coat and my padded gilet. 

Padded gilet needs a new zip.   Which means a trip to the haberdashery.   A dangerous place!   I hope I can escape with only the zip.  And a ball of yarn Elder Son has given me the money and coupons for,  to make him a hat. If I get a zip that matches gilet, I'll need matching thread,  but if not,  I'll use up what I've got. 

We went in a L1dl earlier,  and I looked at the thermal tights but there were none in my size.   Hey ho, coupons and money saved.

Cherryfudge

SpikyHedgehog said:

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!  

Thanks for this - I had no idea why the weight and length didn't correspond across two yarns but that makes logical sense of it.

Hodgepodge

I'd like to join as well please.
I have followed this thread for a few years and do start keeping track of what coupons I have used, then give up when it is clear I am going to quickly run out!
I am determined this year to stick with the plan!
I'm not a knitter but have been inspired by Game of Wool to get back into crochet and would love to make myself something to wear. I have only made blankets before but now realise how much more can be done with crochet.

cowboymum

PipneyJane said:

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

Perfect thanks Pip!

Vinted wool has arrived and trying very hard not to start another project until I've finished the pullover I'm making (treated myself to a kit from wool and the gang in November).

I will add coupons from husbands socks - I've stopped trying to knit him socks as I've not had much success, so I just darn them when his pointy toes make holes!!!

Nelliegrace

My grandmother made a beautiful, lined jacket and skirt suit, crocheted in cherry red crepe yarn.