Oh, antique stores - I wish I could quit you!! Your dusty bins of wondrous patterns that you've stashed away in forgotten corners are calling to me...
...like these patterns from an antique store in Missouri ... all were between $1 and $1.50. YES, PLEASE!
My favorite of this bunch? The caftan. I have been eying that pattern on ebay/Etsy for months now, and now it is mine! Mwahahaha!
Seriously - how could I resist the sailor top? It would go perfectly with my sailor pants. And the Simplicity pattern with the various back cut outs? Divine!
Hats!!! And a weird Western couture outfit ... along with the most divine square neckline dress ever.
There was also fabric (which I didn't need, but how could I resist??)
This fabric is a very loose linen weave - I have no idea how it could be used, but holy cannoli, it's amazing. There is probably 2 1/2 - 3 yards to work with - any suggestions?
On the left is a fantastic brocade remnant that cost $3. This is definitely going to be a pencil skirt with a high waist - no question about it. On the right is a fabulous poly double knit piece of wonder that would be just perfect for a mini dress!
The most patriotic houndstooth ever. I'm thinking a pair of pants, though I might be swayed to a sheath dress. On the right, a very large and heavy denim curtain. Curtain shmurtain - this is part of an upcoming Sew Weekly challenge :)
Mister. Monopoly. Fabric.
This past weekend, we trucked down to Ohio to visit my family and Mama Grand took me to the antique mall there....yes, antique mall. It was positively epic.
I found sewing books (including two by Claire Shaeffer) and a darning egg! That was an exciting moment. Rob couldn't understand why I had picked up a maraca.
I bought more patterns, of course. These were not as cheap as the first batch, but still very reasonable. Mama Grand was awed by my bloodhound instincts of sniffing out the dark corners where these lurked. I was hoping for a fun apron pattern, and I totally lucked out! Heart pockets on everything from now on.
Lots of mail order patterns! I managed to come home with several skirt patterns so you may be seeing a lot of my pasty legs this summer.
I love this Marian Martin pattern - I almost crowed when i picked it up! The vintage slip will definitely be made, probably before the month is out - I don't have a single slip that fits extremely well and I would like to change that fact.
These were the crowning glory of the whole day. Stacks and stacks of Needlecraft from 1916 and 1919 and in very good condition! Now I have a reason to brush up on my needlework!
How about you, my friends? Do you sniff out patterns and sewing goodies in antique and thrift stores? How do you convince yourself not to buy everything you find??
Let me know your tips for walking away, because I think I may need them soon :)