Vintage Op-Shoppery

I've been thinking that its been too long long since my last (waaay back here) op-shopping "haul" post. It's not like I haven't been cruising charity stores for sewing/crafting/clothing items - god knows that is my one little regular "splurge" - rather its the time involved in taking/uploading pics of the resulting finds. 

I know I know "excuses, excuses"!

So without further ado this is the result of my most recent expedition (of the thrift stores along Scarborough Beach Road):

Harking back to the early 1980s this dress was probably the height of fashion in its time. It now reminds me of the uniform I had to wear for my first ever job in a delicatessen (imagine it all in white with a name badge). The styling seems to be a little confused; all "Laura Ashley"/ladylike with the floppy hat and strappy heels, but the dress shape itself is very sporty/tuckshop lady/early 1980s checkout operator. 

Here we have a outfit I could jave imagined my mum in during the 1970's/80s and a background setting not unlike my very earliest childhood recollections. God bless carpet tiles and modular furniture ;)

 

Enid Gilchrist sewing books are a bit different from regular paper patterns as what you actually get is detailed instructions for drawing up your own pattern from the diagram given. I am guessing this was a more economical way of selling so many patterns (than printing out the actual pattern pieces themselves). I think this book is 1970s era (after 1966 anyway as it's price is in cents). Not sure what to make of the little girls outfit.... 

An example of one of the diagrams. This one is for changing a given shirt pattern into a blouse by altering some of the pattern pieces.

Six pale blue vintage buttons. Looking at the scrap of blue fabric on the back of one button I wonder whether they originally were much brighter in colour. Labelled as ceramic but in fact 100% plastic.
 

A roll of red bias cut stiffened fabric. Unfolded bias binding or stabilising tape? Sure it will come in handy and so cheap to boot! 

A very cute collection of smocked/pleated cushion covers, circa early 1960s. Unfortunately part of the front cover is missing but otherwise it seems complete. Happy to find this one as I haven't got anything else like it in my collection :)

So that's the beginning, I still have a huge backlog of op-shopping finds to get through!

Til next time...

Happy sewing/op-shopping ;)

Kate x

Op-shoppery: Recent fabric pickings (part 2)

The same op shop yielded quite a bounty on another day. The roll of grey is lining fabric, $8 for the roll but a bargain considering it costs at least $5/metre new. The pink fabric was also $8 for the roll. I think its some type of 1990's parasilk type synthetic. It has a matte finish and a crisp hand so I think would be great for a 1950's style dress: 

The pale mint green fabric is actually silk - 7 metres for $1 as it has several large stains, but at that price I can cut around them! Question is what to make with it as it very fine and floaty. Would it tear when wet? Have to do some testing...

The last fabric is a soft cotton-y dress fabric with an interesting faux stitched hibiscus print :

(yes I Instagrammed this one)

 Skirt or shirt maybe?

Oh and I nearly forgot! Either a very large hanky or smallish scarf? Regardless... am digging this graphic print:

 

All up quite a good haul for two separate half hour visits to my local Oppy ;)

Happy sewing/thrifting!!!

Kate :)

Op-shoppery: Recent fabric pickings (part 1)

Just some of the goodies recent thrift store visits have uncovered. First up a bag of fabric pieces plus a knit pattern for tees:

  

I'm not sure how i feel about the striped fabric, hoping it may be usable for maybe a bucket hat or perhaps pants for DS but not sure about the colours on him. I love the flower print for it's retro style.

Not in love with the train print but am pretty sure DS will be!

 

There isn't quite enough of the train fabric for a full child's garment but I figure a pocket or two (or maybe a hood lining?) can be squeezed out.

It's turning to colder weather here in Oz and suddenly fleece fabric - in any form- is starting to look good...

 Pays to be overprepared in the winter clothing stakes when you have two very mess-making three year olds running around ;)

Op-shoppery: step back in time

You have to love it when a trip to the local charity store makes you feel like you're spending like its 1979 ;)

This is what $2.60 netted me the other day:

 

OK now I do admit that getting the roll of rag-rug meshing did involve a bit of crawling under a rather crowded knick-knack bench and picking off some pretty big dust bunnies, but at $1 for something that these days costs $20 (or so) a metre new I'm not gonna complain.

Now to check out (on Pinterest - my latest addiction) so rag rug ideas!

Happy Sewing!

Kate :)

Pre-Christmas-op-shopping bargain

Swinging by a local charity store on the way home one day netted me this Christmas crafts magazine for 20 cents:

A bargain I think given that we are in November and every op-shop is starting to do their Christmas stock displays, pulling out all the tinsel and whatsits.While some of the fabrics and styling are a little dated I had been hoping to find just a basic stocking pattern to play around with and inside was this:

 Might not go the whole teddy bear motif but the shape is right.
Have been mentioning to hubby that I might try making Santa sacks this year to cut down on the amount of wrapping paper we throw away. Guess what else was inside ?

Again not quite my choice of colours (I'm not super into the "country decor" look) but just think how wonderful it will be for using up odd leftover bits of Christmas fabric. Given my fabric choices I think these will be some very BRIGHT and rocking Santa sacks!
Watch out Mr Claus, you are going to need your sunnies when you visit us this year! ;)

Cheap Gutermann thread !!!!!

Look what I found at Kmart Northlands today in the haberdashery section:

Gutermann thread on clearance! The 100 metres was reduced to $1.50 a spool and the 250 metres was $2.50 each. It looks like Kmart are deleting and/or cutting back on their sewing lines.
Normally I only buy Gutermann thread if : a) the budget stretches to it or its a *really* special project AND b) I can't find anything cheaper to match my fabric, but at this price I thought "what the heck" and really stocked up :) Just call it an early Christmas present to myself!
I'm not sure how long they will have the thread for (the case was half-filled so I would say its just remainders) but it may be worth taking a trip soonish if you are in need of good thread.