Perhaps I’m making a huge assumption here but old people tend to horde stuff. Perhaps its because times were hard and they never liked to throw things away in case it was needed again one day. My parents had a loft full of age old paperwork, card board boxes, old toaster and kettles, jars in all shapes and sizes, you name it and it was probably up there.
However, once in a while you come across some gems. Last week we were looking for my Mum and Dad’s wedding album and during our search we came across some part knitted gloves that my Mum probably start at least 30 years ago. The knitting pattern is from the 1960’s and wool is a bright multicoloured pink/purple combination. I asked whether I could take it all back home and finish them as I know with her arthritic fingers she will not. I hadn’t knitted gloves before but they soon came together and I am planning to give them back to my mum. A bonus is that there is enough wool to knit another pair for me!
Over the last year or so I have rescued fabric and wool found at my Mum’s, put to one side for charity. A bright floral blue stiff cotton fabric is one of my favourites. It was probably bought by my mum in the 1970’s and has sat in her cupboard since. I make a fitted sleeveless top and A-line skirt which was my take on 70’s style. Next to be pilfered from the pile was a few balls of very soft snuggly wool which I knit into a snood to go with my winter coat. Another firm favourite is a length of floral needlecord which I made into a short pencil skirt to wear with boots and a jumper in the winter.
We are still looking for the wedding album so I could get lucky and find more fabric gems – fingers crossed.
Terri
Jay Dog Designs 