2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nelliegrace

My daughter supports Bravissimo, @PipneyJane, or I should say they support her. Can you squeeze more tea out of the pot? The bedding all dried in the sunshine and wind in the garden this afternoon. I was getting a bit irked about all the rain and the clothes drying on hangers and the airer in June.

Rebecca has done a lovely post from Railway Cottage. It includes a CC41 dressing table, a large teapot, and more beautiful and practical stash-reducing knitting. I have ordered a book she recommends, a “very good” copy with delivery £3.56.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5_Sf2WTBPoI

alicef

I need to do another catch up! @Nelliegrace thank you for the Knitter Knatter link - I think I have seen one or 2 of Rebecca's youtube videos, possibly when I was knitting my Victory jumper and was looking at on-line examples.

I have, half way through the year, managed to balance yarn in with yarn out from stash, so that is quite a result! Plus, I've finally cast on a test knit for a vintage jumper (for me!) for Goodwood, using inexpensive wool from stash as I need to figure out resizing. It's the Chervron sweater and does, thankfully, knit up quickly. I have a vintage pattern but am also using elements from Linda Ivell's book, as knittters of the vintage pattern have reported issues with the moss stitch upper body & the sleeve heads also I need to recalc number of stitches.

Cherryfudge

That's going to be beautiful, @alicef . And I think balancing yarn in with yarn out is probably a rare achievement. 😊

PollyWollyDoodle

well I’m very glad I went to see ‘The Longest Yarn’ - very interesting, I could’ve done with a little bit more explanation on some of the tableaux. It was fine for me, but I don’t think my 35 year old niece understood some of it as she’s not well-versed in history.
An impressive amount of work has gone into knitting all the figures, and also the panels of poppies which were hung at the entrance to the exhibition.
it was inspiring and surprisingly moving.
I definitely recommend it if it’s coming your way.

Baileys_Babe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034793#Comment_82034793

Did you buy the book @PollyWollyDoodle there is lots of further information in there. I went earlier in year my Mum and we bought the book between us and often get it for a browse.

PollyWollyDoodle

Oh I didn’t see a book. I’ll have a look on the website. I’d love to know more about it.

thriftmonster

Can definitely recommend the book for a browse. Plus the lady selling them said they share the entrance donations with the venue but they get all the income from the books (after costs obviously -accountant in me coming out there 😃)

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035175#Comment_82035175

You’re an accountant, too, @thriftmonster ? That makes at least two of us on this thread. 😀 I define myself as a nurse by trade, an accountant by profession.

I have another spend to declare. We went to the tennis at Queens on Saturday. Saw Emma Raducanu play twice, firstly in a delayed quarter-final and then, two hours later, in a semi-final. She did us proud. Anyway, during the break before her second match, DH and I wandered into the shop to find himself a polo shirt or t-shirt sporting the Queens’ logo. He wanted one in white, in pure cotton. No such luck - all the white men’s ones were high in polyester.. Instead, we found a t-shirt for me: white; 100% cotton; with the Queens logo embroidered above the left breast.

4 coupons spent, bringing my total to 33 for the year. I do have a couple of other spends on the horizon. M&S are tempting me with a “spend £30 earn a £9 voucher” offer on shoes which runs out next week, and I’m considering buying another pair of zip-off hiking trousers, (the ones where the legs zip off and they convert to shorts). The current pair is navy, but the shorts have faded considerably compared to the legs, hence the need for a respectable replacement. (Lesson learned: always wash the legs when you wash the shorts or they won’t weather at the same rate and look odd.)

Re the shoes, I’ll probably purchase my next pair of loafers for work, and spend the vouchers they gave me at Christmas. However, I want to try them on first - with socks on - so will do my shopping in store.

@Nelliegrace thank you for the introduction to Rebecca. I didn’t know about her video show before you posted. Most interesting.

• Pip

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033885#Comment_82033885

Is that the Susan Crawford Chevron Sweater, @alicef? I do like your colour choices.

• Pip

skogar

My FIL also bought some navy zip off trousers - it must be over 25 years ago. We avoid navy ones as a result. It's a lot less noticeable with the beige ones.

I still need to work out my coupons from last year - and I never did buy those replacement t-shirts I say I need every year. Did get a few bits of walking stuff last year to replace things that have worn out.

On a more perplexing note - I have an almost complete - cardigan? - it was not knitted by me but I think only the very top of 1 arm needs finishing. There is of course no pattern. The knitter who knitted it used patterns as a guide for sizing rather than an actual pattern and there is nothing remotely resembling this. I have managed to pin it together and think I have worked out which bits are which but not sure if I can work out how to finish the top of the arm.