2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

MrsCD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81862977#Comment_81862977

@Gem-gem , the blanket is lovely, and the colours look great! I get what you mean by the patches not always behaving and not being as square as the others. If it really, really bothers you, maybe do another round on the border with longer stitches, maybe half trebles, then doubles above the naughty ones, and a final round of all the same stitch.

thriftmonster

Ooops Apologies

@Gem-gem the blanket is lovely

Laura_Elsewhere

I'm knitting a red, pointed hat with a tassel… apparently the Norwegians are wearing them as a subtle protest against the Nazi soldiers who have invaded Norway (had they actually invaded by 1942? I should know my WW2 history!!).

I'm pleased with how it's going- the pattern was a few pounds but it all goes to help charities in the occupied zones…

and the bright red yarn I'm using is red-hot! Hot enough to Melt the Ice…

Gem-gem

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81863878#Comment_81863878

Thank you for the advice. I did add some half trebles between the two squares so it didn't dip.

Gem-gem

Lovely red yarn @Laura_Elsewhere. 😀

Diane1276

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81850244#Comment_81850244

Sorry I'm catching up so commenting on things from a while ago!

@PollyWollyDoodle this sounds like a great book. I was watching Foyles War last night, one of the post-war episodes, and I noticed that the costuming has most characters dressed in a way that highlights the effect of rationing, subtly. You see the same things worn over and over, things look washed out, a little shabby, and I thought it was an excellent bit of costume design practice.

I also have a spend to declare - some sturdy jeans, 5 coupons.

I've bought heavier weight denim than I normally do, in the hope that they will last.

Diane1276

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81863063#Comment_81863063

Ooh @Laura_Elsewhere do you do this? I've wondered how it compares to knitting in a strengthening thread, which I have sometimes done.

Speaking of socks, this was the first "proper" pair in thin yarn on 4 needles I ever made, probably about 15 years ago... They have had numerous darns and sections reknit over the years, and I'm about to reknit the toes for the second time. I've run out of the original yarn now!

IMG_20260131_162535304_HDR.jpg

Nelliegrace

French sailors had pompoms on their hats to remind them to keep their heads down beneath the decks.

My eldest sister has made me a lovely deep pink crochet cowl and knitted hat for my birthday. Yes Sis, I can sew the ends in! Her husband filmed her on his phone, totally absorbed in a piece of crochet, keeping time with the music in the background.

Diane1276

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81864641#Comment_81864641

Oh what a lovely gift! I do remember reading somewhere that pompoms were a symbol of protection, although I never thought of it in a practical sense!

Laura_Elsewhere

@Diane1276 yes, I do 'run' my socks! It's a little faster than darning but I think its real advantage is that you can do it exactly where the wearer's foot tends to wear through most. I often add a reinforcing thin yarn in the heel but I don't use it for the whole foot, and so it's useful to 'run' the ball of the foot or the toes at the sides where my big toe stretches it more, etc.

The French pom-poms have a little less direct relevance to our present times… ;)

although also, how come the French sailors needed pom-poms to remind them to keep their heads low below-decks, but the Spanish, British, Swedish, Portuguese sailors all managed without pom-poms?! It's a lovely idea but unless the French frequently recruited very odd people,I'm not convinced! :)