Comments on: Old Collectibles

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:35:28 +0000

Sherri – I collect old sock blockers. I currently have around 20. I LOVE them for all of the same reasons that you do. It’s so tough to find good history on them though. I love when you post about your collection! Once and a while, I will even use the old ones for blocking my knit socks if my plastic ones are all in use (around fair time when I’m reblocking many pairs) or when my plastic ones are not quite the right size or shape. I hope to write a post dedicated to my collection on my blog at some point when I have time to do all of those photos. When I do, I’ll let you know in case you want to see!

By: Ruth

Ruth — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:37:48 +0000

I can never pass up antique knitting tools. They just have so much character. I’ve bought 3 weasels but passed 2 of them on to friends who I thought needed them, too. They were all different. I also have a single long sock blocker like yours, only mine doesn’t have holes and is a size 11…huge! It has the name “Walkerton” pressed into the wood below the size.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:21:11 +0000

I do not have a collection of old sock blockers yet but I will be keeping an eye out for them when I head out. I have admired yours for a couple of years. I have not seen any in the shops I have been in so far, but I will keep looking.

By: Marti

Marti — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:26:28 +0000

I, too, collect the antique sewing accessories, including the darning eggs, but my main collection is of antique sewing machines, both handcrank & treadle machines, all of which I use. They have such perfect stitching, and are so practical for quilting and basic sewing that I have no use for the overpriced, computerized machines now being sold. The “youngest” sewing machine I own is a 1975 Kenmore with very few different stitches; its been a workhorse for me, but I also delight in using the many treadles I have whose dates range from 1885 to 1930. Only problem is that they take up a lot more space than does my enormous yarn stash!

By: Lisa Soderman

Lisa Soderman — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:16:18 +0000

I love old crochet hooks and knitting needles! Thanks for sharing your treasures Sheri!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:12:14 +0000

I really do not collect anything old that involves knitting, but I do have a darning egg. It belonged to my mother and I used it as a child to darn my father’s socks. It is round with a handle and has a silver hoop that goes around the area to hold it tight. It was fun to darn the socks, although I probably did not feel that way then.

By: Christienne

Christienne — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:14:55 +0000

I’m admiring the darning egg collection – but I have to confess, I haven’t the slightest clue how to darn a sock – I still haven’t actually knitted my own sock yet. . . There’s always this year! Keep up the great work with these awesome tidbits of history and collecting.

By: Seanna Lea

Seanna Lea — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:26:46 +0000

I don’t have any old collectibles, and I haven’t darned any socks yet. Not that some don’t need it, but I just haven’t done it. Makes me feel like a bad sock knitter!

By: Hannah

Hannah — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:15:49 +0000

I have my mother-in-law’s small hand crank sewing machine that she actually used to sew dresses with. I wish I had other items, but I do not. I truly love your darning egg collection. Just beautiful.

By: Carol Kamin

Carol Kamin — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:47:09 +0000

My daughter sent me some wooden instruments that were used to create a center pull ball of yarn before there were ball winders. It’s called a nøstepinde and Knitty Daily had an article about them in mid-December.