I go to thrift stores ALL THE TIME. And although I have been doing this since 1968, these days I claim it is physical therapy. And it is true. In the last six years I have had four major joints replaced: two knees, a hip, and a shoulder. For the knees and hips I need to get out and walk every day. The easiest way for me to do this is while holding on to a shopping cart. The cart gives me safety and lets me walk with a good upright posture. I have no idea why walkers require you to bend over. And don't tell me I have set the walkers to the wrong height, because two different physical therapists set it the way they thought was right.
So to get in a good walk, I just go to a giant grocery store, hardware store, or thrift store. I only need a hardware run about once a month, and the big grocery store maybe twice. But there are many big thrift stores around here and they restock with unusual
I have really slowed down on buying stuff as I try to declutter my house (thanks for the inspiration, Marie Kondo). But vintage sewing goodies will always tempt me.
Hence my purchase of "Deluxe Clover Portable Dressmaking Utensils".
I spent years hoping to find buttonhole cutters and finally put them on my Amazon wish list. And this year for Christmas I got one with a replaceable blade. Havels Ultra Pro II Seam Ripper and Buttonhole Cutter. As always, link provided for your interest only, I get no kick-back from Amazon.
So of course about a month later I found this dressmaking kit which included two buttonhole cutters. This is one of the immutable laws of the universe.
15 mm
and 9 mm
and this piece was originally a mystery to me, but as I searched Amazon for my Havel cutter so that I could provide you with the link, I discovered what it is!
It's a keyhole and/or eyelet cutter.
The eyelet cutter had occurred to me, but it does not feel very sharp. And I still don't understand the slot on the side. Unless it for those time when you need to cut 30 eyelet holes at a time and as they stack themselves in there and push their way down, you can pull the cut circles out of that slot.
Leave a comment below if you can enlighten me!
There is also a nice sharp awl. I probably have half a dozen awls already.
And a pattern marker. Have a bunch of those too.
A ring shaped thimble. Don't think I have one this shape among the dozens I do have.
And a metric tape measure a meter and a half long.
This was only ridiculous as a purchase because of the price. And it my rule not to post prices of anything here on the blog. I occasionally break this rule with Amazon stuff just to give you a heads up on whether you want to click and check it out or not bother. (That Havel cutter set is a bit under $15 at the time I wrote this).
And in case you are wondering if I will use this stuff or merely hoard it, let me assure you that I will proudly hoard it. And use my brand new Havel cutter with the replaceable blade.
But if I ever decide to go to a dressmaking workshop and up my skills, I will take these with me. To show how classy I am (pause for laughter).
Although I bought this at a thrift shop, it is an unusual thrift shop staffed by lots of hipsters who know a thing or two about cool vintage stuff and price it accordingly. (Scrap Exchange, Durham NC. Technically a "creative reuse arts center.) So it cost about 10x what it would have cost in a regular thrift store.
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What have you over-paid for recently? Feel free to share your shame below, with or without prices!
