2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Nelliegrace

One of my favourite bloggers made a film on her visit to Baytree Garden Centre 1940s weekend. She showed us her exciting, second hand book purchases, and her latest 40s style knitting, and at the end she jumped up and joined the Lindy Hop group, such a joy to watch.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TIzU_3MsuPM

I have ordered a set 6 Duralex Picardie glasses, a design from the 1950s, to replace the last remaining Arcorac ones I bought when we were married. After 46+ years of daily use, I can't really grumble. The other glasses in the cupboard were from petrol station coupons and Nutella spread.

PipneyJane

Ooohhhh…. I'll have a watch later, @Nelliegrace .

Did you receive this week's MSE newsletter? I got Success Of The Week!

• Pip (aka Pam)

Laura_Elsewhere

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82112522#Comment_82112522

Hmm, an interesting challenge! Why doesn't the Sewing Bee have this kind of useful challenge?!

you could try opening up the seam at the back of the collar, and making an inverted box-pleat at the top of the back, and re-stitching the narrowed back back onto the collar? If you stitch the box pleat closed for 2-3 inches it might pull the shoulders down a little. I definitely recommend opening up the inside of each shoulder and taking out the original pads, either leaving them out or replacing with much thinner smaller ones.

can you find an area eg front facing, where you could extract enough fabric to cover the outside of a quarter-belt to go at the back with a couple of buttons to secure it, giving a bit of shape to the rear view even if there isn't enough fabric to take it in at all- even if there isn't enough quarter-belt just sits there doing nothing, the eye thinks it is narrowing the waist :)

maryb

All good suggestions Laura. It already has a box pleat at the centre back so I am going to stitch that closed with a bit of a curve. Actually I may even be able to angle the curve to cope with my rounded upper back as well.

After much pinning and basting I think I have worked out how to bring the shoulders in enough. Largely by just cutting away the width represented by the flange. It didn't actually have shoulder pads because of the flange so I think adding some will help. I'm going to baste it all together then get my daughter to help me fine tune it. It will still be quite a boxy cut but boyfriend coats seem to be in at the moment. It is double breasted with a low button placement (I said it was very 80s!) but I think it will take a higher extra button hole as the front facing edge is fairly straight. There's a place in Soho you can take things and they will do the buttonhole for you for a very modest fee.

I'll be very happy if it works. I find I get very fond of things I've mended, more so than when they were new. I think the Japanese call it wabisabi

Laura_Elsewhere

@maryb that all sounds like a great plan! Will we have pics when it's done?

I really want to start making my red linen jacket, but can't find the bloomin' linen!! I intend to work out the pattern in detail so that when I do find the linen, I can crack straight into it!

Cherryfudge

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82115346#Comment_82115346

Well done! That was a fantastic saving.

PipneyJane

Thanks @Cherryfudge . I have to say that I was quite surprised!

Two years ago, after completing chemo, I paid £238 for a year's travel insurance, just for me.  Last year, that firm couldn't insure me - I have no idea why - so I went with a different one, paying £623.05 for a joint policy that included my DH.  This year that company quoted me £728.14 for the same policy. Ouch!

Hence me trying the new MSE travel insurance tool and the result is in the Newsletter. I really just wrote my email to them to say “thank you”, because it made such a big difference. (Last year, I was effectively down to one insurer. Not now.)

• Pip

maryb

I've parked the remodel as I've found a very good offer on the exact style of navy coat I was aiming for and it's 100% wool. I may finish the attempt at some stage, just as a learning activity to understand quick tailoring. So no pressure if it doesn't turn out the way I want. I've got lots of other mending/alterations to occupy me. I did a one day course last year on invisible mending and I've got cashmere jumpers that have gone under the arms so that will be good practice as it won't show as long as the holes are filled

diminua

Just dropping in to report a pair of trainers and a white vest thing with 'invisible support' purchased.

The purple running shoes I bought two or three years ago in a rush after my boots gave up on holiday are still going, but they're wearing quite thin under the ball of the foot. The new ones are flatter and more rigid (more like plimsolls really) so will need walking in, but fit OK. They're also brown with a pink logo, which works better with my actual clothes.

The vest thing fills a hole as I can wear it under pale shirts, and it will be another layer come winter.

That takes me down to 5.5 coupons left if my sums are correct.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Afternoon Ladies,

I know this isn't knit & natter, nor a sewing circle, but I was thinking of you all on this thread, when I visited a NT property the other day whilst out and about on my hols. Our intention was to just have our picnic lunch in beautiful surroundings, but we went for a look around the house at Basildon Park, Reading in Berkshire, (I'm fully expecting one of you to say, "but Greying, I volunteer there!"). I'm so glad that we did, as there was an exhibition on in the house of garments, telling a timeline and connection to Lady Illife, a fashionista and one-time inhabitant of the house. There were many beautiful garments, and some of THE major fashion houses of Europe were represented. But what caught my eye was a knitted coat, who's maker was unknown, but I am pretty sure it was handknit (you could get close, but not too-close to look), and had belonged to Lady Illife. It was stylish and practical - although for the purposes of this thread, I'm not sure the ration for sock yarn would have covered it's making! I should imagine it was pure wool - there was some pilling - but the shoulders were put in so crisply (which might point to it not being handknit - or super talented engineering using the steeking process???).

I know several of you are ardent, and creative knitters, and I was just so struck by the construction of it. Keeping on a FotR theme - a de-mob suit (probably not original) was on display, as were several WWII uniforms - Lady Illife's dark blue woollen (I think) Red Cross uniform was strikingly neat, despite it's obvious age. I think Lady Illife's wedding was just before the outbreak of WWII, so she was able to wear a silver (!) wedding dress - which was the sign of an aristocratic marriage, apparently. Whilst the exhibition covers more than the war years, the history of clothing is very interesting. It will not surprise you that NT Killerton and the London Fashion & Textiles museum have loaned pieces. As an aside, the property has also been the filming backdrop for many perios films/TV productions; Downton, Pride & Predjudice, The Duchess, The Gentlemen… etc etc.

Sorry if you've known of the exhibition and have visited, I just was thinking of you all as I was viewing. Whilst it wasn't specifically war-time fashion, or 'make-do and mend', you could how folk would want to recreate the 'looks' of the rich and famous, using their skills and the materials to hand - but within the limitation of rationing.

Greying X