Waving Lace Socks with Kool Aid Overdye

I seem to be on a knitting binge right now. I made these socks in 2 days over the weekend. Then immediately cast on for a sweater and another pair of socks.

These are Waving Lace from the book Favorite Socks. I actually own a pair of socks in this pattern that I received in a swap, but this was my first time making them. An easy knit, though I made the heel flap shorter than the pattern.

The yarn is Madelinetosh Sock in Tensha Bead, from the thrift store. It's more pastel than I typically like, so I overdyed the socks with Ice Blue Lemonade Kool Aid. This might have worked out better if I'd let the socks soak longer before I dyed them, so it's a bit uneven. I may overdye them one more time to even it out a bit.

I will gift these to one of my sisters.

I have 4 days to make another pair for my older sister's birthday this weekend. Wish me luck!

Thrift Score, Russel Wright Edition

Today I was wandering the dishes aisle at the thrift store, not really expecting to find anything, when I realized that I had a Russel Wright cup and saucer in my hand, and there was another one nearby. I scanned around some more and found four dinner plates. These match a blue cup and saucer that I found at the same store a few weeks ago.







I also found a platter back in December at a different thrift store!





I almost wish I would quit finding cool stuff at the thrift store so that I would be motivated to shop there a little less!

Thrift Score, Heath Ceramics Style

This morning I was late for work, but I figured I'd take a quick run through the thrift store and see if I found anything interesting. I spotted a huge casserole with no lid, and when I turned it over....Heath Ceramics! And a few feet away was a smaller Heath dish.


11 inch casserole!


See the cute fin-shaped handle? I think this piece is called a small or personal casserole, and it is probably missing a lid, but it's still cute and functional without one.



Over in the plate aisle I found three colors of plates in three sizes, and wait, that's the large casserole lid! But there must be some cups...and yes, two cups! I actually stopped back by the store a couple of hours later and found two more cups, but one was cracked so I just bought one more and called it a day, and at 24 pieces for $31!



A bunch of the plates are unmarked, but it's definitely all Heath. I think this glaze is called Sand, similar to the Sand & Sea glaze, but without the dark edge. This is my second big Heath score from the thrift store.

Obsessive Thrift Shopper

I go to the thrift store a lot. Like nearly every day. I don't stay more than a few minutes, and I look for specific things. Sometimes I find something good. Many times I leave with nothing. Yesterday was the finding something good kind of day. A skein of yarn that retails for $26 and a bunch of vintage patterns, and really good vintage at that!

Thrift Score, Hankie Edition

It's snowing outside (really!) and so naturally my mind turns to lightweight flowery Spring skirts! I have an idea in my head for a skirt made from some lightweight cotton voile fabric in chartreuse, with a bunch of vintage handkerchiefs sewn along the bottom. So naturally I was excited when I found these 12 little cuties at the thrift store! I love the lightweight fabrics, the lovely prints, and the scalloped edges, plus two map prints! Now, shall I make a wrap skirt or A-line? And will I embroider between the hankies? hmmm..




Love the simple flower!


Oregon diagonally!


I adore flower prints!

Thrift Score Heath Edition

The other day I was at the thrift store and I spotted a little cup and saucer and thought, wow, that's exciting, to find a Heath cup! I turned around and there was a small casserole with lid. I went to the next row and found a few more items. Pretty soon I had a nice little stack of dishes for $25, which is less than the cost of one new Heath plate. Very awesome! I already have a few Heath pieces and I am thrilled to expand my little collection.



And a few days earlier I went by an estate sale and saw a box of vintage sewing patterns with a $1 price tag. I wasn't sure if that was the price for each, but it turned out to be $1 for the full box of patterns, score!

Thrift Scoretastic

I was wandering through the thrift store thinking there was nothing that I wanted when this little cutie stopped me in my tracks. "Russel Wright?" (I think I said this out loud.) It did cost a few dollars, but it is in pristine shape and still a fine price for this sweet little sugar bowl.



I really have a hard time leaving things at the store. I am actually working on saying no to things that I like but don't need, but a few make it home with me. I always make an exception for circa 1966 or earlier sewing patterns, especially if they have a cute illustration! And the occasional sewing machine. Oops.

Thrift Score-tastic

Sometimes thrift shopping has no payoff. I have had weeks with no good scores. And then every once in a while you really strike gold.

Like this find. I saw the plastic suitcase-like case and thought, well, that can't be anything too interesting, and yet I stopped and spotted the name on the case. Bernina! At $9.99 I nearly ran out of the store with barely stopping to test it out. I mean, even if it's a total dud then the accessories are worth more than ten bucks.



I took this machine in to be serviced since it did have a powering-on issue but all it needed was a good cleaning and a bulb and now it runs like a charm! With the cost of the service it's still a deal, since these sell on eBay for something like $400-$700 or so, but wow, the Bernina maintenance is not cheap!

The 830 Record was made from something like 1972-1982 or thereabouts. It gets you that Bernina quality without the computerized bells and whistles, which is just fine with me! I haven't taken the time properly to sew with it yet. I need to download and print out the manual which is available online for free.



It comes with a nice box of extras, including a walking foot.



And there are more than twenty decorative stitches. It's really everything I need in a sewing machine, so total score!



Each time I bring home a new machine my husband asks, "Now can you hem my pants?" to which I always reply, "Nope, this isn't a freearm." So this time I did have to say, "Why yes I can!"

And by the way, I did get rid of three machines this week, so I am down to only four sewing machines in the house! And I even have plans to get rid of one more, so that will take me down to owning 3 machines: the Bernina 830, the black Singer Featherweight 221, and the black Singer 301A Longbed. If that isn't the perfect little collection of classic sewing machines I don't know what is!

And if that wasn't enough I hit the same store a few days later and scored this Enid Collins bag. I know, pretty flashy, but I love this, and I am actually surprised that this is the first one I've ever picked up at the thrift store. I may give it to my sister, with a nice pair of socks that I am working on tucked inside. I mean, I would be pretty thrilled with that gift combo!

How Many Machines Make a Collection?

I picked up another sewing machine at the thrift store. I saw it and didn't buy it. I pondered it for three days, and then I went back and bought it. It's a Singer 301. 301 A actually, though as far as I can tell the letter A just designates the factory that produced this machine, as there is no difference between this and regular 301 models.

This machine is circa 1951. It's a slant shank, meaning the presser foot is at an angle, which also means that the feet are not interchangeable with my other machines. It is referred to as the "big sister to the Featherweight" because it's lightweight (16 pounds) but full sized, it uses the same bobbins as the Featherweight, and it produces nice straight stitches and only straight stitches. Unlike the featherweight it has an enclosed motor and it's gear driven (no belt.) The folding extension comes in a short or a long length, and mine is a longbed model.

Considering I managed to take 3 machines out of action in the past month it was easy to justify a spare machine (or four!)







And actually, I got one machine working again the other night. I managed to disassemble the bobbin base on my Featherweight with a tiny screwdriver and dislodge a thread jam. For all the things that I have figured out on my own, I am surprisingly intimidated by taking things apart. In the end it was so easy that I kick myself for my reluctance.

And in other news, I was in California this past weekend so I took a little drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and went to the Heath Ceramics Factory Store to check out some of the discounted factory seconds. I picked up a few things that still set me back more than a few pennies. Aren't they pretty?

Necchi!

And so the obsession begins...

I went to the thrift store yesterday and ended up with this:





It's a Necchi BU Mira "with Wonderwheel for automatic sewing” and a bunch of feet. With this machine I can sew with double needles and do all kinds of embroidery stitching like swirl stitching and more. It has a Hi/Low speed switch for sewing at a consistent slow speed. The manual is dated 1954, and it comes in a cabinet that extends into more than 5 feet of tabletop. Sorta crazy for my little house, but I didn't want to pass it up. It appears that everything works well, except the belt is loose and needs adjusted or replaced, so once I figure that out I can do a proper review of it.

I also picked up this:



I love that someone felt the need to write their review on lower left hand corner of the cover!

And in other knitting news, I noticed the other night that I was botching the decreases on my Brunswick sweater. I misread the instructions and am off on three decrease rows totaling 12 stitches, so I'll just rip back a ways. A minor setback.

Whew, My Arms Are Tired

I got back last night from a 28-hour trip to Chicago. Whew, am I tired! Yesterday we had to get up at 4:45am Seattle time to work a trade show, and I didn't even get a decent cup of coffee. That's so brutal, especially when there's a great coffeeshop three blocks from the hotel. But at least I got a ton of knitting done on the plane.

See? Attached sleeves on my Brunswick knit kit sweater! The whole thing is curling up terribly, especially the sleeves that were knit flat. I know, it's not much to look at right now, but it's the furthest I've gotten on an adult sweater. Just a yoke and seaming the sleeves plus a few ends left to go.



And also, yay, it's a thrift score! 3 skeins of Tahki Windsor Tweed, a Debbie Bliss Home book, an old Vogue Knitting, and a book with what looks like great instructions for sewing cushions with piping, all for four bucks. I have a two-cushion 60s chair that I picked up at the thrift store last week that I'm working on recovering, if only I can find the perfect fabric.

Thifty Crafty

A good thrift shopping trip is when you've had something in the back of your mind that you've been meaning to find, and it shows up at the thrift for cheap, like the Raleigh Retro 16 bike I found for my four year old, just like the one her older sister has, but in a different color, and for $110 cheaper. It is in great shape and looks like this one but purple.

Plus a few fun things for me! I love vintage pattern art, check out just a few of the beauties....

See the grey number on the right? Adore.


Casual or elegant? I like the flowers at the waist.


Wonder what these on the left ladies misplaced? A parrot maybe?


Florals always make me feel good.


And finally, something for socks plus a little alpaca. Score!

On Finding the Good Stuff

It's a disorder. I must thrift shop. I would stop, but I keep finding cool stuff. And really, I think that the thrift shop smell is not nearly as bad as the smells on the bus, which I have been riding A LOT. Because I loaned my car to my mother. And apparently she doesn't want to give it back.

So here's this week's haul...

Smocking and a kerchief? Lovely.


Fitted or babydoll? Cute!


I think I already have a copy of the coat pattern. Check out the puffy sleeve ends on the dress, very cool.


Oh, the Cobbler Apron. What's not to love, apron + many pockets, yay! And see that wild fabric? It must be a good 2 yards or more.


And who doesn't love Rowan yarn? 10 skeins of Cotton Tape, 2 of Plaid, and one plus a little bit more of Tuft.



Not a bad haul for about $12.

I think the Plaid would make a nice hat, something like An Unoriginal Hat or Cool from the Rowan Plaid Collection book. And I can make something for the kids with the Tape, but what to do with a skein of Tuft? Hmm...

Thrifty Scores & Other Fun

If you know me at all, you know I love to thrift shop. Now, I'm not a hard-core digger, I'm more of a frequent dabbler. But I still find my fair share of goodies.

Like vintage sewing patterns...



I already cut out the fabric to make two of this girls skirt.





And a framed picture of two ladies playing croquet, just because.


And look at what fun vintage crafty magazines the lovely Ms Brazil kindly brought to me. You are a sweetie!



Any book that instructs you to shave a monkey is pure gold!



And another treat that I picked up for myself, this one is from Kinokuniya. I have been meaning to get this lovely title for a long time, Machine Made Patchworks.