Oct 21st, 2009
Thrift stores FTW!
Look what I found a few days ago. Yes, that’s right: it’s a bag full of circular needles, all for under two bucks. I could hardly believe my luck when I spied this (sitting n the store’s toy section, of all places) and could hardly wait to get home and inventory its contents.
The total haul: thirty-nine needles. There are 16″, 24″, and 32″ needles in pretty much every size from 1 to 10.5, with an occasional one missing in the middle and the added bonus of two 10.75 needles and a couple of 11s. The measurements are marked only in millimeters (not in U.S. sizes), and only one has a brand name on it: Takumi. Since it looks identical to the other needles (e.g., join, cable, needle), I’m guessing they’re all that brand.
I bet there’s a story behind this bag, but I can only guess at what it might be. My hunch is that these needles were donated by the relatives of a deceased knitter. But maybe that’s not it. Maybe the previous owner (still alive) just decided to abandon knitting after finding a new, exciting hobby (gardening! skydiving! dog sledding!) that now takes up all of his or her time and attention. Or perhaps this person has upgraded to a complete set of Addis or similarly fancy needles.
Me, I’m very grateful for have found this. Before, there were many, many gaps in my needle collection. Now, I feel well equipped for any project! (Well, aside from appropriate yarn, of course…)
Believe it or not, though, the bag o’ needles wasn’t the Big Find of the Day. Not according to Sylvia, at least. The moment she spied this dragon costume, we both knew it was perfect for her. (I don’t really need to explain why, do I? I mean, it’s a DRAGON. Pretty self-explanatory.) It’s too big for her, so the hood/head keeps falling over her face. But she’s still pretty darn happy to wear it!
Great finds!
Is Sylvia changing her mind about her costume this year?
Wow! Super cool. This puts me in a state of mudita.
;-)
Love the thrift store! Super find.
Wow. Best. Thrift. Day. Evah.
wow! That’s such a great bargain that I’m a little lightheaded.
That is an AWESOME thrift store find!!!! Those needles go for at least 6 bucks a piece! Woo Hoo. The dragon costume is so adorable too.
Wow! What great finds!
Thank you for teaching me the word “mudita”, Imperiatrix. :-)
I know all of those enthusiastic comments are mostly about the costume, right? :) Truly, I wish there was a grown-up size on the rack next to it, ’cause I SO would have bought it.
@Katie: No costume changes this year. Sylvia’s still planning to be Kiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiki%27s_delivery_service). She informed me the other day that I have to dress up as Jiji. Hmmm.
No problem, Rob. I admit, I love the word schadenfreude and try to use it whenever I can. But it’s only fair to then also use its opposite as much as possible too!
And Marsha, although the costume is super-cool, I am pretty amazed by your circular find. :-)
Ohmygosh! Wonderful dragon!!!
And that needle collection…wow. Now you can have 39 works in progress going at once! (er…maybe not)
@Shannah: Don’t tempt me! :)
I don’t know which is MORE EXCELLENT. But $1.97 for all those needles is CRAZY AWESOME.