Monday 8 July 2013

Vintage crochet - part one


I am rather partial to a nice bit of crochet..........

 Alas I lost my crochet skills (to a star ship trooper!!?!)  many years ago so now utilise the skills of others.  Sadly there are many cheap vintage crochet blankets around - you would be hard pushed to buy the wool for even quadruple the amount....(I do not really know the current price of wool....I have never bought new wool....I have only ever bought old wool.....)


Blankets are not normally draped in this decorative manner!!! These two shown here are used pretty much every day - even in the summer - to take the chill off cold legs in the evening. This one here is folded in half - it is a double quilt size.  What a bargain they have proven to be



I also do not normally have tables all over the shop either - the little one above was bought from a local shop and now resides at end of the other sofa for 'tea cup putting down' purposes.



A car boot bowl that has rather a splendid pattern



Anyway, as you know, a bit of crochet adds a bit of colour - I do like a bit of colour....


.... and pattern....!!!

In fact there is only one colour that I am not so fond of but I will not say it here in case it is someones favourite colour - I am not here to cause offence.



This is a lamp from the other end of the room - bought from the 'Shop that never opens - but was opened unexpectedly one day' shop: I love it and it has an integral magazine rack on one side.  It casts a great shadow at night (better than the telly....shadow watching).

 This has nothing to do with crochet...or colour...or pattern...well a bit to do with pattern..


I wish that my eyes could do this colour trick!





A few other crochet blankets
Best to have a few I find....




Colour and pattern....



Pattern and colour!

Returning to my favourite one of all (for this week at least)

Shall I tell the tale of it again?  As told on Flickr first time around - a few years ago now!



I was visiting students on a work placement and a Salvation Army shop happened to be very near by...bin liners full of 'stuff'' had been delivered and I could see a tiny corner of crochet peeping out the top of one bag.  I nonchalantly enquired if I might look at the remainder of the crochet but was told:

'NO - those bags have not been emptied yet'.

 'When might they be emptied?' I asked......throat getting a little tight.

'Next Thursday'    A whole week away.....



The following Thursday I trotted along - and found that the bags....


....WERE IN EXACTLY THE SAME POSITION - CROCHET STILL PEEPING OUT OF THE TOP AND ALL BAGS UNCHANGED.

Throat was a little tighter than the previous week but I summoned up courage to ask again (a bit like the Billy Goat Gruff at this point). I received the same answer...

A different tack was clearly called for:

'Could I please ask... if I may.....could I.....kindly...so sorry to be a bother...... look at the remainder of the crochet and ask what the price of it might be when it does eventually go on sale please.  Thank you so much and sorry again to be a bother...' 

I may have inclined my head and bowed slightly in order to ingratiate myself a little more at this point...and possibly walked very slightly backwards whilst head bowing...

 I hoped that I did not sound too desparado...bear in mind that I did not know if it was a blanket, hankie or shawl at this point in the proceedings!

The man was not happy that I had asked this question one bit.  However he did show me the crochet and said that it would cost (and I have double checked my original Flickr post about this to ensure all records are correct)....the unearthly price of.....I did check....

£2.50

At this point did I :
A) Sneer and remonstrate about the price
B) Cackle that he was 'having a giraffe' and should be ashamed of himself
C) Give more than the asking price and try and persuade him that he should be asking more for things.

It is a super, duper blanket with the original label stitched in where it has been entered for a handicraft competition many years ago (any thoughts about the age?).  

More vintage crochet another time

Thank you for calling in and do have a lovely day

PS: Wasn't the weekend super - felt positively ill watching Mr Murray - what a great achievement for him.  


PPS: I have prepared some posts on 70s things in order to keep up with modurhn tastes.....


63 comments:

  1. Yay first to comment! Love the blankets, the hexy one is a pattern i've nver seen made up into a blanket, may have to try. and you are right wool is vvvvery expensive now, are they feeding the sheep foie gras? catx

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    1. Fois gras indeed I think Cat! The hex pattern is particularly luverly (not needed in the heat today though!)
      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  2. What a lovely blanket, I would say by the label it could be thirties, but it doesn't look that old.......... so perhaps fifties? The crochet still doesn't look that old though. You go a real bargain!
    Wool is very expensive.
    Julie xxxxxx

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    1. Thank you Julie - it does seems 50s'ish to me (just going by the label really).
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  3. Lovely blanket, dread to think what it would cost to make it up now using wool. I suspect that those lovely blankets are just the tip of another ice-berg...ooh a wooly ice-berg of wooly goodness - lurvly!
    Nicky
    x

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    1. Oh dear - they may be the tip....still I could have worse habits!

      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  4. Squealing with delight and joy over your beautiful blankets. £2.50??? Blimey, how barmy is that! You're absolutely right about having a few knocking around the place. Vital I would say. xx

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    1. Barmy indeed. Not quite needing the blankets today though!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  5. I hope it won first prize...(also love the wall art)...but how do you keep the moths away? I think Polly Ester has been sabotaging my woollies. Brown? C? Limerick competition? EE xx

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    1. I turn fabrics and refold quilts regularly! Brown it might be......

      I have not forgotten Limerick competition - or indeed poetry competition in general.

      Wall art is 50s fabric and quite wonderful I think

      Keep warm
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  6. Thanks for pointing me towards this blanket. The wobbly edge looks OK actually. I will ponder a bit more while I put the main hexes together. You got a complete bargain there. Just for the record green is my favourite colour and yellow is my least!! Jo x

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    1. Wobbly edge makes a change from the straight edge I think - I am sure that yours will be lovely either way. It was a bargain. I like both green and yellow....
      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  7. Persistence paid off nicely! What a fabulous crochet blanket.
    June

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  8. Persistence paid off nicely! What a fabulous crochet blanket.
    June

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  9. Gorgeous crochet blankets always a necessity in any home, especially when they only cost a criminal £2.50!! I want to move into your house, it looks so wonderful. M x
    PS: I don't like pastel pink ...

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    1. Dear Vintage Jane - I am preparing the spare room for your stay!
      I quite like pink - my least favourite (for the house at least) is more earthy...
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  10. Love that crochet blanket - well worth waiting for. Amazed that it still had the label attached. All that hard work - wonder if it won a prize!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    1. I do hope that it did Liz - though if it didn't I would like to see first prize!
      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  11. Well my dear, I don't think I've ever said how much I love my visits here ;) but I really, really do.....thanks for sharing, they are lovely....WHY don't they sell these kind of things near me?! :) x not in the slightest bit Gergen with envy you understand!!!

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    1. Dear Ada
      Your comment has made me a little teary-eyed - that is very, very kind of you to say Ada and makes this blog all worthwhile.
      Too much stuff for sale near to me I think....
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  12. Beautiful hexagon blanket - I have been crocheting like fury lately as my grand daughter filched the ripple blanket I was making for myself, and I then had to make one for each of my other two grand children. Adam (5) says his blanket smells like Nanny's house - not sure quite what to make of that !! I would like to think gently fragranced by the perfume of my cottage garden - but more likely to be 'minging dog' :)

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    1. Dear Jacky
      Your rippled blanket sounds lovely (do you have a blog with a photograph perhaps?). Minging dog! Surely not
      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  13. Wow - you'd do well to buy 2 balls of yarn for that price - let along enough to do a blanket plus of course the time to make it would cost too - anyhow - well done for (a) being persistent and (b) getting a bargain :)

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    1. Indeed - that is why I have not pursued my crochet 'skills' sadly.
      It was a bargain!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  14. So pretty Jenny! What lovely crochet blankets! It looks so great in your room too and for such a steal! :) Wishing you a lovely week! xo Holly

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    1. It was a steal indeed Holly
      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  15. Oh Mrs Custard, what delights you do possess!

    And I think you did c), cos' you're that kinda gal.

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    1. c) it was - how could it not be (I am not a barterer!)
      Dom thinks that we might have too many delights now and the house is full....
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  16. First - your front room is gorgeous. It has good bones with the high ceiling and bay window, and your use of colour and pattern is perfect. The blankets are beautiful. It makes me sad to think of something someone put so much care into ending up in a charity shop, but happy to think that someone like you found it and gave it a new home. x

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    1. Oh thank you Gillian - 'good bones' I like that phrase muchly. It is sad isn't it - discarded and unwanted.
      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  17. What lovely blankets in your photos, can't crochet myself can only knit, but have just found a 'child's learn to crochet book' which I shame faced said I was buying for my niece so who knows... Have just found your blog through Lazy Daisy Jones and there's so many things I want to come back and read as I love your sense of humour.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you for calling in woolly dog
      I have done that 'I am buying this for someone else but really buying it for me' trick! No shame there. All the best with you skills

      Keep in touch
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  18. love the blankets - that pink and grey one is fabulous - I have enough crochet projects on the go, stop inspiring me I can't start another one...

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    1. Oh go on! Envious of any crochet skills
      Have a lovely day
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  19. I love your stories! Pretty blankets!!
    Blessings,
    Susie

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    1. Thank you kindly Susie - do call in again
      best wishes
      Jenny

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  20. Ooh I love stories like that! Beautiful blankets too ....

    Enjoy the sunshine

    Claire xx

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    1. thank you kindly Claire - I bet you have been having some lovely times by the sea lately
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  21. What absolutely gorgeous blankets and my goodness they would cost a bomb to make with wool prices of today! I adore all your mid-century fabric patterned cushions too, just gorgeous with those crochet blankets xox Thanks so much for sharing x Penny

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    1. Aww - thank you Penny. It is a cheering sight I think - I like a bit of pattern
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  22. Oh I love the hexy one ... very beautiful indeed ... well worth persuing ... Bee xx

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    1. thank you Bee
      Sadly it is the sort of thing that I would have dreamed about for years if I had not bought it!

      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  23. You crochet blankets are wonderful Jenny. Where would we be without them? I know we have had the hottest weekend this year but I came down Saturday night with some kind of lurgy and spent all of yesterday snuggled under one because I was cold! Such a shame that there are so many of them available to be had instead of being seen as treasures. Today's trend for all things must be new I suppose. Can't wait to read your 70s posts. I consider that to be my era!

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    1. Sorry to hear of illness - in this weather too!! Double yuck. Perhaps you can advice regarding what is actually 70s on my latest post?
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  24. Lovely blankets. I found a cute beige and pink crochet blanket at the thrift store a few years ago. Very cozy.

    I enjoyed the tennis match very much! Mr. Murray can breathe a bit easier now! I live in the U.S. and would love to visit Wimbledon!!

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    1. Dear Protector of Vintage
      Thank you for calling in. Wimbledon is certainly a pleasant part of the world. There is something very snugly about a crochet blanket
      Have a lovely day
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  25. My dearest Cootard unless you reveal your least favourite colour (which i suspect may be green?) I will not be able to sleep at night for wondering.....you cannot please everybody all of the time...?

    Your taste in decor is without question divine, so i will not bother with more compliments, less it all goes to your head.

    bestest as ever dear girl

    Daisy x

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    1. Dear Ms Daisy - I am blushing accordingly and it has all gone to my head of course!

      Have a lovely day and good luck with you blog entry (I have voted)
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  26. I love the printed fabrics in your sitting room. I hardly ever see crochet blankets in the charity shops,I admit I cover up in the evening too! I bought one crochet - (I can hardly call it a blanket) thing of crochet lines that has shrunk unevenly creating a hideous seersucker effect...but I still hang on to it, why is that! It's until I find a decent one! Enjoy the sunshine x

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    1. Thank you for calling in and kind words - I do like a nice bit of fabric....
      There seems to be plenty of crochet in my neck of the woods and I find it hard not to buy it (anything under £4.99 is a bargain in my book)
      Have a lovely sunny day too
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  27. Good Evening Jenny,that man should not be allowed to work in a charity shop,or any shop with that attitude!So glad that you got the blanket anyway.As you may expect I have quite a few blankets,I have a cold leather settee so always spread a blanket on and also in the summer to stop myself sticking to the leather!My ideal sofa would be covered in Cath Kidston fabric,but which one!!! Enjoy the sunshine toodle pip for now Pam.

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    1. Dear Pam I am sure that your settee is quite wonderful (though I might be sticking to it in this heat!). Enjoy the sunshine too
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  28. Why do people working in charity shops feel like they are entitled to act all high and mighty...it really does annoy me. But well done for persisting and asking ever so nicely - it's such a lovely blanket.

    Nina x

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    1. Indeed Nina - I was perhaps a bit sycophantic but it paid off! It is a most lovely blanket
      Best wishes
      Jenny

      Delete
  29. I do love your thrifted hexagon blanket and others. Such a bargain. And they do make a room don't they?! you showed great restraint waiting for this one!! oh by the way i love your cotton reel header, it's great! Heather x

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    1. Thank you Heather - I nearly threw those cotton reels away (imagine!) and then got my old stamping kit out.
      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  30. Oooooh Mrs, I am SO in love with that room. Those green sofas are just gorgeous and the framed fabric and 50s fabrics have got me swooning rather alot!
    Ps I cut into my herzberger in the end and made a lovely drum lampshade did the same with some Mary Warren spinners fabric with just enough for 2 cushions too. Thanks for poking me with a stick and saying go for it,you're right, those fabrics were made for being used ! X

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    1. Yay - good for you and I do indeed remember giving you that prod (!!!). I shall pop round and see if there are any photos.
      Thank you for kind words - it means a lot to me
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  31. £2.50 was a great bargain, bet you're glad you went back!

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