Make Do and Mend booklet - front cover

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

21184

Title

Make Do and Mend booklet - front cover

Description

Front view of a 'Make Do and Mend book'. The front cover shows various women doing chores around the house. There is text in the bottom right corner that reads ' Prepared For The Board Of Trade By The Ministry Of Information'.

Date

1943

Size

21.2 x 13.6 cm

Type

Document

Location

Museum of Edinburgh

Accession number

SH2007.41.2a

Rationing during the Second World War did not only affect food, petrol and soap. Clothes were rationed during the war too. From 1st June 1941 rationing affected everyone. Each person was allotted sixty six clothing coupons a year, which added up to one complete outfit a year. All the clothes manufactured were designed to use as little material as possible.
On a suit for a man you would have only three pockets no turn ups only three buttons and a maximum trouser length of 48 cm. On the dress for women no elastic waist bands, no fancy belts maximum heel height of 5 cm, for a night dress you would have to pay and give six coupons. sixteen coupons for a overcoat, eleven coupons for a dress, four coupons for under pants, half a coupon for a handkerchief and eight coupons for pyjamas.

In order to cope with such a lack of resources, women were encouraged to repair and make their own clothes. Anything that could be used was used. Old curtains were cut up to make skirts and dresses. Unwanted jumpers were unravelled and knitted into something else.

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