2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

Hodgepodge said:

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.

Welcome @Hodgepodge

Please take a seat by the fire and have a cup of tea.  Are you warm enough?  It’s freezing out there!  I walked to the local hospital this morning for a CT scan*.  Lots of suspended water droplets in the air - can’t call it rain, more like mist - and every time I walked into the wind, it was like being attacked by hundreds of icy needles.  Walking home was better, but only because I had the wind at my back most of the way and my collar turned up to protect me.

As someone who is skilled in both knitting and crochet, may I recommend browsing the crafting website, Ravelry for pattern inspiration?  The link should take you to a search I did for free, crocheted sweater patterns.  Each pattern will have a projects tab, where  you can browse other crocheters’ notes, read about the problems they had, and the yarns they used.  The only thing to remember is that the American “double crochet’ is our treble; while they call our double crochet “single crochet”, so it is vital to work out the country of origin of the pattern.  (FWIW, Australians, Kiwis and South Africans use the British terms, while Canadians use the American.)

I’m watching a film from the BBC at the moment, Odette, about the SOE war heroine and her adventures in France.  The clothes are very stylish and well cut - everything has shoulder pads - but I find myself studying the handbags and the shoes.  Most women have shoulder bags, often worn across their body.  When you can see women’s feet, they are all wearing lace-ups under their dresses.  Very practical shoes.  Something which we’ve lost these days.

- Pip


* They’re just checking my chest to see if the grumbling traces of post-infection inflammation have gone.  I reckon not, since I’m not much better than I was in October, when they did the last scan.   

MrsCD

Sorry to hear about your chest problems, @PipneyJane. The cold, biting wind won't help. 😧 Do you still sing with your choir? It must be difficult for you.
Odette was an amazing woman. Very brave. The film is very interesting and her story should be part of the National Curriculum, in my opinion. My hubby watches anything WWII connected, so I've seen quite a fair number of films and documentaries over the years!
I agree that we seem to have moved away from sensible shoes nowadays. I can't wear anything higher than an inch or so, so I tend to go for Mary Janes for dressy, and flat boots for wintertime.

Diane1276

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. 

I think there are a lot of us here that get tempted by yarn! Like @PipneyJane I've reached S.A.B.L.E, and I'm currently trying to knit through some and give some away. 
I'm currently knitting hats for charity from my oddments.

Diane1276

Nelliegrace said:

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

Oh gosh that sounds amazing!

Diane1276

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 realised after posting that Ripon was never St John's! I had asked because I went to Ripon & York St John, but it had completely escaped me in writing that it was our sister college in York that was St John's!!!
The curse of menopause brain!

Those cardigans sound perfect for this weather, and I can't wait to see what you do with the siren suit!

Diane1276

SpikyHedgehog said:

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

Thank you for the link! 

Cherryfudge

Diane1276 said:

I realised after posting that Ripon was never St John's! I had asked because I went to Ripon & York St John, but it had completely escaped me in writing that it was our sister college in York that was St John's!!!

I so nearly went to Ripon and York St. John! It really appealed to me but I ended up in London instead.

@Nelliegrace, that sounds like the perfect cardigan for this weather and a bonus to have something new that costs no coupons.

itsthelittlethings

One blouse, one shirt, one dress, one combinations, one cardi.

20 coupons.

34 coupons total.

32 to go.

Roll on summer.

I got them all from a local tailor. She was having a sale of things that people hadn’t picked up or returned. She told me she has a cupboard in her mum’s house with stuff in and she waits until it cycles round into fashion again. We had quite a gossip about who had and hadn’t picked stuff up over the years so ladies and gents, I may know some secrets! She is a scream and I got a free cup of tea (with real milk). Her husband is away but his brothers look after her as one has a farm. I won’t be getting too friendly with her though as it cost me a shilling or two.

The blouse came from Bond Street she said. I’m unsure if it’s handmade. I have checked the seams. Suspect factory. She made everything else except the cardigan which is just factory. It’s bright pink so may save it for next Christmas.

I can put you in touch with her if you feel like blowing all your coupons.

In other news I may be moving out of the village if I can get a promotion at work. I’m done with commuting to the big town. The bus driver told me they are taking women and retired men as they are struggling to fill the rota. And there’s a job in the village school coming up! Qualified teacher only.

itsthelittlethings

Hell! Forgot that I owe my friend for the cardi from last year. Will post her the coupons today. She’s probably wondering where they are. Hate letting people down.

PipneyJane

itsthelittlethings said:

One blouse, one shirt, one dress, one combinations, one cardi.

20 coupons.

34 coupons total.

32 to go.

Roll on summer.

I got them all from a local tailor. She was having a sale of things that people hadn’t picked up or returned. She told me she has a cupboard in her mum’s house with stuff in and she waits until it cycles round into fashion again. We had quite a gossip about who had and hadn’t picked stuff up over the years so ladies and gents, I may know some secrets! She is a scream and I got a free cup of tea (with real milk). Her husband is away but his brothers look after her as one has a farm. I won’t be getting too friendly with her though as it cost me a shilling or two.

The blouse came from Bond Street she said. I’m unsure if it’s handmade. I have checked the seams. Suspect factory. She made everything else except the cardigan which is just factory. It’s bright pink so may save it for next Christmas.

I can put you in touch with her if you feel like blowing all your coupons.

In other news I may be moving out of the village if I can get a promotion at work. I’m done with commuting to the big town. The bus driver told me they are taking women and retired men as they are struggling to fill the rota. And there’s a job in the village school coming up! Qualified teacher only.

Will you apply for the teaching job?  It’d be a shame to lose you.  However, I completely understand about the commute.

- Pip