Clever SSish strategies from 1940s/1950s or similar

[Amaranth]

For the last couple of weeks, I have been looking for a website I saw a couple of years ago that had great instructions on mending and refashioning clothing. It had some reprints of 1940s and 1950s info. Does anyone happen to remember the url for that for have it in your favorites? I would like to use some of the info on it again.

And I'd like to find some more websites or books with clever 40s-50s ways of using or rebuilding items that were available. Suggestions for modern websites, blogs, or books with similar strategies would be welcome too.

I'd like to find some of the recipes from that era for making use of rations and local foods, but I'l put a separate question for that in the recipe and cooking forum.

[Milims]

This is right up my street! I collect such books. Marguerite Patton (sp?) is a great source. Also things like WI cook books and the old paperback farmers weekly cook books. If you have a second hand book shop near by - go there - they are a fantastic source.

[old tree man]

Hi milims
Iv'e got the book of the programe the 1940's house there are a couple of recipies and some food facts, theres a recipie fo a no egg christmas pudding, parsley honey, mock crab and a few more if you want me to copy some no probs if i type them out it may take me a while, i'm the 1 finger brigade , i dont mind either way
all the best

Russ

[old tree man]

DOH Sorry amaranth
this was meant for you also
all the best

Russ

[gigglybug]

You could try having a rummage on www.readitswapit.co.uk, books for the price of postage.

But it is VERY addictive!!!!!!

Just had a quick look and there are some Marguerite Patten

Amanda

[Martin]

good old google!
if you shove "ww2 recipes" in, you get loads of good links like these! -
http://www.ukhomefront.co.uk/6.html
http://www.allthatwomenwant.co.uk/wartimerecipes.htm

[snapdragon]

I learnt all my 'make do and mend' and frugal cookery from my Mum

anyone else do (or remember) 'sides to middles' ?? a way to make your sheets and blankets last longer

dad's old trousers would be cut up and make boy's shorts suits or girl's skirts and jackets

extended wear by fixing a patch inside the knees and seat of 'new' trousers, often made with extra fabric in the seams and 'turnups' for growing room

Taking apart old style 'full' clothes to create the slimmed down wartime styles
'A' line or straight skirts with a deep hem, could then have the top cut off, waistband re-made, zip re-fixed and the hem dropped for another years wear using cotton tape, ribbon, or scrap from another garment attached to the edge to form new hem

My grandad mended all the family's shoes -but I really dont know what he used

[ina]

anyone else do (or remember) 'sides to middles' ?? a way to make your sheets and blankets last longer

Still got one of those!

And I think there's still a hanky or two about that was made from a shirt...

[Martin]

I remember darned socks (always uncomfortable), and the terrifically labour -intensive "turning" of collars (when they wore through, the collar was completely detached from the shirt, and then turned inside out, and painstakingly hand-stitched back into place......... )
AND - sides to middle sheets..........
It wasn't just the women who did it.........I remember my Dad's shed, full of old "junk" - he was a radio and tv amateur, and I remember him making chassis' for his projects from an old aluminium pram - and no kid was without a "soapbox cart", fashioned from orange boxes and pram wheels (health and safety would have fainted!)

[ina]

I remember darned socks (always uncomfortable), and the terrifically labour -intensive "turning" of collars (when they wore through, the collar was completely detached from the shirt, and then turned inside out, and painstakingly hand-stitched back into place......... )

Darning socks is an art! If it's done properly, you'd hardly see or feel it.

And as to shirts: I made some ultra cool shirts when I was in my teens out of my dad's old ones: cut collar off and sow coloured satin ribbon on the inside of that band (or whatever you call it) that left at the top. Hides the worn bits, doesn't show the dirt as much as white , and looks cooool!

[Martin]

something else that sadly seems to have died out is the 60's thing of women making their own frocks - I still come over all unnecessary at the thought of Felicity Kendall in a home-made Laura Ashley number - I also fondly remember girlfriends vying with each other as to how short they could make their mini dresses........
I'm not drooling into my laptop - honest..............

[hamster]

Hehe, fear not Martin, I am currently learning how to make clothes.

Starting with a long skirt though, sorry.


I told my bf he needed to get his collar turned on one of his shirts the other day (I remember my dad having that done on some of his best shirts) and he looked at me like I was nuts...

[hetty]

I am planning to have a go at turning the collar of one of my DH's shirts. They always go at the collar while the rest of the shirt is fine. I always buy cotton ones so I can at least use the rest of the shirt for craft projects but this time I am going to try and renovate the shirt itself. Not quite sure when I will have the time though.

Susan

[snapdragon]

.................... and the terrifically labour -intensive "turning" of collars (when they wore through, the collar was completely detached from the shirt, and then turned inside out, and painstakingly hand-stitched back into place......... ).......

ooo yes I've done that too - lol but not inside out - just turned round and stitched back on

and made the mini-est skirts - and hotpants get my era anyone ? ;)

while dragon was in a job where we had to go to 'do's' I made sure I never clashed with any other woman by always making my own evening dresses

lolol and I still have some 1940's and 50's frock (and lingerie)patterns that my Mum made then and I've used since

[Stonehead]

I'm not drooling into my laptop - honest..............

Ah, Martin. It's okay, we know it's age, not lust that's left you drooling...