2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Laura_Elsewhere

ooh, thankyou for this, @Greying_Pilgrim ! I hadn't come across it at all, and it sounds marvellous.

That coat is stunning- I think it could well be hand-knitted. Often you have more leeway with hand-work than by machine, ime.

I'm really interested in the design though- those gorgeous cuffs are quite Scandinavian to my eye, but the diagonal stripes are absolutely novel- and so modern-looking!

She must have had a really good eye for design, Lady Illiffe…

Thankyou so much for thinking of us! Are you often in the area of Much Mending on the Borrow? Feel free to pop in any time you're passing :)

Greying_Pilgrim

@Laura_Elsewhere - thank you. You've got it in one, Lady Illife was very much interested in clothing and fashion - and very much in the 'set'. She lived in Paris prior to her marriage in 1938 (I think) and Deborah Mitford, later the Duchess of Devonshire was a bridesmaid at her wedding apparently. I'm sure I read she attended the coronation of QEII (there were a couple of the embroidered coronation chairs on display in the house - I think you got the option to keep one if you attended?). I think she supported the art of needlecraft too - I'm pretty sure that there were garments on display that were made for her, but not necessarily from fashion houses - maybe she supported skilled seamstresses locally?

I do tend to pop in and have a look at all the makes, mends and purchases on the thread now and again - I love to see the items everyone has made, and love your socks! Sewing isn't really my thing - I can sew a bit, and have a machine, but prefer knitting, although my attention span isn't good for knitting and I tend to start enthusiastically, and then put things down, and never pick them up again….. I thought learning to knit socks would keep me interested. I have knitted 2 pairs, and have some sock wool in my stash, but I'm still not 'hooked', unfortunately. I wish I was talented enough to knit and walk at the same time - I'd probably get more done 😉😁

Greying X

Nelliegrace

A stunning knitted coat, quite fashionable again as a coatigan. This one knitted is in merino wool.

You send me down rabbit holes! @Greying_Pilgrim, In found some 1940s knitted dressing gowns.

http://fab40s.co.uk/ladiesbedwear6.html

Greying_Pilgrim

Sorry @Nelliegrace, didn't mean to! 😁

It always fascinates me how clever, skilled and resourceful people have been in the past. Many of the 1940's knitting patterns are so 'crisp' and tailored aren't they - design duplicates straight out of the latest Rita Hayworth/Rosemary Clooney movie. Such patience though - yarn often not more than the equivalent of today's 4 ply and thin wirey knitting needles……

Greying X

thriftmonster

Although the more I knit vintage 4ply patterns the more it feels normal. Doing an aran atm on 5mm and it feels like I'm knitting rope on sticks 😅

itsthelittlethings

Got a light brown New Look style crossover jumper and a black chiffon blouse for my great-niece's birthday party while at my friend's. They don't take tokens at the nearly new store in Scotland so I was able to get them.

The factory is very busy. A lot of overtime available. None of us seem to really want to take it.

Laura_Elsewhere

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82120207#Comment_82120207

Yes, I'm similar- and of course the finer yarns on smaller needles at tighter tension all tend to last better as well, and older types of yarn were far less prone to pilling too.

Mind you, I'm just starting a pair of legwarmers for my Dad (who has worn the previous pair proudly and happily, outside his trousers, almost year-round, telling everyone who admires them that his daughter knitted them for him!) and because I'm using a Frangipani 5-ply gansey wool for one of the yarns, I'm on 3.5s which is much bigger than the 2.25s my Gran's stocking pattern is intended for (Size 14s, iirc).

Greying_Pilgrim

@Laura_Elsewhere - I think legwarmers for chaps is ever such an interesting topic. I guess when knitting Comforts for the forces there was little need for legwarmers, given the role of puttees, however in her wireless broadcast for home and abroad, Jana over at Finnish Knitting Stories often shows examples of legwarmers knitted for her Husband and Son. I believe these items to be much more the convention in Northern European nations. Despite there being numerous 1940's patterns for wristwarmers, balaclavas, helmet scarves and knee pads, there didn't seem to be patterns for legwarmers. Until i came across a pattern for 'oversocks', that appear to be legwarmers in spirit, with a strap to go under the wearers instep, and the over sock is to be worn in a gumboot or sea boot.

Well done your dad for wearing his warmers with flair, and taking the opportunity to tell all who enquire who crafted them for him. Do you incorporate shirring elastic into the leg warmers, or are they clingy by their ribbing/patterning?

Greying X