2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

vintagegal wrote: »

My knitting of the sweater is not going well. All the needles I bought are wrong, the ‘string’ bit is too long. So I’ve ordered some more but will have to start again.

Are you sitting comfortably? Go and look for instructions for something called Magic Loop method - basically what you do is let the excess cable (the string!) stick out where it's not in the way and then you can knit smaller size tubes on even a long circular...

Here's a quick google search - I work best from instructions but others prefer videos, and there are both! https://www.google.com/search?q=magic+loop+knitting&oq=magic+loop+&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.3650j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

And a year to knit your first jumper is fine - be aware you'll probably lose interest a few times, especially in hot sunny weather, and suddenly it's cold and you want your jumper and you knit all the hours there are and wheee, it's done!

I have tallied up the coupons I have spent so far this year and I think I am doing okay. I have used 7 tokens so far. I have spent approximately £87.00 generally as I have got some shoe repairs done and I bought three tops from a charity shop as well as some haberdashery bits and pieces to enable me to make a couple of garments. Total tokens left 59.


I am also not really feeling in the mood for shopping for clothes or other things either. It just doesn't give me that buzz that I used to get years ago (and that other people do get). Lets hope it continues. I need to think of another craft project to do for March now I have nearly finished my culottes. I have some sock wool I bought ages ago but haven't actually got round to making them yet. Perhaps I will try that next.

I had to go into Primark today to buy things for someone else and there was a gorgeous bright deep green fluffy jumper reduced to £3 - the kind of lightweight long loose thing you'd wear over leggings around the place at weekends...

I would have bought it but I just kept thinking, hang on, that's five whole coupons...!!!!!

so I left it for someone else to have.

(Also, a couple of years ago, I was given a kilo of bright deep green mohair yarn which is probably enough to knit myself one, so if I want one that much... )

I have had a very successful couple of days. A visit to a CS in a town I don't usually go to revealed a rail marked 'everything £1' - something I never see locally. I'm guessing it was stock that hadn't shifted - I got a brand new waterproof jacket which I need for an active holiday later this year, I wasn't really expecting to find anything like that in a CS so I'm very happy. Then today I got a lovely cotton sweatshirt, also ideal for this holiday where I'm going to need lots of layers. And best of all - NO coupons!

Well done. I have learned with CSs that you have to buy it when you see it, I wasn't really planning any purchases but these were both real bargains. I am wearing the sweatshirt type top right now, it's only 'Tu' brand but it's really soft and cosy. Anyone else see the Sewing Bee this week where they explained how sweatshirts/hoodies were invented?



I should really be doing a wardrobe inventory to see what I actually need - at the moment ankle boots are quite high on the list and I am going to follow your tip Laura and set up a search on The Bay for some brand new Hotter ones, as I know they will fit and be comfortable. I have enough tops, jeans and t-shirts, I will need some new black trousers and my mission for this year is to learn to make (and fit) trousers so perhaps I will focus on that.