The 1940s System I'm Using to TRANSFORM my Wardrobe
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- I'm starting a new challenge!
Using the 1941 Clothing Rationing Scheme I'm going to be limiting my purchases of new goods in an attempt to be more sustainable.
My hope is that this will make me more conscious of what I buy and when, what is working for me in my wardrobe and what I need to do to make it work better for me, and hopefully it'll inspire me to get more creative with what I already have!
If you'd like to follow along I've got some resources for free in my ko-fi shop: ko-fi.com/retr...
I would also like to add, I'm not doing this because I think we should 'go back to the good ol' days' 🤮I'm a clothing historian. I've read many first hand accounts of just how difficult clothing rationing and clothing shortages were in WW2. I'm doing this because, unlike the 1940s, we live in a world of over consumption. We can take inspiration from the past, respect those who came before us and still be aware of the progress we've made to a fairer, more equal society. Now if we could just xto killing the planet....
The book I mentioned: -AD amzn.to/3X1z9HR
☕If you enjoyed this video or found it helpful, please consider buying my a cup of coffee. This helps me to buy fabric and notions so that I can make more sewing videos for you! All contributions greatly appreciated: ko-fi.com/retr...
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Claude, please try your local dry cleaners for simple mending and alterations. My dad uses them to put in new pockets and zips and buttons all the time. They often have a tailoring/mending service. For leather repairs such as bags, your local cobblers can help.
Getting a few things off of The List to reduce stress and frustration can make the rest of The List less tiring to think of.
Great ideas, definitely worth considering. I have similarly 9:58 taken advantage of grocery delivery lately to conserve my time and energy.
@@Carolyn-qd8mj Any good grocery delivery you can recommend? I've ttried ASDA but I ended up with spoiled milk. I tried Tesco but their "loose" veg and fruit comes double-wrapped in plastic bags. I'm struggling to justify delivery when it comes with so much plastic that also takes more energy to sort and recycle. Especialy as it's dubious if the gov even recycles it at all. Sadly, there was a documentary. In Mayalsia a lot of UK plastic was exported there and the plant said that they couldn't recycle it because it was sent to them unsorted and dirty, so it all ended up going to landfill. Sadly, I work with computers for a living, and we're all aware of how electronics are also often exported where they're burnt to retrieve the copper, with devastating environmental and health impacts on the local community.
@@Stettafire I’m in the US, and I’ve just used the delivery service my local grocery store has. Good considerations you mentioned. It’s not ideal, but I don’t use it all the time.
Dump the list, fir now anyway. Anything really important will get done automatically.
Have you considering the costs of altering/mending? Better learn to diy and take your time with it.
So lovely to see you adopt this scheme for a reset and inspiration. I used it for nigh on 11 years starting in 2011 because it was such a well developed scheme from a resource/energy usage perspective. After number crunching using life cycle assessment data I did tweak the numbers very slightly to reflect the modern ecological crisis and treated wool garments equivalent to cotton and linen but point loaded manmade and 'hybrid' fibres/garments as if they were wool.
I fell off the wagon in December 2022 but only because a/ horrific fuel prices meant I was being really parsimonious with energy and realised I needed more clothes to last between washing AND drying cycles as drying clothes quickly without the heating on took forever and b/ when perimenopause made all the fibromyalgia body issues worse and my body changed size wise and in terms of tolerance to seams.
Given the fortuitousness of the dates though, I am going to re-engage with it to get me back on track too.
PS - I can thoroughly recommend the clothes rationing related Pathé reels of the era.
PPS - The soap rationing was really brutal. I'm not a lotions and potions girl but boy, that was tough. I don't religiously do that anymore.
PPPS - I've also been following the principles of food rationing systems and Mr M has no idea that he's been living quite happily on the calorific equivalent (swapping out lard with olive oil) of the wartime fat and milk ration with no ill effects for over a decade. 😂 That's how well considered and developed these schemes were. They really are viable.
I really like the point of bundling natural fibers together and making all the plastics the costlier option
@@smarmasaurI definitely avoid synthetics as much as possible for their environmental impact so it makes sense.
Indeed I read that nutritional deficiencies only appeared in Britain *after* the rationing was lifted.
@@NouriaDiallo Think around then a lot of cheap readymade food entered the market. The thing with post-war rationing is there was a bit of a cost-of-living crisis and it was (1950s? I forget) when the pound was devalued and that had an awful impact on the economy. So cheap poor-quality food (not to mention a lack of regulation around that area) combined with high-availability but combined with an economic crisis.
I have fallen off the wagon for the same reasons. I suppose one good thing about my fibro is that it gave me more motivation to avoid synthetic fibres because they cause me to overheat. I try to buy tencel/modal, linen and merino wool which I have had the most success with in terms of temperature/moisture control & sensory issues - still trying to figure out how to incorporate cotton, I find it holds onto too much moisture. But wool in particular is very expensive to find ethically and can be difficult to maintain. Do you still have any of the data you used to make those tweaks, or a basic outline of the system you used?
If it's possible, find an elderly lady that is willing to share closet with you. My grandparents old closet was an absolute treasure trove, and I'm so happy my mother held on to lots of it.
If you find a suitable lady that is downsizing and can come by for a coffee a chat and bring a dress or two you really have a win-win.
I hope you get some energy back soon. ❤
All with you. It's taken me 6 months to alter and fit etc the last 3 items I bought in a thrift shop to fit me because, spoons. I want to do it but I simply have no energy. And I only got around to doing it becase my clothes had worn out and ripped! I do it coz it's the only way to find natural fibres here (everything in the shops are polyester, even 90% in the fabric shops.)
I've spent like 5+ years not buying any clothes, crocheting only from stash until last year what yarn I have can now fit in a foot-poof (a 2ft cube).
I'm a different creator-type in that I follow instinct rather than instructions, and am self taught (by studying and taking apart clothes) and not trained costumier. I actually enjoy repairs and mending because everything is a little challenge/problem to solve, and no two are the same! Bring me all the stuff to fix! And I do 95% of it by hand, coz why not?
And yeah, sizing 🙄 I've got 12-20 that all fit the same body. A body that keeps changing shape :/
Off do download the book, coz why not?
Something you can consider is "pre-mending". That's where you preemptively strengthen the places most likely to fail before they fail. It can be putting twill tape into shoulder seams, adding interior patches to the knees of children's blue jeans, doing REAL stitches to attach buttons.
I have this book from my teaching days but use it and the cookery/growing companion volume too. Having been born in 1952, rationing had almost ended but shortages lasted into the early 60s, so was brought up to be careful about both food and clothing. I can't not mend small holes, turn collars, darn socks etc. My 80s children hated it! They liked shopping and felt my mending fetish got in the way of that. They have changed their minds now though.
Mending fetish 🤣 I know what you mean.
You haven’t fallen from grace, it’s a bump in the road. Be kind to yourself.❤
I completely understand how you feel! I underwent a major health issue last year that resulted in my now being full time in a wheelchair. With this has come a change in by body and so now, I'm having to rethink what clothes work for me and what I keep out of my previous wardrobe. My thrifting days are no more (no energy and a real lack of access in most shops), so I'm resigned to ordering items online. Yet another change I must adapt to in the new life I have.
I'm joining in! Sounds like it's the answer for someone who finds it difficult to resist buying yarn and fabric but doesn't find the time /energy to use it. Thanks Claude that was inspiring.
Oh my gosh, I completely understand much of this struggle. Although I don’t have a chronic health condition, a stressful job has put me in a similar situation with my weight, clothing functionality, and budget. It is SO hard, and I am sending you love with this stuff.
I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, which is finding clothing shapes that fit me again and gradually creating time to knit/sew things that I’m excited about.
For anyone else going through this, you’re not alone. You’re worthy, you’re valid, and I promise this time of transition is temporary. ❤
Oh what a fantastic idea!! And aren't I lucky that I watched this video right before your update was posted, I can't wait to watch. And I'm going to have to check out some more rationing journeys, the thought process behind choices are fascinating to me, like you said
As a fellow ME-sufferer I totally get what you mean. Going through shops and trying to buy second hand is not really doable any more. Don't trust peoples listings on Vinted and other such sites. Sewing myself is fun, but the startitis is SO bad cause I can't afford to mess up. Literally, can't afford to buy new fabric if something goes wrong. And weight fluctuations mean I have to try and make clothing as adjustable as possible. And if I have 30 minutes of energy a day I have to choose between sewing, showering and household chores so making a garment can take weeks.
Erm I sell on Vinted thank you! And I have the ethos if I would not wear I don’t sell it. So please don’t tar everyone with the same brush it’s very offensive!
@@dottieland7061 when you are on a tight budget and buy garments that is absolutely NOT the sizes or measurements stated in the listing you eventually get tired of even trying.
And now I know why this little book was fast disappearing from Amazon and other online second hand book stores. I recently bought this along with the companion food book. I checked back a few days later and the available numbers of the make do and mend book had rapidly decreased or sold out altogether. Bravo. New subscriber. I am so glad to have found you.
What a fantastic idea! I was following a rationing system for food this year, found on the 1940s experiment blog and learning so much about life on the homefront during this time. Had to stop as making authentic recipies were too hard on me.
I definitley need to ration myself when it comes to fabric and yarn though!
I've recently had to buy a lot of clothes too, I'd lost a lot of weight so bought smaller clothes, now new medications have put weight back on, plus most clothes hurt to wear so it's really tricky trying to buy clothes sustainably that also work with my disability.
Blergh, should wait till I've finished my first tea of the day before I write haha
Looking forward, as ever to watching you on your new journey!
This is really exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing what decisions you make. I've been trying to be a lot more thoughtful about my fabric purchases for a couple of years now, mostly purchasing second hand. I volunteer sorting craft supplies for a charity shop and it's given me a fresh perspective on crafting and what I buy. Now I feel more able to let supplies go that no longer fit my style or plans etc because I know someone else will love them. The only bad side is I get tempted by the lovely vintage fabric and patterns we get donated sometimes. 😊
I am so excited to see how you apply the clothing rationing in our modern day, or maybe you could even adapt some of the coupon values to be more applicable in our current emergency (like higher coupon values for synthetics or for denim with its crazy water consumption, instead of for wool and rubber that the army needed). I personally have just a simple dollar value that I stick to because I know I don’t have the mental energy to stick to any complicated system, but it’s true that doesn’t account for whether anything was sustainably produced. I just kind of figure that if I keep a fast fashion item for 10+ years, stubbornly mending it all the while, it’s not so fast anymore.
Found your videos through shorts and I love all of them. Thank you for the insight, honesty and slice of life you provide. English is not my first language, but I'm hoping that my words properly express my thoughts regarding your videos.
Big big hugs pal. My mother suffered from a similar condition, hang in there. Don’t worry too much about body changes, keep your energy for better things. I know it’s easier said than done, but we are rooting for you.
I understand where you are 'at'. I found a low carb diet done very gradual was helpful. You may have bought new to get that lovely 'fix' we get from finding a good deal. You are not fit enough, to do the usual which gives much pleasure, as it has gone.
My best wishes for your improved health.
I absolutely want to join in this challenge! I’ve knitted for years and developed a stash (small but there is no room for more) and I’ve learned to sew this year! I’ll definitely be following along and joining in to reduce my consumption, capsulate my wardrobe (I wear a uniform 5 days a week I don’t need as many clothes as I own!!) and be more conscious along with you!
This sounds soo interesting I follow Claire but hadn't really looked at her rationing scheme have since gone through and looked it all over what a great idea!! Her shots of what she's done/bought in a year are great! Looks like lots but also really reasonable especially for makes and I love all her remaking and such! Thank you for bringing this to my attention have got my sew gears turning and ideas forming.
I love your smile and positive attitude through the challenge!
It's an interesting thought, and for me (besides keeping on using my stash exclusively) what needs to be rationed is *TIME*!!!
I love sewing but my time at a premium, so if I assigned myself a finite amount of sewing hour coupons per year, how would I spend them??? Great food for thought.
I thought of Clare as soon as I saw the title! I really enjoy reading her updates on the scheme. Best of luck!
I love this. And thanks for the Claire Bradley info as well. As someone who very rarely watches regular TV, I wasn’t familiar. I’ll follow your journey, and also hope your health improves to the point you can follow your passions more easily again. ❤
As a fellow ME disabled person who is interested in slow fashion, I’m so excited to find you! I totally get the energy limitations and the changes this illness causes in our bodies! 😘
My weight has also changed due to chronic illness - the "I don't know what size I am anymore" struggle was so unexpected but so real 😭
I am so excited for 2 Claude videos in one week. What a fascinating idea! I find shopping for clothes a real headache myself being plus size with limited time and energy and on a very limited budget. Especially since I’m trying to avoid synthetic fabrics for environmental reasons. Clothes are necessary but also often avoidable expenses. I agonise a lot about sales because sometimes it’s worth getting a bargain of course, but sometimes I’m lured into buying things I won’t use. But then as you say, complete bans don’t work. It’ll be interesting to see how rationing will help. I am very excited for this series and I will try and give it a go myself!
YES! I'm participating and following you! I also have recently had an uptake in consumption/shopping. We have the same vises.
Cheers to a year or even more creativity!
Oh, you have ME! I’ve had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Lyme/Mold Illness for around 30 years. So I can relate. I really enjoy your videos!
Have just come across your channel by chance, it reminded me that I had clothes in the wardrobe that were too big/small and to get them back out and revalue them
This is such a remarkable idea! Can't wait to follow along this year.
Love what you are wearing, and I love your energy, candor and beauty.
love that sweater ( I think you say jumper) on YOU!
I've lost a lot of my brain power to 40 years of ME/CFS. A few years ago I got scared of all power tools, including my sewing machine. Luckily I love hand sewing, so I can still repair and repurpose. In-store shopping has been impossible for me for many years, so I buy one or two new items spring and fall, but I choose clothes I will wear forever and I pay for ethically sourced. Drawstring waistbands are my friends! I know I'm off-topic, but I only just found you today.
I really appreciate you talking about not being able to do things... I think I possibly have some kind of dysautonomia (I've just been told it's probably not POTS by a cardiologist, despite the fact that I seem to meet the criteria! So I'm in a weird unlabelled but disabled limbo)... Anyway I also struggle with fatigue! Mostly it's manageable to a level where I have to live a "slow" life, which means that I have time for hand sewing and quiet opshopping (earplugs help!) and such things. But it's so frustrating when there are so many projects I want to do and the brain fog literally just stops me in my tracks!
Oh, this is exciting! I don't sew myself, but I look forward to seeing how you go. I had both sets of Grandparents(in US and UK) live through rationing, and I wish I had asked them more about it when I had the chance. Just for fun, I once lived on WWll rations for a month to see if I could do it.
I love that book - my parents in law have a copy and I read it every time I'm down there. I must buy a copy for myself!
That's a smart way to do it! I started in 2022 with an attempt at a full year ban on buying new clothing, I didn't fully get there, but it really helped me in making me more aware of clothing consumption.
Now I just buy underwear and pants new (if I can find pants in a thriftstore, great! But I can't buy them on vinted reliably like I can with blouses). Everything else, coats, tops, skirts, dresses are things I *can* buy second hand without much difficulty, so I should.
That said, I feel you on the health downturn, I've been struggling a lot recently and it's hard. I do still sew, but I can't rely on my sewing to make my own wardrobe, unfortunately.
You've described my problem exactly. I was tiny when I was really ill, now, I'm not but too tired to do anything which includes losing weight because exercise doesn't fit everyone! If we lived in the same region I'd suggest a swap shop night. But then one of us would be too tired/unwell to go. Your ration scheme sounds interesting.
I really want to give this a try! I think I'm going to swap around a few numbers, like give synthetics a higher value than wool and natural fibre since that's part of the current crisis.
Hopefully it will encourage me to use up my fabric stash instead of adding to it even though I don't have much energy to use on sewing.
What a fantastic idea! I have the fabric, I just don’t have the energy (read cancer fighter). I see how badly made some fast fashion is and I refuse to pay the high prices or buy anything that may have used sweatshop labour. This is something that really appeals to me as I don’t follow fashion and my lifestyle doesn’t require a large wardrobe of clothes. Sending best wishes from Down Under 💞🌺💐🇦🇺🥰
This is such a good idea
Very good information.
My grandma was telling me that lining fabrics weren't rationed here in Australia when she was a teenager - so very pretty floral linings suddenly became all the rage.... And as you might expect, she had a lovely dress made from this lining fabric!
People always look for ways to make the best of a bad situation. I feel like having joy in clothes for me is like having joy in art, so I try not to feel guilty about wanting to try new styles (although I do shop secondhand, and repair or alter my clothes).
It also feels to me like there are so many clothes going to landfill that I may as well take them off the half-off rack at the opshop!
Sounds great. I look forward to the updates.
I’ve been making an effort to reduce my consumption for a while. It’s definitely a struggle, especially things like bras and leggings as they are tricky to make and often expensive new. My current rule with fabric and yarn is that I can only buy if I have a specific project in mind AND it’s likely to be made in the immediate future
you should try to do the eyeliner trick they did when they couldnt get stockings😂
I relate to your frustration with ME getting in the way of enjoying clothes. My heat intolerance has gotten a lot worse, so I live in thin, flowy, breathable sleeveless dresses now. It makes me so sad that I wasn't able to wear garments I've knit and crocheted at all this winter/spring (it doesn't help that a lot of them were made with acrylic blends or worsted weight yarn). I've been trying to work on more fingering weight plant based fiber garments so hopefully next winter will be different
I’m right there with being too exhausted to sew or mend. ❤
Your sweater is lovely on you. I remember when you made it.💚💚💚
An interesting concept! Im curious to see how it goes. Congratulations on gaining weight btw, i remember you said that its hard to do with ME. I'm trying to reduce my clothing consumption this year by taking up knitting (i finished my first ever jumper yesterday!) but i think WW2 rationing might be a step too big for me 😅. Maybe next year!
What an efficient way to limit your impact on the environment! I'll be eager to see how this goes.
Thanks for the resources, even if I won't do the challenge as I have so much fabric that this year it would be a no-fabric buying year or maybe for notion and bra.
Can I suggest a video?
I would knit a jumper and my grandmother or my mother would finish it (aka sew all the pieces together). As unfortunately, they are not around anymore, I don't know how to do that. Could you show us how to finish a knitting project?
Thanks
Just found and bought the book on ebay! I'm OBSESSED with repair books xx
It‘s also available as an ebook
I have Make Do and Mend! I found it really interesting, and I’ve used it a bit.
There's a possibility of sustainable being very community based; bartering skills, materials, time etc. In the meantime, recognising resources as a limited thing will certainly help rethink purchasing choices.
Hello from Ohio. I know exactly what you mean. I've been fighting cancer for a year and feel miserble most days, yet I bought a bunch of sewing patterns from ebay! I've only been able to go thrifting once, and didn't feel well enough to purchase anything. I've done a few alterations, just small things. I keep thinking - next year..........
I love this idea!
Sounds like a great system!! I think the rationing costs should be modernised though, because otherwise someone like me who primarily buys men's clothes and wool would be in a lot of coupon debt for arbitrary WW2-based reasoning, whereas nowadays polyester could be considered much less sustainable than buying local wool, and there's no reason to penalise people for wearing men's clothes anymore.
Have you checked ME Lion? Is it the same illness? She seems to have made so many improvements.
I love your channel.
I’m going to try to get that book.
Don't feel guilty about buying new clothes - think of this as buying future vintage - you're just getting a head start. As for rack's of clothes at stores - or as I should put it where I live - the smaller and ever decreasing stores for clothing - those racks are full of "don't fit".
You sound very tired!
This sounds like an interesting idea. I look forward to seeing how you do.
My biggest impulse purchases are at thrift shops. I don’t need any more fabric but I may never see something like this again! So yeah fabric is my downfall! I buy all most all clothes second hand favourites become rags the rest goes back as my weight fluctuates. I might need to think about getting coupons and thinking about purchasing before I actually buy things
All those clothes were new once. Anything you buy now will be vintage one day. Genuine need is not bad. You have already made a big difference in the world by making people aware. Please know that you are not doing anything wrong. The things you buy will not end up in a landfill. The five years spent not buying new things made a difference, but, we all still have to live day to day, and we don’t need to feel bad about that. You will feel better soon, and you can always put your new things away for when you will need them again. I know from my CFS that my weight goes up when I’m having an episode, and down when I’m better. So have what I loving call my “Fat” clothes. And it is with a great deal of love that I call them that.
Please don’t stress yourself over needing and buying new things, when you are better you have a lovely start on making them appear more vintage and they will stay out of the landfill! You could ask friends to help you to thrift shop for you. Give them your new measurements and ask for help! I can’t think of anything more wonderful than helping a friend by doing their thrifting. This is a lovely channel and I’m a new subscriber ❤
Be kind to yourself and have a very lovely day❤
The temptation to just get rid of everything I own that I haven't made/hasn't been gifted to me is intense 😅
I have also fallen off the wagon of trying to only buy sustainable fashion. I have had a rough year, lost a beloved pet, had work problems, and recently lost two family members. Now I know why I am buying new clothes.
I'm 5 feet 'tall' but even items labeled for 'under 5'3"' or similar require considerable hemming. I'm also overweight, rather 'barrel-shape', so items labeled 'petite' don't fit.
What type of Sewing Machine would you recommend as a professional seamstress?
I think you have done an amazing job but at the same time, we have to do what we have to do, whether that’s buying bigger or more comfortable clothes to suit our needs or even sewing on a button. I know what you mean by buying all the yarn and fabric, as well as patterns tho lol. (I’ve got some repro documents like this by the way - kids I know are fascinated). I decided to stop buying yarn and fabric etc. I’ve got plenty of fabric to make things I do need and plans already. I do try and make good repairs and some alterations as and when I can, but the combo of chronic conditions, ongoing illness, no energy, plus weight gain and now not working mean I’ve had to make huge changes for my wardrobe and shoes and that’s meant buying, because my energy has had to go elsewhere (and not by choice).
I think thrifting and sustainable clothing is just the best, but I too have had similar health struggles and weight gain. I have found going zero carb with more protein and fat helpful for healing, but buying new clothes is just not something that I can do. My problem is that my taste in quality and cloth has always far exceeded my budget. So working on my health thru diet and getting thrifted "easy pieces" with cotton knits and belting is my way to get thru this low energy period until I can figure out what size I am or heal more. Since many people have found that zero carb also causes them to lose weight as well as heal, I don't want to buy "new to me" clothes that I am barely going to wear.
You might be interested in Community Clothing the company run by Patrick Grant from the Great Sewing Bee
This might sound a bit idealistic, but implementing a similar system might actually solve the consumer side of the climate problem. The amount of coupons each kind of product (or service, like air travel for instance) is worth would be based not on the needs of an army but on the needs of the planet: heavier carbon footprint/more pollution = more coupons. The yearly allowance would be based on _reasonable_ consumption (when it comes to essentials), to allow people who can't afford more eco-friendly options to still cater to their needs, but in theory, it would prevent the rich from indulging in needless, destructive overconsumption (as taxing is obviously no use when you have virtually unlimited wealth). Now of course we can't exactly trust the rich and powerful to abide by laws they find inconvenient... hence the "theory" bit.
Did the UK rationing system include an alterations/accomations/provisions around disabilty?
As far as I know, no. Most medical items, knee supports, bandages, abdominal belts etc were coupon free but that's all I know. It was an era when most people were still getting their clothes custom made so I don't think 'adaptive' clothing was mentioned specifically because it was assuming you were getting your clothes custom made anyway. There is a section in the pamphlet about 'inmates of Institutions' which I feel is very revealing about attitudes of the time towards disabled people.
Out of curiosity (because I am losing some weight due to some new medication I’m on) does the knitwear you made when you had lost weight still fit now? I want to have some sort of idea of if things I make while I’m taking this medication and losing weight will still fit when I gain it back at a later time.
Yes! All my 34" bust vintage sweaters still fit and I'm now more like a 38" bust. The thing that's most noticeable (and not alterable) on my sewn clothes is the waistline height. Before I was a B cup, now I'm a D and even if things had ease width ways, there isn't enough length for them to accommodate my new bust size so everything hikes up in the front. It's not so bad on the 1940s knits because they tend to have a little bit of a blousey effect or reached the hips anyway. So if you're making things, remember to account for extra length too! For knits, it might be a good idea to knit top down or knit the rib and body separately and graft together so you can add length easily if you need to 😊
@@RetroClaude thank you 😊
That's so cool! I guess your current state is a symptom of how you are feeling. Please be kind to yourself!
how many rations would a person get?
I have that book!!
Thats all. Just wanted to say that.
Can I ask which brands you're doing and what fit challenges you've had? I know a lot about being a short-waisted, pear shape, and if that's you, I'm happy to talk about brands and solutions.
@dahlia_day• hi, dahlia, i have trouble getting stuff that fits because of my weight and height - everything has to be hemmed. I wear blue jeans for winter, but for summer, try muumuus and caftans. They have a loose fit so there's a lot of "wiggle room", and they're cooler in hot weather. And where I live summer is roaring hot.
Mental health has stopped me sewing in the past, but despite having serious diseases I have never been ill enough not to at least sew by hand sitting up in bed. I think if you have the energy to make videos it is depression/anxiety stopping you sewing.
You didn't just say that...wow...
I wonder if you could do a trade with someone? Like, you knit them something, and they mend a few things for you?
Im a simple gal, I see a video of Claude, I immediately click it.
Me too! Love it!
You and me both!
Same!
Right there with you lol.
Same 😂
This is so exciting! I'm so inspired and comforted by this video topic. I just changed the sleeves on a 2nd hand dress so I can keep it and love it for longer. But the mending pile is so large, and the time after work is so small... The mental load is even bigger some times. Hugs and best wishes Claude ❤
When my Grandma passed away in the 90s, we found that she had kept her ration books and still shopped for things as though rationing was still in effect. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
My granny (1916-2017) grew up in a large family, living frugally. However, the war influenced her for the rest of her life and she continued to live in much the same way for the rest of her life, appreciating small luxuries now and again but being thrifty and careful in the ways the book describes. Reading this book Claude mentions explains some things I‘d not really considered before - we had recently been musing over why washing up in a bowl in the sink is such a British thing… wartime, of course. (btw the book Claude has is by Jill Norman, it‘s not the little book of the same name issued by the Imperial WAr Museum!)
Like Claude, I am both English and German but have lived most of my life in Switzerland, so it‘s always been of interest to me to hear several sides of the story, how things were the same or different for each country. It was a pleasure to bring family members from both sides together in harmony, neither of whom had been to blame for the politics of war.
@@Woeschhuesli Not to mention, that popuring it down the drain like so many people do (I've seen videos of people litterally pointing the nosel of the washing up liquid at the plughole) is super wasteful. If you use a branded washing up liquid then it can also get expensive. Save the pennies, the pounds look after themselves!
(In saying this I don't own a washing up bowel. I just use a plug and clean my sink before and after. Those plastic washing up bowels are bad for the enviornment since they only last so long before they start absorbing the dirt and getting stained.)
@@Stettafire Same here. I find people are generally very wasteful with the precious resource that is water. We are lucky enough to have plenty, but that doesn't mean we should waste it...
Yeah, I still found the last rationing cards (from the 1950s) when cleaning out my grandmother's apartement in 2017.
sounds like a plan.
Being 74 and having only last year donated a lot of my archive of beautifull but unsuitable for gardening clothes to Oxfam I still have an awfull lot of nice stuff. More than I can wear in this lifetime. I still 1 or 2 items from charity and evict a few every year. Thankfully I can darn and patch still and knit using charity shop wool yarn faster than the garments wear out. So I don't get bored. I have a system of wearing colours relating to the 13 Celtic Tree Moonths - currently in Willow so pale greens greys and white which will change to red , white and paler browns when Hawthorn comes in with the new moon. Then I put away the garments that don't fit the Moonth thus I have a constant change of colours/textures and a fresh start that feeds my need for novelty. I'm lucky to have storage space.
I can remember clothing coupons and having only 1 or 2 dresses at any given time as a child in the early '50s . Each item was much more gratifying than people seem to find cheap abundance. The quality of textiles was higher and I wonder if making dolls dresses would give pleasure to those able to sew but needing no new clothes. All the tactile rewards without so much guilt
Thank you for the frank discussion and candour.
Sounds like a great plan. Consumption is something I have been struggling with for a while and here are a couple of the things I do.
I have been going with not buying more than 10 items of clothing & accessories in a year which has been working for a couple of years. However my current yarn consumption is far less restrained and possible needs to me looked at, I am trying to mostly buy yarn second hand but may need to look at the idea of yarn rationing soon.
I've destashed half of my fabric to a school textile department as I just can't use it anymore.
My only additional point I was told repeatedly at uni; put your own gas mask on first! You can't help others or the planet if you are to unwell to function. For me this looked lik body bath wipes and disposable pads. I used to try using reusable but physically couldn't maintain it myself and would get really upset. Where I can I make eco conscious choices but know that trying is better than nothing and it is part of my disability. 😊
P.s. think of all the carbon I save not travelling loads like normal people 😂😂
My Mother was a young woman at the outbreak of WW Two. I am a child of the early 1950's so am very old now but I still remember my Mother wearing a very inventive coat when i was little. As I grew up I developed an interest in sewing and we often talked about our shared interest. . She told me that she wore a thick dark grey woollen double breasted overcoat throughout the war and for many years after. My mother was a talented seamstress and told me she made a detachable panel for the front of the coat, just slightly wider than the two parallel rows of buttons (that made the coat double breasted) and the length of the coat, (from a piece of tartan, tweed, etc - whatever was available) and matching turn back cuffs then made button holes to correspond with the buttons already on the coat to hold them in place. She had at least three or four different coats using this cunning method. I can still remember her wearing the coat. When she was expecting my little brother who was born in 1958 and based on what i now know about sewing myself, she must have used a rectangle when she was slim but used a piece of fabric much wider at the bottom than the top for when she wanted to turn the coat into a maternity coat. Talented AND resourceful!
I have a vintage double breasted coat that sounds like your moms. I have replaced lining and buttons several times over the decades but her panel on the front idea is genious! Yes, talented and resourceful.
That coat sounds fantastic ❤
Don't feel bad about buying some new stuff. Disabilities are so hard to live with, and a 5-year run of no new purchases is awesome! It's ok to do what you need to do for your health issues. There's a reason they say not to use plastic straws, for instance, but make allowances for those with disabilities who need them. You're doing the best you can, which is all we can ask of anyone.
Here here! I totally agree. I need frozen meals in my freezer for similar reasons.
1st - as a plus size person also with ME/CFS, the thought of trying to go through racks of stuff in a charity shop to find something in my size - let alone something that I like - is a nightmare. So same. 2nd - Claude you are so hard on yourself. Please remember to try and practice kindness on yourself, none of your friends would ever be as harsh to you as you are to yourself for buying new stuff after 5 years! (I hope). You are doing amazingly, and more importantly, you are doing your best. Please give yourself a break
You don't even have to be plus size. I'm just tall and would never fit in clothes that are in the smaller size. I have given up on thrifting clothes because there is never something in my size that is just remotely nice.
For the cost of about those new items of clothing you should be able to pay for some alterations.
I think it also needs to be said that while WWII-related rationing did last for years, it didn't last forever, and the coupon allowances did become more generous during the post-war recovery period. It's a FAIRLY sustainable model, but it's not surprising that it would start to become difficult to follow strictly after five years when your fabric/old-remakeable-garment stash starts to thin.
@@LucindaSutherland-w2u altering clothes to be bigger is not always possible. Claude has made a lot of their own clothes using vintage fabric and patterns that may not be familiar to the alterer. Not all patterns are easy to alter. While alteration services are amazing resources, they often only do very basic alterations. I recently paid $25 to have an inch long rip repaired in a black cotton skirt. The fabric is very fine and I was worried that sewing it up would cause more rips, so they repaired it using interfacing and a quick seam to hold it in place. I am happy with the job they did, and glad I was able to to keep wearing the skirt (which cost me $5 at the thrift store), but I know that money would add up quickly if I had to alter my entire wardrove. Creative solutions do exist, but if you're not going to like the result as much as the original, it might not be a good use of time, energy and money - especially if you're likely to fluctuate down in size again in the future.
I'm also disabled and my weight fluctuates a lot more than most people's according to my health. It's so difficult, because I have a closet overflowing with clothing, but much of it doesn't fit because I've lost or gained weight. That means I have to buy items that I already own in a different size. In other words, it's more expensive to clothe my disabled body than a healthy person's. It's yet another disability task.
A friend of mine told me they alter their clothes on the inside and don't cut the extra fabric off. For example they have a t-shirt that's to big so they put in a new seam and don't cut the fabric so that they can unpick the seam when they need the t-shirt to be bigger. If you're skilled with sewing or doing alterations (and your disability allows it) that could be a possibility for you. Just thought I share this...
I have been working on figuring out patterns and such for things that are adjustable. Katherine sews has a tutorial for a skirt design that has the top split at the sides and it ties on for instance, and Im trying to figure out how to do a wrap top that would eliminate the need for bras and still be supportive. I'm hand sewing everything and bigger than most pattern ranges though, so it is slow going.
I would suggest looking at something like a supportive kirtle. Morgan Donner has a video about making one. You can also add in ties on the sides, so the size is adjustable! I feel like that would be a decent compromise. You could make a shirt/blouse version of it instead, maybe?
The Stitchery is great for making adjustable garments (with mandatory pockets) - well worth a look at her videos
Just here to commiserate and offer solidarity. Having a larger collection of clothing is necessary for me, especially because I have sensory and temperature regulation issues which means that my clothing needs change throughout the day and I often sweat through them :( Also, less energy and ability to do laundry, and less money so less space to store all the clothes. I am glad my partner only needs a very small amount of clothing, but also, jealous!
What a brilliant idea, to "repurpose" the WWII rationing ethos for the 2020s! Thank you for sharing it (for those of us who were not aware), and here's cheering you on.
As someone with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, I've been struggling due to weight gain. I stood in my closet and cried Thursday because none of my favorite summer dresses fit anymore.
I don't buy new clothes or fabric. I have some old linens I plan to make me skirts with. I also have enough fabric that I've had for a very long time that I can make several wardrobes before I run out.
Thanks for the download. I'm excited to see if I can use it in my plans.
That’s a good idea. You may already know this, but in case you (or others reading this) don’t:
You can make very simple, somewhat flexibly-sized skirts out of table cloths. You cut a circle from the center that’s bigger than your waist - able to come down over your bust, or up over your hips, one or the other or both - and then add an elastic waist to it. Round table cloths literally get you a circle skirt. Square ones will get you a skirt with a fun, asymmetric pointed hem. Oval or rectangular table cloths can get you interesting hi-lo hems, depending on where you place the waist opening. Just make sure it’s not so long on the long edge that it drags (unless you like having a train!).
Of course you can do this with other yardage besides table cloths. It will just require extra steps like piecing and/or hemming.
Good luck with finding and/or creating your new wardrobe for summer!
Be kind to yourself.
Like you, at one time I only bought second hand clothing or sewed it myself. But, my rheumatoid arthritis/bone spurs/scoliosis/ME/fibromyalgia body made that too impossible so I started purchasing new clothing that made me happy. I still sew garments when I can but it's getting less and less possible. So, I can commiserate with you.
That being said, don't berate yourself too hard. You aren't constantly going shopping - you are purchasing what you need due to a situation you can't control. And you're getting things that will last a long time vs. fast fashion.
That's such an interesting concept! To be honest it also looks like good way to teach kids and teens how to not overbuy clothes, just turning it into a game. I wish someone would show me it when I was a teen, it would save me so much money and space. I understand that it was necessity for times back then but now we are fortunate enough to not be stuck with it, so if it doesn't work, you can just stop following it. Great idea! I think I might try it, I don't buy clothes until I really have to, but it might be fun to see how much coupons I would spend.
What a brilliant idea. My daughter and I always try to buy second hand and I alter them if needed
It saves us a fortune and I have clothes going back thirty years I still wear. I’ve never been into the latest trends and just wear classic clothes so I’m never in or out of fashion.
I’m definitely going to do this idea.
Thank you Claude ❤❤❤❤❤
Ps your make up looks flawless.
Thank you so very much Claude for every second of your time you share with us. I feel like I have a understanding friend with common interests. May our health be the best as it can be❤. Not doing so well with my disabilities physically and mentally. Hoping some ease will come soon. Thank you Claude for all your vlogs, bless you
*looks at storage unit half full of yarn and fabric*
*looks at things bought over the last 3 days at the craft fair ...*
Right. I'm in. I don't tend to buy much clothing either, but I have gone just a little overboard with some of the purchases. A bit. Just a touch.
It’s such a faff when I need clothes to wear but I’m not prepared to do the research to make an investment. “I should be smart about this” butts up against “I just need to not be naked or slovenly but I am so tired”
Relateable. Especially as some "ethical" companies aren't all that ethical (recycled plastic, or "biodegradle" plastic is a pet-peve. Recycled plastic still uses a small amount of new material, and it's still not neccesary for clothing, not to mention the manufacturing process also has an impact. And biodegradble plastic like PLA or PVA is only biodegrable under very specific industrial settings. PLA needs to be broken down at a very high termperature while there is dubious evidence that PVA breaks down at all in the environment. Don't get be started on (plastic) "pleather"Just cus it's vegan does not mean its ethical!).
Also, who made it? How much were they paid? What was their working conditions....
Point being, it's a minefield. It's exhausing.
I've never heard of this idea but it sounds great! Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds for your wardrobe (pun intended)
I know that you get a lot of comments about not showing your failures, but I genuinely loved that clip you included about trying to wear the purchased vintage dress and and it getting stuck on your head. It was both hilarious and painfully relatable.