I knew the promise of shiny things would finally get Miss Brittany to let me take her photo with my handspun hat. This is a knit and felt hat that will be featured in my hat book. It turned out just the way I wanted.

Don't you just love that "I'm going to get you for this" expression?

:-)

BTW, her hair is wet because I grabbed her as soon as she got out of the bath.

Finally hat-wise a closeup of the lovely not-fuzzy, slightly loopy texture that I love when you full a well twisted 3 ply wool (It works with commercial wool too!)

But wait, there's more!

Speaking of shiny things, look what I found at the local op shop.

A hand operated Singer sewing machine from 1925 in perfect working order. For $95. Not only could I not believe the price, I also couldn't believe that no-one else bought it!

I left this machine in the shop for four months, thinking I shouldn't buy it. We are literally surrounded by antique shops here in Wollongong and in those four months not a single dealer snapped it up! This made me think it must be destined for me so I went back to buy it a week later and found this right next to it on the shelf:

An electric Singer machine from 1949-1951. I bought this for $49. Yes, people sell them on ebay for $400 and this one was sitting on the shelf, with $49 on the price tag. The shop even guaranteed the electrics for 21 days. I asked my electrically inclined brother and father on the weekend if the wiring was safe to use and they told me it's perfect. I'm not sure if I could get used to a knee operated machine though, as I'm 6ft tall and my knees aren't in the same position as the average height woman of 1951.

Both machines also have their cases, and the electric machine has a little extension bed that fits on the end, plus the lever that you operate with your knee and the cord and everything. Plus a little lamp at the back that you can switch on separately. I found a manual at the Kiama antiques fair last weekend too, so I know where to oil it if I decide to use it. I need to find a manual for the 1925 machine as well.

Now everybody repeat after me: Sarah is not going to start collecting vintage sewing machines. Sarah only collects patterns and very small vintage needlework tools. And new tools. And yarn. And books. And fibre.

Hmmm, I know where I can get a really gorgeous WW2 vintage machine with total art deco styling for $65 (or was that $365? I can't remember)

Uhoh.