2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82066892#Comment_82066892

it’s L!dl’s finest sock yarn, purchased 2 winters ago. Crelano Anika, I think. (Sorry, on my phone so can’t check.). Out of the dozen or so skeins of this stuff that I have knitted, this is the worst for yarn barf. The previous skein had nearly 2 metres with flaws, where there were lumps of fibre that hadn’t been spun in, but that wasn’t nearly as bad as this one for sticking together. (I think I still have the bit I cut out. If I do, I’ll post a picture later.)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82066893#Comment_82066893

Oh that’s brilliant @thriftmonster. I actually think that it would improve both the women’s and the men’s games if they played against each other. The faster bowling and harder hit balls would improve the women’s game. The spin/change of pace would change the men’s.

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

I just use the yarn from the outside… ;)

I had a wonderful week camping on the Dorset coast, on the Isle of Purbeck- literally Famous Five stuff, as Blyton spent a lot of her adult life there! :)

I swam at least once every day, sometimes more, and ate at least one ice-cream every day too :) and this year I went for not smashing ribs on both sides on the final morning! Definite improvement :)

I also bought myself a skein of Regia 4-ply sock yarn in coastal blues, in the little knitting shop along from the steam trains at Swanage- so I can knit ankle-socks with a turn-down mock-spiral cuff, to remind me of the incredibly clear seas- this photo is in neck-deep water but so clear…!

So when I finally update my list I shall add 100g of 75%-wool 4-ply :)

Baileys_Babe

@Laura_Elsewhere that sea looks glorious, I had assumed it was much shallower

Cherryfudge

I lived in Dorset many years ago… you've captured that perfect water and made me homesick! It sounds like a lovely holiday.

PipneyJane

Ooohhhh…. That sea looks lovely @Laura_Elsewhere . You picked the perfect week for your holiday, too.

I did contemplate knitting from the outside in, but sadly, this yarn has very directional repeats, so the patterns would appear the wrong way up. I’m knitting the second sock of a pair destined to be given to a friend. Won’t have time to knit an entire pair before she heads back to Australia.

Here’s the photo I promised yesterday, showing the spinning flaws from the previous ball.

Too fluffy to knit in. (I did try, but it was too noticeable.). Although there was the odd episode of yarn barf with that skein, they were small.

• Pip

dND

@PipneyJane It's strange how good some balls of wool can be and how bad others of the same are. I vaguely remember looking it up a few years ago but I think they can legally have up to 3 joins in a ball before it is deemed defective. I've no idea about how many snags are allowed. I wonder if it's because of the tight margins on everything today machines aren't maintained as well or more likely no quality checking.

I have another spend to declare 😱

Trying to keep cool I've dragged out a dress I bought at a folk festival around 25 years ago. Back then I could get away with the length - very short - these days, well let's say it's not so becoming on a 70+ year old and flashing my underwear is not how I want to be known. 🤣🤣

Enter a twin pack of 95% ribbed cotton cycling shorts from Lidl, 6 coupons in total, bringing me to 34 coupons used this year.

I now feel a bit better popping out into the front garden in the dress as I almost invariably stoop to pull out a weed or two. 🤣

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067969#Comment_82067969

Now that’s interesting @dND. I didn’t know there was a legal limit. I bet it’s not enforced. In 2019, I knitted my brother-in-law a pair of socks, while he was visiting from Australia, having come to Europe on business. My notes tell me that, in one sock, I had to cut out five flaws. That was in James C. Brett’s Funny Feetz 4-ply sock yarn. Never buying that again.

(I remember sitting on my hotel bed in France, frantically weaving in ends, because I had to give him the socks before dropping him at the station for him to get the train to Paris and then to London, and on to Gatwick.)

• Pip

thriftmonster

The sea looks fabulous @Laura_Elsewhere . Glad you had a lovely old fashioned holiday

CapricornLass

I've got a spend to declare: 5 coupons for a pair of Teva leather sandals from the sale in Go.

PipneyJane

OK, who’s watched Sewing Bee? What did you think? I liked the garment of the week.

No spoilers, but I did wonder about the competence of some of the sewers and why they were chosen. Not surprised at all by the first person who was sent home. Their skills weren’t great.

• Pip