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Pins's Needles

Pins's Needles

The Home and Garden Journal of Kayla Pins

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Thrift

Wednesday’s “Trip to the Library”

July 20, 2018 by pinssneedles

Wednesday I “had to” go to Cedar Rapids to “return my library books.” Aka, I constructed that single errand around a vintage trip.

Have you ever been to a sushi place where your food goes by on a conveyor belt and you pay by the plate? And the food is delicious but you can’t help noticing what’s going by? Well, my estate sale stop was like that. I found a couple of cute house dresses in larger sizes but a fashionable woman with a lower number than mine was stacking up armfuls of the most gorgeous vintage dresses I have ever seen. As I was checking out I asked if she was a buyer. She was, and asked if I was too. (Me? A fabulous vintage buyer? What a dream!) I took her card, congratulated her on her great finds, and said I’d be a happy customer. Check her out on Etsy: Roselein Rarities.

I was feeling a little wistful about my normal person job until I checked out her shop. I forget how much WORK it is to be self-employed. Her photography is impeccable! Her inventory is enormous! I remembered how terribly unorganized I am, how my whole house is covered in dog fur, and how much I hate photography. Once again I concluded that the job I have is the job I need.

The potholder and greeting card trades are not as competitive or lucrative as clothing (aka I’m the only weirdo), so I made out alright. I’m tickled for this pink pig potholder. And I’m pretty sure I’m stocked on Christmas cards for the next two years- if I ever share them that is.

quilted pig vintage potholder

vintage christmas ephemera

Later on, I headed to my favorite vintage shop, Found + Formed, to drop off a few items. (So maybe I’m a buyer afterall?) I managed to buy less than I sold. I couldn’t resist this embroidered top:

mexican embroidered top

It’s a little tight in the arms which is a quick fix but otherwise it fits great. It’s adorable on its own and it is almost a perfect rectangle with a head hole, although it is hard to tell on the hanger. I have wanted to try making a top for myself out of vintage linens and this is a great prototype.

sykora czech bakery

Found + Formed is in the Czech village and regretfully I couldn’t stop at my favorite bakery, Sykora. I was on a fasting diet for testing (It’s a whole thing) so sadly I had to walk by.

Other highlights of my trip “to the library” included a stop at Village Needlework in Marion. I got some thread so I can try tackling tatting and a kit to give Hardanger a try. I’m working on branching out from my chronic Blackberry Salad crocheting and want to try something new and challenging.

Oh, and, surprise: I almost forgot to stop at the library.

Now to buckle down on my finals so I can spare time this afternoon for a thrift adventure in Dubuque.

Filed Under: Stitch, Thrift

Needlecraft, June 1918

July 16, 2018 by pinssneedles

Friends.

How is the year half gone and we haven’t even been celebrating the 100th birthday of the bulk of my Needlecraft collection?!

I have a few from 1916, a few from 1926, a few from the 30’s, one from the 40’s, and almost all of 1918 and 1919. Except, of course, July of 1918. So today I’m sharing June instead.

needlecraft antique vintage june 1918

On the cover is a woman in a long garter-stitch drop-waist sweater with a matching tam. The illustrations and scrollwork is delightful. If I didn’t actually read through them from time to time my Needlecrafts would make adorable seasonal art.

needlecraft june 1918 filet crochet

Filet crochet is so popular in these magazines with several patterns offered each month. Very generic directions are given if any at all. One reader in the “reader’s own” section recommends tracing over the photos with a hand-drawn grid and indicating x’s and o’s as blocks or spaces.

needlecraft june 1918 hardanger

This section on Hardanger is a treasure to me. My dear great aunt Agnes just celebrated her 100th birthday this year and was a prolific embroiderer. It’s amazing to think that this magazine came out when she was just a few months old and that her mother, my great-grandmother, would have made designs similar to these. I recently found a how-to Hardanger book at a thrift shop and once I get very good I will come back to these designs.

needlecraft june 1918 serviceable

This title gave me a chuckle. I use words like “serviceable” frequently and people think I am sarcastic. But really, what better word is there for something of both form and function?

needlecraft june 1918 requests

I love the reader’s request section- it’s always adorable. This is Ravelry circa 1918, folks. Instead of checking “Hats, Age: Baby, Skill: Easy” and getting a gazillion results you would instead inquire:

I wish for a crocheted cap for a baby one and a half years old, easy to do, yet pretty; also a hat for a girl of two and one-half years. Shall appreciate the favor.

And then wait for months for the reply.

needlecraft june 1918 becoming designs

needlecraft june 1918 summer fashion children

A pleasing variety of fashions for you fashion history nerds.

needlework magazine june 1918 handbook of crochet

I love advertisements for more needlework in needlework magazines, especially if I already have the item. I’ve been collecting antique and vintage magazines since before I had my own checkbook. Once I came to Mom with a self-addressed stamped envelope to send in for a crochet pattern to make dog plushies. All I needed was for her to write a check. She kindly explained that the company in my 1960’s Workbasket magazine probably wouldn’t send me the pattern.

Leave a comment if you enjoyed this Needlecraft tour. I love having a reason to dig through the archives and would love to continue the tours if you are interested.

Filed Under: Crochet, Knit, Stitch, Thrift

Saturday at The Big Barn Vintage Market

May 14, 2018 by pinssneedles

It got suddenly cold and rainy in Northeast Iowa. It’s been such a long time since I’ve had a weekend full of choices of things to do, but nothing that I MUST do. I was happy for the weather to take all of the outside options off of the list. It’s been such a long time since I’ve visited my sisters, and I’m awful on the phone, so I opted to spend the day with them.

iowa windmills clouds rainy cloudy

My younger sister and my dad have opened a booth at New Generations Antique Mall in Harmony, Minnesota called My Father’s Daugther’s Vintage Market. It is a great combination of the antiques Dad likes with the “junk” and home decor Kalissa likes. Mom has gotten in on it too and has contributed vintage small wares.

This Saturday was Kalissa’s first show at Big Barn Vintage Market near Postville, Iowa. I enjoyed a long and winding drive through the Driftless region of Iowa to get from my home to the location. It involved a stop in Elkader at my mom’s favorite bakery. She insists that Mother’s Day is no big deal, but I wasn’t going to not buy her favorite gingerbread cookies. She also says that we can appreciate each other any day of the year, but I know I don’t remind her enough how much I love her. It’s good to have an annual reminder.

my fathers daughters vintage market kalissa friedman

Kalissa’s booth was outdoors and I’m grateful she invested in a tent for the event. The rain held off for most of the day and it was just cold and cloudy. That didn’t stop heavy traffic and Kalissa did very well.

She’s excited about her next event- The Market at White Barns. I will be joining her on Saturday and hope to be contributing some jewelry and a few home accessories.

Kelli had a baby shower in the morning but joined us later, and Mom came out after garage sale-ing.

kayla kalissa jo kramer kelli

The traffic was a little slower in the afternoon so we could just relax and chat. It was so nice to see everyone in person and catch up. Everyone is very tolerant of graduate school, but I miss seeing my family more regularly. Living as far away as I do means it takes a whole weekend to get in a good visit.

I’ve linked to websites and Facebook pages of people and places I enjoyed this weekend. If you are a local (or would enjoy a beautiful road trip through Northeast Iowa) and make it out to White Barns, be sure to introduce yourself. It is fun to put names to faces of frequent commenters.

Filed Under: Thrift

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