A New Year and a new Toast thread 🎊

[IlovePond]

Welcome to the Toast thread where we talk about what we love, (and what drives us mad 😹), about all things Toast.

As usual, pictures are welcomed, as are comments, questions and info about Toastie topics.

I used to hand wash a lot of clothes but no longer do, I also use the machine. What I did clearly notice though is that my hand washed clothes kept their colour and lasted longer. But occasional washing in the machine on a short, cold, low spin on its own might be a good option. Perhaps though if the item is new and I’m scared of the risk, I’d hand wash. But I have come around the view that my clothes should be used whilst I still like them. I’ve had lovely clothes, kept for good, in the past sit in my closet till they go to charity because I no longer want to wear them.

You are right @ScallopShellWalk

Has anyone tried the barrel cords? I like look of them but think they might be long in the crotch. Unfortunately I don’t live near to a shop

I have them @MsDastardley . I sized down. There was a lot of chat about them kneeing somewhere on the thread but I am happy with mine and have worn them lots this winter. Have washed well too. I think possibly @faustina was happy with hers. The waistband is very comfortable.

Just had a thought. If kindred means high spend community, then maybe I’ll aspire to be thrown out next year. 😃 though I realise it’s spend rather than high spend. I just need to be sensible.

Interesting chat on wearing our best/nice things. For a long time I have avoided this. I am a teacher in a comp and wear all my Toast/Johnsons of Elgin velvet dresses and jackets, cashmere and merino woollens, shirt etc to work. I also wear make up and nice jewels. It is like a battle armour for me and helps me face the day. Nice clothes with beautiful textures and materials make me feel happy and expressive. Plus the cost of items means I want good wear out my wardrobe. When I have tried to do whatever I thought teacher uniforms wear, I have not felt good at all. Drag out the nice pieces daily is my motto.

Nice pieces daily is a good motto. I work from home and unless I have cleaning or gardening planned, I like a good outfit with a decent scarf.

I wonder if kindred is based on reviews (positive?!) as well as spend. I reviewed most items I bought last year.

I still have my eye on the crinkle trousers and the pottery shirt. As I’m currently on my holidays in the sun, I’ll wait until I get back to our “weather” so I can be more realistic about what I’m going to wear.

You are right @Primrosespaw - what am I saving my stuff for???

On the machine washing, I should add that I never wash woolens unless I absolutely can’t help it (like if the dog has peed on them…). I just hang them outside in freezing weather, of which we have plenty. Almost none of my wool or cashmere jumpers have ever been washed.

@MsDastardley I have a pair of the cords and I am very pleased with them. I pull them up quite high and it makes the leg just the right length for me - I don't think the crotch is long. Quite big size-wise and they do seem really well made. I haven't had baggy knee problems with them but like all needlecord they do look a bit crumpled sooner than twill would. I have machine washed and tumble dried (inside out) with no problems. I think the pair I bought was last year's colour and saw reviews that this year's are a bit longer in the leg. Hope that helps. I think you can do free returns if they don't suit?

@Countmeout and @faustina thanks I will give them a go. I’m doing an order next week so will add. I haven’t had much success with Toast trousers, usually too long in crotch/waist which I find strange as I have quite a long body! Annie’s were a decent fit but I sold mine as they did bag terribly at the knee.

Very sadly, I think my new dress has to go back - the looks-nothing-online button through cotton line poplin dress. It is for someone taller than me, but I thought I could solve that by taking up the hem a couple of inches.
I had been waiting all week for good enough light to try it on properly at home. Having just done so and having played with the adjustable tie at the waist, I have realised the problem is that the waist sits a little too low on me. It would be fine if I didn’t want to cinch it in, but I do, and that feels and looks just a tiny bit off. For that price, and given that I try to keep a pretty minimal wardrobe, it has to be perfect, and I am not going to mess about with moving the waist. My body is long in comparison to my legs, so this is unusual for me.
I will sleep on it, and have another try tomorrow to check I am right, but I would absolutely recommend trying this one folks - it’s a quiet beauty.

@Primrosespaw agree wholeheartedly. I teach too and wearing my TOAST clothes at work feels very much like my - lovely - uniform. And I know that I’ll feel good all day!

I wonder if kindred is based on reviews (positive?!) as well as spend. I reviewed most items I bought last year.

I always write reviews and they have always been positive but I was still thrown off Kindred last year.

Sometimes Toast gives us something so perfect that we want to buy it in all the colourways. I have definitely bought a few things in my time in more than one colour. But until today I have never bought two identical items. I have just ordered a second of the white shirt with the covered buttons. I have worn it sooooo much since buying the first one. I find shirts hard to get a good fit on - I have broad shoulders and a bust but am short and have particularly short arms. I prefer a collarless shirt, but lots of the collarless ones come up too high on my neck. This one fits everywhere (well, ok, I have to turn the cuffs over once, but that is manageable), and because I am short it is even long enough to hang down nicely under a sweater.
Highly recommend it, it’s another understated hit.

I gave up writing reviews a long time ago but still have Kindred. So probably not.

Re: Kindred - if it’s based on reviews, I am in trouble…

I dont think there has been kindred gift since the splotchy green and white enamel bowl @Primrosespaw
Or possibly some baskets?
I didnt like them so didnt order.

Its so odd the Kindred debacle as its essentially a yearly £15 postage discount most things are priced for free postage anywayand the odd gift

Hardly something terribly exclusive and if we werent part of this group we would be none the wiser to the early sale either.
Very short sighted to p*ss off customers in this financial climate.

Sent back my order today
Had a change of heart over the wide leg crinkle trousers and ordered a medium in the blackberry to see how they come up
I also rather liked the fine knit cotton/linen sweater in navy, I ordered a S/M
I ordered the mini stripe cotton top in a 10

@ScottishMouse thats a lovely dress
I have a similar style but with a curved hem. ,actually 2 different colours and they are so comfortable and easily dressed up.
Sorry it didnt work out for you but you are wise if its not quite right

Adding to the knitwear washing debacle, I love handwashing but most things go in the machine on the knitwear cycle
Having experienced the dreaded m*ths I wash everything prior to storing as they seek out worn knitwear.
Air well in between

The last Kindred gift - the only one of 2025, (in previous years it’s been twice a year), was the awful fir home spray last autumn.

It was a poor choice of gift, given the potential for inducing allergic reactions, (there was a warning on the box). I had one sniff of it, (didn’t even bother spraying it), and was immediately gasping and reaching for my inhaler!

The two I liked best:

The jacquard socks - my first gift
The basket - it’s in the front room by the tv with a plant in it

I don’t know why they have stopped the free Kindred events in store- I had only just got brave enough to start going when they stopped them😿

On a knitwear note:

I really really want the Norway jumper from the Winter Olympics!

All sold out, except in bigger sizes, and expensive, unfortunately.

@IlovePond
If you knit there is a free pattern on Ravelry or a hat pattern, also free, for the less adventurous 😃

@CheeseonToast2026 - unfortunately I think my knitting days are behind me, (and I wasn’t a good knitter, even at my best!)

Thanks for the link, though - hopefully other people will be able to have a go!

Well that’s my kindred theory in the bin!

thanks for the knitting link. It’s toast that started me on fairisle. I bought a toast fairisle jumper during the pandemic and sourced the same/ similar wool from Jamiesons of Scotland to make a hat and gloves. Since then, I’ve made a few items and really enjoyed a reintroduction to crafting. My hands are painful now with the treatment I’m on so I will have to adapt how I make.

Re the washing chat - I avoid washing knitwear too much (maybe once a season for the heaviest worn items). The cool handwash machine setting (with handwash liquid) works fine.

My most frequently worn 100% cashmere jumpers still look new after heavy wearing and seasonal washing for 5+ years - both were from H&M.

On the Kindred gift front, my favourite was the garland. That ended up inspiring me to buy more Toast Xmas decs - I love the way they look and really enjoy getting them out again each year.

That’s a good point @Stoic123 regarding the laundry soap, some soaps dissolve the wool. There are special soaps for wool for when they need washed but hanging them somehow outside in the cold fresh air is a recommended way. You see the jumpers on some sort of woolie horse, a frame to dry or clean jumpers without stretching them. I love the term woolie horse, I wonder where I could get one? Anyone got one?