Great finds!!!!!

[mccoysnina]

Pickings had been pretty sad lately.  Today I was out and decided ot give my favorite ts another chance anyway.  Like I would ever give it up competely.
Nothing great turned up till I got to the book section and foundthis absolutey amazing book of the most drop dead  gorgeous crocheted sweaters I have ever seen, made using thsoe expensive knitting shop yarns, not the craft store kind.  Now I do not knit and the supply of patterns for crocheted sweaters tend to  be based on granny squares adn not very appealing to me.  Then I find this book.  And for $1.50.  Couldn't get that in the cart fast enough. I thought about just paying for the book and getting out of there so I could look thru the book right then but figured as long as I was there I should look the entire  store.  And am I glad I did.  In the crafts sections sitthing there among the half worked cross stitch samplers and the kits for making felt ornaments sat a huge cone of absolutely mouth wateringly delicious yarn.  One of the huge industrial cones.  Soft, fuzzy, beautiful cream color with some slubs of a dark brown, one ofthe very expensaive to buy at the yarn shops kind of yarn. . Angora maybe? The label is partly torn off and I don't know the maker but it is from Italy.  And over 7000 yards on it  Enough to make one of those great sweaters.  Actually,  enough to make several of those great sweaters.  And the killer price?  $2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So for $3.50 I can keep myself busy for awhile.  Obvisiously someone got rid oftheir book and their yarn.  Fine with me.  I am in yarn heaven.
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

Nice find!  Good yarn can be expensive.  I saw a bag of Hjertegarn yarn which is made in Demark & very nice at the SA recently.  I don't knit, but my sister does & I was going to get it for her as it was only $1.50, but when I looked at it closely I saw it was quite dirty, like it had been sitting at the bottom of the donation bin or something, just too yucky.

Last months Crafts n things magazine had a really beautiful crochet blanket pattern, you might want to check it out.  That magazine is great is has a little bit of everything. 

Of course, when you finish a sweater you must post a pic!

Also you may want to check out those felt ornament kits, some of the old Bucilla ones are really nice, I haven't seen one for a while, but some of them are quite valuable too!

[Mattie]

Mccoysnina, what's the name of the book?  I have tons of crochet sweater patterns but they're mostly '70s and '80s, nothing I'd want to make and wear today. 

Great score on the yarn, too.  Thrifts always have plenty of cheap acrylic leftovers from someone's granny square project, but a big cone of natural fiber yarn is a rarity.

[mccoysnina]

I used to get Crafts and Things but gave it up cause I already have too many hobbies.  That's the main reason I pass those craft kits by.  Not enough time for the hobbies I do have to take up any more. A sister keeps trying to get me to take up scrap booking and I keep politely saying no.  Apparently scrap bookers have big parties like Tupperware parties to try new products and buy things.  Already I am not interested.  Unless they start having them a ts!
Jeannie

[mccoysnina]

Mccoysnina, what's the name of the book?  I have tons of crochet sweater patterns but they're mostly '70s and '80s, nothing I'd want to make and wear today. 

Mattie, the name of the book is The Crochet Sweater Book by Sylvia Cosh.  It was copyright  in 1987 but the book looks new and the sweaters are very modern looking.  My DD found it.  She knits but doesn't crochet and has already marked a few things she's like.  Yeah, get in line kid. I found about 6  skeins of a nice cotten yarn a while back and I ahve been making some little things out of it but nothing to compare to this yarn.   I don't know if you know what amigurumi are but they are little stuffed toys of all kinds and I have found a ton of free patterns on the net and been making tons of those.  They take no time to make and I am having fun slipping them in pockets and purses when someone is having a bad day.  Always  brings a smile.  A local VA hospital is starting some new programs for vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD.  A local group of us have been making hats, scarves, lap blankets etc for the soldiers, many of whom have just about nothing when they land here.  Some of the little critters have been finding their way to the hospital too.
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

I used to get Crafts and Things but gave it up cause I already have too many hobbies.  That's the main reason I pass those craft kits by.  Not enough time for the hobbies I do have to take up any more. A sister keeps trying to get me to take up scrap booking and I keep politely saying no.  Apparently scrap bookers have big parties like Tupperware parties to try new products and buy things.  Already I am not interested.  Unless they start having them a ts!
Jeannie

I look at Craft n Things at the library, that way I don't feel bad like I would if they were piling up on my coffee table & I hadn't made a thing from them.  I get many great ideas there though & occasionally use one!  I got into scrapbooking somewhat, but that is because there was a free scrapbooking class at the library, where two woman who were scrapbooking/stamping fanatics brought a huge array of supplies for everyone to use.  I have also received some great scrapbooking supplies from freecycle offers and have found some stuff at yard sales too.  I do everything on the cheap, so yes I agree that if I had to rely on the parties for my supplies I wouldn't be interested either. 

[Punk Glam Queen]

Jeannie, how thoughtful and sweet to slip amigurumi into pockets to cheer people up! I love that idea, and I think you have inspired me to bring some unexpected cheer to people as well! I'm sure you'll be responsible for many smiles at the VA hospital! As to the fabulously luxurious Italian yarn you found, have you tried a burn test to see what its fiber content is? If you don't know what it is, I can find a link for you online. Its easy, and pretty accurate -- this way you'll know how to care for your beautiful new crocheted creations! You are lucky to have found a great pattern book and fabulous yarn, the thrift stores around here won't carry craft supplies at all But I'm lucky at the book sales, as I love vintage craft books and there are always a plethora of them -- very inexpensive as well -- so I can't complain too much!
Cheers!
Suzanne

[mccoysnina]

I know what the burn test is, worked in the textile industry for years.  I don't know that I have to
know exactly what the yarn is.  I always gently hand wash my crocheted creations anyway instead of dry cleaning since I don't like the residue a lot of the dry cleaning solutions leave on fuzzy yarns.  (Sorry Jay!) If in doubt I will do a test on the gauge swatch first to make sure I don't destroy all my hard work in an ill chosen fit of cleaning.  Things ought to be good for something.  It is just nice to know what the yarn is.  But I figure if it is a wool or plant based fiber it  grew outside anyway/  If the people of Asia can beat silk on a rock to wash it. I can hand wash it in my kitchen sink.
Several years ago as a sample I made a crocheted cape, floor lenght, with a hood, out of a very soft fuzzy yarn.  Have not worn it much as I dread having to clean that thing.  May have to soak it in the bathtub.
Jeannie

[Punk Glam Queen]

I'm glad you know what the burn test is, now I don't have to go searching online for it! To each his own, I'd want to know what the fiber content was as I have allergies to plants and assorted other things (I'm even allergic to allergy meds!) so obvs that's why I suggested it. Plus I think knowing would help me to decide what to make, but again, that's just me. I'm terrible and machine wash next to everything. Even if it says dry clean only, I've been known to run it on a cold wash/ cold rinse and delicate cycle with no ill consequences. However in the case of the floor length cape, I'd def go with the pros as just trying to find a place to let it dry flat would be very inconvenient for our household! I wish I could crochet with some amount of proficiency as I need to get out of my knitting rut and start stash-busting!