Hi everyone! Not too long ago, I picked up a bag of vintage sewing notions at an estate sale for two bucks. I thought today I’d share the contents with you. How does that sound?
I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time resisting almost anything in a bag or a box priced at a buck or two. Do you have the same problem? I love to get it home and paw through the contents, just waiting to discover a treasure or two. In this case, a sterling thimble, for example, or perhaps an unusual darner would have made my day.
Yeah, didn’t really happen this time. The bag contained some nice enough items, but nothing that I’d call a “treasure.” However, I will certainly make some money off of the contents of the bag.
Probably the most valuable item was this cube of German straight pins with glass heads (value: $10-15.00).
I’m not familiar with “toilet pins” are you? Could they have something to do with a woman’s cycle? Do tell. Available.
As interesting as I find darners, they do not command much at retail, particularly relatively plain, worn ones like this little blue guy (value: $5-6.00). Those with Sterling handles can cost upwards of $50-100.
These wood-handled tools are used for tracing patterns on fabric (top) and leather (bottom). The seamstress would place a piece of carbon paper between the pattern and fabric, then use this tool to “follow the lines” and print the pattern onto the material. Clever, right? (value:$5-10.00 each) Available
The red measuring gauge–a Dritz Tailor-ette (top)–helps a seamstess hem skirts and dresses. The metal bracket on the far left holds a piece of chalk. I remember Sealtest from when I was a girl, do you? This plastic contraption has nothing to do with sewing(!), but rather would be carried by a Sealtest salesperson to help him/her calculate the cost of various merchandise. Below lie two of the tiniest crochet hooks I’ve ever seen, in sizes 10 and 12. None of these is very valuable, well under $5.00 each I should think. The Sealtest piece may be worth $5.00 to an advertising or ice cream collector.
I haven’t quite figured out how this (West German) Sewing Witch needle threader works, but I find it fascinating, nonetheless (value: $8-12.00). Available
If this card of snaps were in better shape, I’d frame it for next year’s craft fair, but I fear it’s a bit too dilapidated and certainly isn’t worth much, if anything, on its own, despite the wonderful graphics.
So sad that this label is ripped–isn’t the font great? Quite a few yards of gorgeous twill tape remain on the roll, though, and I’ll be happily using it on some project or other. That’s it for me, friends. What vintage goodies have you found lately?
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I’m with you Diana. I picked up a bag of sewing notions at an estate sale for $2, & couldn’t wait to get home & take out each piece. While nothing was valuable, I made several sales from it. And then there are the times I pick up other “goodie” bags & wish I had looked at it more closely.
I’ve never heard of “toilet pins” either. Agree with your opinions on the other items. Pinned.
Gosh Diana, I remember my grandmother having the cube of pins…I don’t know what she used them for, other than she was a seamstress and sewed for people. I know real glass head pins are special, because today’s fall off so easy. Great stash—I would be tempted to display them in an old sewing basket/tin and keep the lot! lol. Sandi
I think “toilet pins” were kept on a lady’s vanity as a part of her “toiletries”, the things she needed to get ready for the day. I have also heard of perfume being called “toilet water”. None of these things have anything to do with an actual toilet as we know it today. The pins would have been used for her clothing and hats.
You’re exactly right. These would have been kept on the lady’s vanity to fasten bits of fabric, veils, collars, and such, long before buttons were so widely available. Nuns who wore black habits used them frequently even in my lifetime to fasten complicated layers of clothing “Mourning Pins” are very similar. They have black glass heads but no shine.
Still great finds! Especially if you paid $1-2 for this baggie – should be a nice profit!
I love all of your finds…and the pretty graphics…especially the pin block!
I was just thinking the other day where you could find a darner. And there you have one in a beautiful blue. I only ever remember seeing them in plain wood. I would have grabbed it in a minute!
I remember the needle threader , the exact packaging. Will have to go look thru my mothers sewing tins again and see if its there. Seems like I have even used it before. Love sewing notions and buttons, etc and I don’t even sew!
I love old sewing notions and always keep a look out for them while thrifting!
Karee
Love all your sewing notions Diana. Right now, I don’t have any little scissors I want to frame, but love the idea, and the vintage letter is a perfect background. Thanks for sharing that. I do have quite a collection of sock darners and you have given me something to consider for a way to display them. You posts are always so interesting.
Hugs,
Audrey Z.
I. LOVE. VINTAGE. SEWING. SUPPLIES. I find them frequently in my thrifting.
I know how to use the needle threader, and I hope I can explain it. The needle is placed in the tube with, I believe, the hole at the top. Then, place the middle of an 18-inch length of thread (or the length that one would use to do some hand sewing) in the groove along side the tube. Then, press the lever. It will push the thread through, and you will see a loop. (You may have to push the lever a couple of times to get this to happen.) Pull on the loop so an inch or so is visible. Then, pull one side of the loop. You may have to hold the other end of the thread so that one end will freely move and the other won’t. Pull that one side all the way through so the end comes out. I don’t remember how to remove the needle, but turning it upside-down will do the trick. There! Your needle is threaded and ready to sew. It’s no wonder you were confused. That picture certainly doesn’t help, because it doesn’t show any of the steps! It’s a good graphic, though. LOL These items are still sold to this day.
I don’t sew but am obsessed with sewing notions. Love the ones you found!
I love old sewing items, too, Diana. Probably because my grandmother taught me to sew and she sewed most of the clothing that my brother and sister and I wore when we were children. For instance, I can’t get enough of the old wooden thread spools. I haven’t figured out what exactly to do with them yet. I bought a whole shoe box full of all different sizes, all empty and of various colors. A bunch of red ones and green ones that I wanted to use for some sort of holiday decor, but just couldn’t come up with an idea. Maybe next year.
You garnered some interesting items from your bag, though. The “toilet” pins are a puzzle to me, too. Except didn’t the word “toilet” used to be used to describe a lady’s bathing and beauty routine? I wonder if the toilet pins are being used in that capacity on the item. Still not sure how the straight pins would be used with that meaning. If they were safety pins I might imagine they would help hold some undergarment together or something like that. But not with straight pins—ouch! Let us know if you do any research on “toilet pins” and discover their use!
You have some great finds there. Found this info: Traditional Toilet Pins are Spanish-made, strong and quite beautiful! Originally used before buttons were commonplace as all-purpose fastener, now these extra-long pins are wonderful for pinning together very thick fabrics, like heavy curtains.
I have bags of stuff like that I have yet to go through! I do love a good bag of treasures though. You found some interesting things. Toilet pins? No idea!
Diana, I love the color on the darner. Toilet pins – Before the button became commonplace, many clothes were pinned together and a lady would have pins on her dressing table. The toilet pins come from and era when one would need pins for hats, corsage,etc. Thanks for sharing.
OMG! I had all of those items at one time (had been my grandmothers) but a couple years ago was thinning out stuff and donated them (plus much more). Never thought of them having any value.
I am a sucker for vintage sewing notions! I have never heard of those pins either. Vintage sewing items have some of the most fun graphics! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann