Treasure Trove - Part 1

I have a bit of a thing for old sewing boxes.  I have found a few in antique and thrift stores that have neat folding out sections, and I think they are just the best for organizing threads.  But what really draws me in when I see an innocuous sewing basket sitting in a store is the possibility of what could be inside.  At least three times in the last year I have bought a vintage sewing box, not because I wanted the box itself, but because of the delicious filling inside.

The latest box wasn't even hiding it's goodies, it was sitting open and the price tag proudly proclaimed that all within was included.

As sewing boxes go, it's a pretty dull one.  Also with no dividers or anything for organization, the jumble of threads and notions was just dumped together in the cavernous space.  It was hard to tell at first glace if there was anything worth the price inside, but a few treasures peaked out of the mess and beckoned to me.

I must admit, I felt a bit like a character from one of my favorite old RPGs opening a treasure chest and hoping the random drop would be something good.


I was not disappointed :)

 After an hour or so of sorting and rewinding errant spools, I finally had the whole trove laid out.  Thoughts of dragons poring over their hoards went through my head as I began the difficult task of deciding how much of any of this I really needed.

Spools of thread are always good to keep, you never know when you might need just that one specific color.  Most of the embroidery floss I gave away, all of it was from old companies that no longer make floss, and thus would be very hard to match to modern colors.

I did have a lot of fun going through the spools, as there was a wide spread of ages and manufacturers.  I tried to line up a timeline of sorts based just on the labels and company names.

Most were Coats, Clarks, or some combination thereof, but there was also a handful of nice silk thread all bearing the name Belding with various & 'so and so' afterwards.  Interesting not only because I really like silk thread, but also because I live less than 20 miles from the town of Belding where it was produced back in the day.


The heaps of bias tape and lace were definitely on my keep list.  I don't think I've had to buy bias tape new for at least a year or two, just because there always seems to be some in the sewing boxes I buy.  I am also the proud owner of three wooden darning eggs for the same reason.  Also among the treasures in this box was a nice tracing wheel, the one tool I hadn't managed to come across yet.

The tomato pincushions and more specialty items deserve their own post, so stay tuned for part 2.

The buttons I definitely kept.  I think I have some sort of compulsive button hoarding disorder.  I do use them in things, but it often seems as if more come into my sewing room than ever leave.

Free Pattern Friday! 02-23-2018

A lovely bouquet to celebrate the start of spring!  This was traced from a vintage plate.  Enjoy!

Long Awaited Results

Way back in December I shared a vintage knitting book, and a Google assisted translation of the pattern on the cover.  Well, I finally got around to knitting it up myself, and here is the result:

So here is my version, made using Loops and Threads Barcelona yarn in "Berry."  As per the pattern instructions I used two strands, and needed U.S. size 10 1/2 needles to get the right gauge. The pattern is quite simple despite the complicated look of the pattern stitch, and it worked up pretty quickly because of the large gauge.  The body of the jacket has no shaping at all until the armholes, so it's pretty simple to work.  Based on my measurements and those given for the finished garment in the book, I made the largest size, and it fits me well.  I did add a pair of chain stitch belt loops though, as I wanted a way to keep it closed.  The red belt is borrowed from another sweater.

                        

I used a crochet hook and chain stitch to sew all the seams and that was way easier than sewing with a needle.  If I was really enterprising I might alter the pattern so the body is knit in one piece to the armholes.  I knit the whole thing on a pair of straight needles, except for the picked up border around the front edge.  For that, get as large of a circular as you can find.  The 19" one I had was a royal pain to knit that many stitches on.  The pattern says to pick up about 8.5 stitches per 10 cm, I tried that and found it was too few, and my border was too tight.  I unraveled that and picked up one stitch every other row, and that worked great.

With the two strands of yarn and the big gauge the whole sweater is thick and warm and wonderfully comfy.  It is a bit on the heavy side, and it took a lot of yarn (~1500 yards), but it is a wonderful sweater for chilly early spring days.  With it done, I guess it's time to find my next project :)

Vintage Craft Book Feature: BH&G Treasures From Throwaways (USA 1976)

Another of my many needlework hobbies is the collection of vintage craft books.  Found in dusty corners of second hand shops, in pride of place in used book stores, these old tomes often contain beautiful nuggets of crafting wisdom, and a heaping helping of vintage charm.  Reviving the techniques, tips and retro projects is just one more way for us to bring back the wonders of the handmade.

Better Homes and Gardens:  Treasures from Throwaways - USA, 1976

As per usual (and rather appropriately given it's theme) I found this book in a second hand shop.  The clutter on the cover doesn't really give a clear picture of what treasures (or throwaways) lie within, but that becomes apparent very quickly upon opening it.

I actually feel a little disappointed with myself for never before thinking to make wall cubbies out of old cans.  In fact, a lot of the projects in this book are like that.  They feel so obvious once I see a picture of them, but are actually nothing I would really have thought of.  For that reason alone I think this book is worth the 1$ I paid for it.  It gives me all kinds of ideas and new ways to look at everyday objects.

This is first and foremost a project book.  Each is laid out with a list of materials and detailed instructions on how to make it.  Some are fairly simple, others take more time and effort.  The techniques used vary from basic carpentry to upholstery, sewing, paper making and more. The instructions are usually pretty good, and this would be a handy reference for several techniques.  The only downside is if you are looking for a how to on a specific technique, you have to find the project that uses it.  The book is separated into chapters based on the materials used.

I especially like the advice to invite
some friends over for a party if you're
too impatient to gather the needed
 number of empty cans slowly.

"No, I totally cleaned my room, it's just the
quilt you see on the floor, I swear!"

This beer can end table is listed in the same chapter as the can cubby above.  In the fabric section you can find such gems as this crazy quilt made from a child's worn out clothes.  There are a lot of projects, it was hard to pick just these to show.  All in all this is a fun book to look through at the very least.  It's great for ideas if you're the DIY sort, and has some great instructions, though the organization may be lacking.  If you come across it in a thrift store, I recommend giving it a try.

My personal favorite:  The chess set made from old CRT tv tubes.

Monday Vintage Craft Book Feature: The Sweater Book (Great Britain, 1982)

Another of my many needlework hobbies is the collection of vintage craft books.  Found in dusty corners of second hand shops, in pride of place in used book stores, these old tomes often contain beautiful nuggets of crafting wisdom, and a heaping helping of vintage charm.  Reviving the techniques, tips and retro projects is just one more way for us to bring back the wonders of the handmade.

The Sweater Book - Great Britain, 1982

I almost left this book behind, just based on the cover image.  I couldn't imagine finding anything I wanted to knit in it.  Fortunately I took a closer look, since this book does hide a few treasures behind the cringe-worthy retro designs.

Unless you really want to go authentic for an 80's themed party, the sweater designs are not very appealing.  It was actually difficult to pick which pages to show in this post, since they were all so humorously bad, but here are the best (worst?) of the bunch:

           

So if the sweater designs aren't good for more than just a laugh, why was this book worth getting?  Well, while the sweaters themselves are pretty terrible, some of the color and stitch patterns are actually quite neat.  Re-imagined into different shapes and styles of garments, many of the patterns would be very stylish.  That alone is what tempted me to keep the book, but the sheer volume of instructional information in the book is what sealed the deal.

This book is nearly 150 pages long, and most of that is dedicated to the 50 sweaters.  But fully 50 pages are given to instructional information.  It is a veritable how to manual for knitting.  It is restricted to techniques used in the sweater patterns, but that is still quite an extensive list.  Each technique has clear descriptions and multiple helpful illustrations.  On top of this is added sections on yarn types and styles, caring for knitted garments, multiple conversion charts and even a bit on how to alter the patterns to your fit.

For anyone who doesn't already have a dedicated how-to reference for knitting, scan the vintage knitting books at the local thrift store.  You may just find a treasure like this with all the info you need to tackle that new challenge.  And the sweater pictures are always good for a laugh.

Monday Vintage Craft Book Feature: Macrame Magic (USA 1975)

Another of my many needlework hobbies is the collection of vintage craft books.  Found in dusty corners of second hand shops, in pride of place in used book stores, these old tomes often contain beautiful nuggets of crafting wisdom, and a heaping helping of vintage charm.  Reviving the techniques, tips and retro projects is just one more way for us to bring back the wonders of the handmade.

Macrame Magic - (c) Craft Course Publishers, Inc.  Rosemead, California, 1975

The cover page.  I personally really like the hanging shelf

 This was another thrift store find (if you couldn't tell by the price tag) and it is pretty self explanatory.  At 23 pages it is a thin book, but it is filled to the brim with cool macrame projects.  I am sure we are all familiar with the basic macrame plant hangers, but this book takes things a bit outside that box.

 The thought of little brass bells hanging around the plants and chiming in the breeze is appealing to me.  Though the designs are definitely from 1975, I like the idea and may well use it as inspiration to make my own more modern plant hanger.  Also, I really like the image of a surround sound system hanging from the ceiling in my living room.  I am know also picturing a little macrame hammock in a window for my cat to sleep in.  As an idea book, this is a good one.  Many of the knot patterns are interesting and could be easily adapted to jewelry or other smaller projects.





If you did want to make any of the projects in the book, the instructions are also quite good.  Everything is thoroughly laid out and each step is explicit.  On each project there is a scale to let you know if your work is the same size as the model pictured.  Also included is an actual size picture of the cord used.  The introduction even tells you to take the book with you when material shopping so you can compare the cord to the pictures and make sure you're getting the right size for the project.  I find this a very handy feature when looking for materials which may not be easily found by the same names or brands as they were in 1975.  The back page has instructions for the specific knots used throughout the book, which is also a handy reference.


I imagine the huge outdoor hanger would also make a wonderful place to put a jack-o-lantern.

Free Pattern Friday! - 12-29-2017

Free Pattern Friday!
This lovely was traced from a cheery print on a scarf.  It was but one of many cute designs, but it sang to me the loudest.  From my heart to yours, best wishes for the new year!