Being a child of the 1940s, I took care of every little thing I owned, which wasn't much by the way. I keep telling myself that is why I have such a hard time throwing anything away. I have been going through stuff in the attic to prepare for the garage sale. Here is something no one is going to want to buy. I started it for my daughter in 1972 on our very first vacation on a trip to Montana.
Are you old enough to remember the word "Orlon" along with acrylic fiber? This was THE favorite yarn of the 1970s. By the way, my youngest grandchild is older than my daughter was when I started the sweater, so no, it won't get finished. Are you laughing yet?
We bought our very first house after 11 years of marriage in 1972. This is the bedspread that I made for my daughter's very pink bedroom.
Like the old fashioned bedspreads, it has a quilted part that covers the top of the mattress and fabric gathered on the sides hanging to the floor. You can't see it here but it has a row of eyelet with ribbon woven through it at the bottom. It is dotted swiss fabric, with the dots starting to disappear. No one is going to want this either! What should I do with this stuff?
Oh, and I won't even take a picture of the last one, a quilt I made for my parents in 1974 when they moved to WI. It is faded and falling apart, and wasn't made well either. Does someone need a quilt to wrap around their refrigerator when they move?
I have a baby sweater I started for my son--who is now 28, and I think out of similar yarn, so you are not alone. Maybe someone will finish it for you! One thing my DIL suggested for my garage sale unsold shirts and towels, etc. is that the local animal shelter would love to have them for bedding. You might check with yours for things that are left after your sale. Hope your sale goes well!
you should have seen the first quilt I made back in 1975 - talk about poorly made - somehow one of my brothers got his hands on it and has kept it all these years - he calls it my humility quilt to remind me that I wasn't always a good quilter :) you have come a long, long way in quilting haven't you!! Karen http://karensquilting.com/blog/
LOL on the orlon yarn. Did that too! We moved 6 years ago....and I did a clean sweep of lots of "stuff"...any charity I could find. Good luck with the sale.
Haha! I remember that yarn, too! So funny. Recently I cleaned out some of my old stuff and advertised it for free on craigs list. It was all gone in 2 days. Good luck!
I don't have things like that because, well, I don't have an attic for storage and we have moved so much that I've had to get rid of things. It is amusing to look back at though.
I've been reading your blog for a long time! Can't resist commenting today. You may be surprised by what people will buy! My MIL's line was "You can sell anything if you price it right!" In the case of a quilt that's falling apart, the right price might be found in the FREE box at the end of your driveway. :-) I buy the orlon, sayelle, and my favorite, 100% virgin acrylic yarns all the time. I make charity blankets with them! I get a kick out of reading their vintage labels.
Hi Wanda, Fun stuff. I think you should put a really cheap price on your "don't wants" and you may be surprised that someone will snap them up. If not, then you can donate them to the animal shelter or ... We helped my grandma with her yard sale a few years back, and she let us put prices on her things ("who would want this old stuff?"). Most everything sold. Vicky F
Who would buy your bedspread? I would!! I have just written on my blog about restoring a quilt of much the same style and age. Oh how I wish I lived near you!
I would probably buy the old quilts with my eyes closed :) The pink Dresden plates... lovely! It is a pity that we live so far away :( I would be tha first customer in your garage.
Mybe its my location, but: "Does someone need a quilt to wrap around their refrigerator when they move?" I've never moved a refrigerator - there has always been one in the kitchen of the place that I purchased...
Do you have to move your oven, washer/dryer, etc. too?
My Mother had several things like the 70's quilt and she donated it to a abused woman's shelter. They are always looking for more bedding of all kinds. Old sheets towels and blankets and quilts. They have no budgets for anything like that and they need to replace as they fill up. Treasures we all have are fun to look at. Chris
Take a deep breath and get rid of the stuff. My mother saved everything. As a result, I had to deal with way too much stuff after she was gone. When I must decide whether something goes or stays, I ask myself whether I want to saddle my kids with it. The answer is usually no and then it goes.
The unfinished sweater reminds me that I have 40 brown, and orange granny squares that I crocheted about that same time...mid 70s maybe. I never did much crocheting and have since forgotten how to put them together.
Hi. I am of the same vintage - growing up in the 40s. I started knitting a sweater with cables for my husband 32 years ago. It's still not ready to wear(the sleeves were too long). But my husband never lets me forget it. The pink quilt with the eyelit trim sounds nice. All little girls love that pink, princess style - put a price on it. Someone will want it.
I have a gold and white snowflake patterned sweater that I started for myself in January 1967 during the semester break when I was in college. My grandma helped me pick out the yarns. I'll bet your daughter would like to have her bedspread for old times sake. That old quilt could have alot of live in it for use as a dog bed or like you said, a refrig relocation. Try to sell first, then throw away. Good luck on your sale.
I was going to suggest an animal shelter, too, for the quilt, but others beat me to it. I think you should try selling everything first, though. You never know what people will buy.
The sweater cracks me up--not the workmanship, though. You evidently knit as well as you quilt. It's the colors. They are SO 1970's!
I would be interested in hearing if these items sell.
I have a baby sweater I started for my son--who is now 28, and I think out of similar yarn, so you are not alone. Maybe someone will finish it for you! One thing my DIL suggested for my garage sale unsold shirts and towels, etc. is that the local animal shelter would love to have them for bedding. You might check with yours for things that are left after your sale. Hope your sale goes well!
ReplyDeleteHa ha... I even remember "Sayelle" orlon acrylic yarn. I am sure I crocheted up a lot of that stuff.
ReplyDeleteI have an afghan made from Sayelle yarn that my cousin's Grandmother made for me! It's still in great shape 40ish years later!
ReplyDeleteyou should have seen the first quilt I made back in 1975 - talk about poorly made - somehow one of my brothers got his hands on it and has kept it all these years - he calls it my humility quilt to remind me that I wasn't always a good quilter :)
ReplyDeleteyou have come a long, long way in quilting haven't you!!
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Too funny! I'm afraid to even go in my attic!
ReplyDeleteLOL on the orlon yarn. Did that too! We moved 6 years ago....and I did a clean sweep of lots of "stuff"...any charity I could find. Good luck with the sale.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I remember that yarn, too! So funny. Recently I cleaned out some of my old stuff and advertised it for free on craigs list. It was all gone in 2 days. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI don't have things like that because, well, I don't have an attic for storage and we have moved so much that I've had to get rid of things. It is amusing to look back at though.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your blog for a long time! Can't resist commenting today. You may be surprised by what people will buy! My MIL's line was "You can sell anything if you price it right!" In the case of a quilt that's falling apart, the right price might be found in the FREE box at the end of your driveway. :-) I buy the orlon, sayelle, and my favorite, 100% virgin acrylic yarns all the time. I make charity blankets with them! I get a kick out of reading their vintage labels.
ReplyDeleteHi Wanda,
ReplyDeleteFun stuff.
I think you should put a really cheap price on your "don't wants" and you may be surprised that someone will snap them up.
If not, then you can donate them to the animal shelter or ...
We helped my grandma with her yard sale a few years back, and she let us put prices on her things ("who would want this old stuff?"). Most everything sold.
Vicky F
Hi
ReplyDeleteWho would buy your bedspread? I would!! I have just written on my blog about restoring a quilt of much the same style and age. Oh how I wish I lived near you!
Cheers
Linda
Taupo
New Zealand
I would probably buy the old quilts with my eyes closed :) The pink Dresden plates... lovely! It is a pity that we live so far away :( I would be tha first customer in your garage.
ReplyDeleteMybe its my location, but:
ReplyDelete"Does someone need a quilt to wrap around their refrigerator when they move?"
I've never moved a refrigerator - there has always been one in the kitchen of the place that I purchased...
Do you have to move your oven, washer/dryer, etc. too?
My Mother had several things like the 70's quilt and she donated it to a abused woman's shelter. They are always looking for more bedding of all kinds. Old sheets towels and blankets and quilts. They have no budgets for anything like that and they need to replace as they fill up. Treasures we all have are fun to look at. Chris
ReplyDeleteTake a deep breath and get rid of the stuff. My mother saved everything. As a result, I had to deal with way too much stuff after she was gone. When I must decide whether something goes or stays, I ask myself whether I want to saddle my kids with it. The answer is usually no and then it goes.
ReplyDeleteThe unfinished sweater reminds me that I have 40 brown, and orange granny squares that I crocheted about that same time...mid 70s maybe. I never did much crocheting and have since forgotten how to put them together.
ReplyDeleteWe need to e-mail about the pink quilt/bedspread. I have an idea . . .
ReplyDeleteHi. I am of the same vintage - growing up in the 40s. I started knitting a sweater with cables for my husband 32 years ago. It's still not ready to wear(the sleeves were too long). But my husband never lets me forget it. The pink quilt with the eyelit trim sounds nice. All little girls love that pink, princess style - put a price on it. Someone will want it.
ReplyDeleteI have a gold and white snowflake patterned sweater that I started for myself in January 1967 during the semester break when I was in college. My grandma helped me pick out the yarns.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet your daughter would like to have her bedspread for old times sake.
That old quilt could have alot of live in it for use as a dog bed or like you said, a refrig relocation.
Try to sell first, then throw away.
Good luck on your sale.
I was going to suggest an animal shelter, too, for the quilt, but others beat me to it. I think you should try selling everything first, though. You never know what people will buy.
ReplyDeleteThe sweater cracks me up--not the workmanship, though. You evidently knit as well as you quilt. It's the colors. They are SO 1970's!
I would be interested in hearing if these items sell.
I remember Orlon, and I know someone who would LOVE to get your sweater start and finish it up.. if I were your neighbor, I'd buy it!!
ReplyDelete