When you're friends with someone a long time, there are things that you know that they are going to say/do/think before they say/do/think them. I knew when we saw the listing for last week's estate sale that Sarah was going to be super excited, because it's a digger. She loves a good digger.
I also knew that I didn't really have to ask the question when I mentioned the possibility of going to my friend's mother's pool after estate saling. I knew that not only was she going to want to go, but there would probably a few tears of joy involved. I was not wrong.
I also knew that you would be able to read all about the joys of the pool at her dueling blog post about this sale, which you can find here.
We started out at the digger sale bright and early. Even though we got there at a respectable time, we still had a good long wait to go.
They're not very high numbers, but the house was SMALL and so, so full of stuff that they were only letting in a handful of people at a time. I think we probably waited a good half hour after the start time to get in!
By the time we got in, some of the stuff we were hoping for was gone. I personally was on a mission for a lute that I saw in a picture. I was told by one of the staff members that a) it wasn't a lute, it was a mandolin and b) it was sold anyway. I could see it right by the for sale table, and I asked if I could just look at it and was told firmly no. Apparently I might break it. This was the same person who had happily insisted on putting my new-to-me bracelet on my wrist a few weeks before. We were evidently not the only ones who were feeling a bit cranky in the hot, crowded house.
I gave up on the lute/mandolin/whatever and set out to find the next item on my list. There were a couple of sets of vintage knitting needles that looked really fun and I wanted them. I went to where a bunch of knitting stuff was being displayed and hunted about. No luck. I figured someone had beat me to that, as well, and reluctantly went to see if there were any surprises in the house.
And there were! First I found this beauty:
It's a hooded vintage cape with yellow satin lining and matching frog closure. GAH. It will be in my Etsy shop before too long! Maybe. If I can part with it.
I've been spending a lot of time doing minor mending of my vintage dresses this summer, so this adorable rainbowy pin cushion will make me much cheerier when I'm doing it!
I had always heard of these socks, but had no idea they were actually a brand. I thought they were "bobby socks", and I had it in my head they were socks that got cuffed and had lace trim. Apparently they're a brand, and they're spelled "bobbi-sox"! I didn't get them, because what am I going to do with vintage socks? I am 0% interested in listing them on Etsy, that's for sure. But I had to document them!
While I was being distracted by the Bobbi Sox, Sarah noticed a box of gloves next to them. I have an amazing former student who studied musical theater at AMDA and is living in NYC these days. He has started doing drag recently, and bought a few of my dresses when I created a new clearance section in my Etsy shop a few weeks ago. He sent me a picture modeling one of the dresses, and I decided it needed gloves. So when Sarah helpfully pointed out the box of gloves, I went nuts!
I hope they fit Didi! She needs to be perfectly accessorized. (Also, if anyone lives in NYC and wants to see her perform, she'll be on stage competing at the Ultimate Drag Pageant at The West End this summer! Check out info here!)
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| The dress is from my shop but Dillon MADE Didi's robe!! So impressed. |
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| Another dress from my shop, same gorgeous queen. |
As I was finishing up with the gloves, I heard Sarah call my name. I recognized the sound. It was her "I'm being calm, but get your butt here right now because this is GOOD" voice. It's the vocal equivalent of poker-face, and I can only identify it through years of practice.
Apparently someone had found the knitting needle sets, presumably on the first day, and hadn't wanted to pay first day prices, so they'd hid them in the hopes of buying them for half off on day 2. In the bathroom, between some towels. Sarah saw the pattern sticking out and found them. Hooray for Sarah! Take that, knitting-needle-set-hiders!
A set of straight and double pointed Susan Bates needles, in the world's most amazing case. It's like a clutch of needles! Love love love!
Now this I already own in a modern version. The modern version is ugly. This is beautiful. And I'm going to assume made of sturdier materials.
It occurred to me as I was gazing lovingly on my new needles that if this person had these, they were definitely a knitter. And maybe, just maybe, there were some vintage knitting patterns around. If you're a knitter, you know there are knitting patterns, and then there are knitting patterns. There are the kind that I assume are what comes to mind when my students look at me in horror when they realize I knit, or when people laughingly call me "grandma". They are horrifying, old-lady patterns. They are prevalent, and even the best of these are not something I'm going to spend weeks or months of my time on. Then there are the patterns that are much harder to find, but are actual fashion patterns. Beautiful designs that are not only worth spending all that time on, but that you just can't wait to cast on and start knitting. These are hard to find today, but I'm coming to realize were more common last century, especially in the 40s and 50s.
I found the jackpot. Fashion knitting magazines, including Vogue Knitting!
I'm probably going to have to make the sweater dress that Twiggy is modeling at some point!
I am a sucker for a lace knitting pattern.
The pattern is simple, cute, and so similar to today's styles, but what I really loved here was her hair.
Lace knitted vest, and some modest victory rolls, so you know this was 40sish.
Mary Tyler Moore's hairdo and another lace knitted sweater dress.
I won't be knitting these anytime soon, but found them pretty hilarious.
Why don't we have beautiful photos like this in today's knitting magazines? Vintage everything is better.
I have never understood why knitted swimsuit patterns exist.
Vogue knitting from the 50s, the cutest crop tops!
Yup. This is going in my Ravelry queue.
I took a picture of this for the adorable dog, mostly.
I love the design on the hem of this! So many sweater dresses, so little time!
The wide neckline makes me really tempted to try this one. Unfortunately it calls for ribbon yarn and I hate that stuff. If I can figure out a decent substitute, I'll probably try!
I love the neckline and sleeves of this one.
I'm pretty sure this will be the first one I actually knit. It calls for lace weight yarn and I have this amazing cobalt blue malabrigo that I bought years ago when I was buying a purply-gray for another pattern and just couldn't resist getting it in blue. It's going to be ridiculously gorgeous, so be sure to check my IG for pictures of it. In a few months.
I also did get a few other items aside from gloves and knitting things!
A little pearl purse that will be in my Etsy shop in upcoming weeks!
And of course, a gnome for my husband's growing gnome sanctuary!
We left, sweaty and ready for a pool.
How can anyone blame me for loving summer above all things when it's full of things like this?
Read about the sale and pool from Sarah's point of view!
If you'd like to check out other pictures of our finds, pets, etc. check us out on Instagram:
If you'd like to buy some vintage of your own, visit our Etsy shops:
