Friday, December 7, 2012

Loose change buys a lot at the opportunity shop



Sometimes it pays to look through three boxes of awful 1980s and '90s patterns at the op shop because you come across these for 20 cents each.


This one is my favourite. I love the drapey bit at the side. I also like that the woman in the middle looks like she's gazing lovingly at the woman on the right and holding onto her dress.

26 comments:

  1. Nice finds! I love finding patterns at op shops. It's the first section I head to. My sister is here next week and we are going to do an op shopping day. I can't wait!!!

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    1. Me too, although there isn't often very good patterns in the op shops here. I hope you find lots of awesome things when you go op shopping with your sister.

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  2. Op shops are so ridden with 80s patterns, it's like "shoulder pads, oversized, oversized, enourmous pants" etc. Never do I find anything this good, I'm so jealous right now.

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    1. I know, so many terrible fashions. I don't usually find anything this good either.

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  3. There's always a dearth of huge shouldered jackets and leisure suit patterns, aren't there? Your persistence paid off, there's some beauties there! x

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  4. wow!! what a find! I love those simple shift dresses!

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  5. Fabulous patterns, and at bargain prices - perfect! I just love the illustrations, I really like the dress you picked out as your favourite. xxx

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    1. Yes, I thought the lady was going to say they were $1 each or something. I couldn't believe it when she said 20 cents.

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  6. Pattern lady obviously has a crush on that other pattern lady!
    And what a find! I too have trawled through boxes of hideous patterns, but have never struck gold as you have done!

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    1. Definitely. Those two pattern ladies would be super cute together. I usually don't get anything good although I always look through the patterns. I must have got lucky.

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  7. I remember these from my childhood! And those kids' knitting patterns with very weird looking babies and toddlers in ridiculous knitted outfits! In fact, I had to wear those outfits!! xCathy

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    1. Oh yes, I find those ugly kids' knitting patterns a lot. They are hilarious.

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  8. Were you at the Sallies in Papanui?! If so, I think I beat you to the best ones...that lovely one,with the side gather,I left behind as I was feeling guilty about buying such amazing patterns that weren't my size! I planned on showing you what I got,I suspect there's a couple up your alley.X

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    1. Yes! That's so funny that you left that one behind and then I picked it up. It's not actually my size either, but I'll grade it.

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  9. I'm so jealous that you are able to find patterns. I never find patterns at thrift stores here in the U.S. I just returned from 7 weeks in the UK and came home with about 8 vintage patterns. I found more but was limiting how much I had to carry back. I love your active imagination as it applies to the women in the side-draped dresses :)

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    1. I hardly ever find good ones here either. I thought US thrift stores were really good for patterns. Maybe it depends where you are. Ha, yeah, I do have an active imagination.

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  10. Oh wow what a haul! I've never come across anything like this in the opshops here (although opshops here seem to be either junk or overpriced clothing XP). The dress with the waist gathers-the book I'm scanning at the moment has pattern-making instructions for that style-I'll put it up once I've figured out it's copyright status.

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    1. I don't usually come across good patterns like this either, although we have pretty good op shops here. That sounds great. I think they're actually pleats as opposed to gathers in the pattern.

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  11. 20 cents?!?! WHAT? So much better than the HOURS I spend drafting my own patterns!

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    1. I know! I actually gave her $2 for the whole lot because I felt kind of bad that they were so cheap.

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  12. This is the most exciting patterns find I've ever seen!They are so rare to score here, I think you come across a real treasure and that you are going to make a lot of great dresses so everyone could gaze at you with love and awe!

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  13. Love these patterns, they are super!! I love when I find something like this when I had to dig through terrible ones to find it, makes it even better :) x

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  14. I love your finds, my dearest friend.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  15. Such fabulous finds, I can't wait to see some of the frocks when you make them. It's great when you come across a stash like that isn't it? xx

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