2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037293#Comment_82037293

Nancy Birtwhistle is great! She really knows her stuff, doesn't she?

Laura_Elsewhere

Having been reminded of Nancy Birtwhistle's "green bleach" I reckon I might try her sodium percarbonate. I've not used that before, but everything I've tried from her has really worked well, so…

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82036560#Comment_82036560

I have a copy too, @alicef. Do you need me to check the sleeve pattern for stitch counts, etc? Were you part of the kickstarter? If so, you should have the pattern PDFs.

As previously planned, I purchased a pair of black leather loafers yesterday from M&S, spending £56 of my Christmas gift vouchers in the process. The local branch didn’t have that many pairs in stock, but I was lucky that I found some that were actually leather, since the first pair I looked at were not.

5 coupons spent, which takes my annual total to 38, leaving me 42.5 for the rest of the year.

While I really don’t need many new clothes, if anyone sees a double-breasted, navy blue, woollen blazer for sale, please let me know, especially if it comes with a matching skirt and trousers. (Yes, I know, this was on my wish list last year, too, but a girl can hope.)

Also, I’ve decided that I will over-dye the convertible trousers, when I find some suitable navy blue dye. I’ve checked, and they’re 100% cotton. It’ll probably take me until next year, before I get around to it…

• Pip

alicef

ohhhh @PipneyJane you clever, clever person. You are a star! I have now checked my Susan Crawford account and HAVE got the pdfs for A Stitch in Time (Colour Work edition)! Gosh, I'm so pleased! I'm due to go away and was resigned to taking my sock knitting, but no longer! I can crack on with the Chevron jumper.

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038554#Comment_82038554

Glad I could help @alicef

What is everyone knitting/crochetting at the moment? I’m still working on my Lightly Tailored Cardigan which was published in June 1949. Despite my wrist issues, I’ve knitted the body and nearly finished the sleeves - currently working on the sleeve heads - and only have the button bands to go. Since I have 4+ balls of the yarn left, I think I’ll knit up a matching top and will turn it into a twin-set.

Of course, also on the go in my handbag is a sock. (There is always a sock on the go.) Once this pair is finished, I may swap my handbag knitting to a one-skein shawl, similar to Glitz At The Ritz https://knitty.com/ISSUEff13/PATTglitz.php or the Afternoon Tea Shawlette https://knitty.com/ISSUEss12/PATTtea.php I was given some Bendigo Woollen Mill’s sock yarn, which has a really long colour repeat and a shawl is the only way to use it up. ETA I also have far too many pairs of socks and don’t need more.

• Pip

PipneyJane

ARRGGGHHH! I got hit by FOMO! Susan Crawford is doing an Advent Calendar. 23 x 25g hand-dyed skeins, plus an “Annual” including 5 colourwork patterns for the yarn. Only 100 will be produced and I fell for it! How did this happen? I received her initial marketing email about it on ?Thursday, and I swore that I wasn’t going to buy it, but when I saw the “It’s on sale now” email on Friday, something snapped. What can I say? I was at the cricket, roasting quietly in the sun, and suddenly I couldn’t resist. Absolute FOMO.

575g of 2-ply laceweight yarn. 11.5 coupons spent.

< hang head in shame >

‘- Pip

Nelliegrace

Knitting and crochet are supposed to reduce stress! @PipneyJane Think of all the knitting done to fill anxious hours in wartime. It sounds like a wonderful present to yourself and well deserved. I buy DD Attic 24 blanket kits to help when her work causes her stress.

Laura_Elsewhere

I'm just finishing the Second Sock of these ankle-socks to give to my friend when I see her on Wednesday- she lives in another continent but we manage a day together most years as she travels round the country catching up with everyone… and since last June she has had a really major medical diagnosis, treatment and finally- amazingly and wonderfully- the all-clear. At one point I thought I might never see her again, so to see her and with a clean bill of health is still making me a bit weepy if I think too much of those bleak months in winter when everyone was trying to be brave about it…

So I knitted all my joy and delight into socks for her- she lives purples and turquoises and greens, kingfishers and peacocks, and this Zauberball and the Lang worked perfectly together :)

Just the grafting to knit now, darn in the ends and wash them… :)

Baileys_Babe

Beautiful socks @Laura_Elsewhere your friend will be very pleased with your colour choices ❤️

PollyWollyDoodle

Wow, gorgeous socks @Laura_Elsewhere and made with love! ❤️
No need to feel shame, Pip, I am sure that in the past we’ve all blown money (and coupons) on far worse goods, this sounds like a lovely project and good for your mental health.

I’m on Make do and Mend projects as it’s too hot for me outside. I’ve got a very old duvet cover. It’s a William Morris pattern and I love it, but it must be 30 years old and starting to fall apart. I had a brainwave last week, when my spare bed isn’t in use I store the duvet and pillows in bags to keep the cats from sleeping on them. At the moment I’m using ‘failed’ vacuum bags. They look very ugly, don’t seal up and are quite annoying. Voila - minimal effort (using the existing duvet seam where possible) and I have two lovely big cloth storage bags.
I also have quite a lot of William Morris fabric left over. … I’m sure I’ll find something else to do with it.