Take vintage craft books for an example. I thought I was the only one who rescued craft books. Not so! I was planning to share some little gems I found in our local Oxfam shop and guess what! Over the other side of the world Manitoba Stitches had found a delightful magazine in her local charity shop too! How wonderful, a great big pond divides us, we have never met and probably will not do so, but our lives are following vaguely similar paths. I expect we could wax lyrical about THREADS given a chance.
My local Oxfam shop is rather conveniently placed next to my bank. Which is fine. Except when I take some money out of the hole in the wall to go to the local fruit and vegetable shop. I think there is a magnet in the back of the shop which senses when I have cash in my pocket and I get drawn in. I usually find that someone has kindly donated some craft books.
Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches is my very favourite. It was first printed in 1934 and had it's sixteenth impression in 1965. I wonder how many authors can claim that?
It is obviously a wonderful book of reference but it's charm lies in the quirky visual puns which illustrate it.
Holbein Stitch
Figure Stitch
and my very favourite - hem stitch. It took a few moments to get this one..... post me a comment if you are stuck.
I had to take the photos inside as then sun has set and we have a long dark evening ahead of us. I know we have a lot in common- but is there any chance that we can have the sun back please?
You have made a wonderful find! I also like old craft books and magazines.
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