Recent fibrearcheology finds

I am enchanted by this crocheted shawl or possibly bed jacket discovered at a flea market on the weekend.  The woman selling it did not have a history for it but a passerby suggested it was Irish.

It is definitely old and in wonderful condition.  All cotton, I would think.

There is a special attraction in this piece:  more than thirty years ago I began to crochet what was to be a door hanging consisting of thirty-two squares in ivory cotton with bobbles and spaces and tight flat sections. Hours of work in each one which would then all be joined together.  It was a challenge and I loved it.

Then our second Baby arrived and we bought our first home and  I started  writing a newspaper column;  the door hanging did not get finished.  But the memory is in my hands and in my mind and the capelet reminds me of it.  Perhaps someone 'rescued'  the pieces I had done.

Nothing has been done to the capelet  yet;  the final thread is still hanging and not woven in.  I am a bit nervous about washing it,  for the discolouration possibility but it is cotton and could then be bleached or dyed. 

I have draped it around my shoulders several times.  It makes me smile.

These ties were at a small Christmas bazaar a few weeks back and I glanced at them in a bit of a pile off to the side as I headed toward other things.

Later I went back.  Be still my heart!  I imagine these were all  from one person's wardrobe. They are exquisite and I got my very first cashmere tie.

There was some moth damage in one or two of them and the whole lot got put into the freezer for several days.  They are clean and had not been left in a tied state. 

There were 17 of them and the asking price was 25 cents each.  In that weird way that one does (surely it is not just me!)  I counted out 16 because that made the amount come out equal to $4.  Then, after I had paid, and looked at the last tie hanging all by itself in the corner -  in that weird way … etc,  I went and got it.

Not sure what will be done with them.  They are hanging where I see them often and admire them.

Interestingly…. the next week at the local church thrift shop,  I bought this sweater  because I liked the pattern,  it is pure wool,  I can felt it and make the cuffs and sleeves into a pair of mitts and the body into a hat.

It was only when I got it home and had washed it did I suddenly think,  "Say ….. haven't I seen this pattern somewhere before…..?"