hidden treasures

Friday, April 25, 2008

I would love to be showing you something I have finished knitting, but the truth is, I have nothing.  I did take the sleeves of Ruby to Florida with me, and did finish one.  The other sleeve will hopefully be finished this weekend.  For some reason, I just haven't been knitting my usual 2-3 hours a day.  Maybe this summertime weather has something to do with it.  I found some newfound energy lurking within, motivating me to get some things accomplished around here. And our evenings have been long and slow enjoying a lot of time outside.

So, instead of something I have made, I would love to show you something my mother made, in 1967.
Yep, ever since I can remember, I have heard the clicking of my mothers knitting needles.  She gave me this issue of  fall/winter '67 Vogue Knitting a while ago. 
It in itself is a treasure. I really love these sketches,  showing you a few variations of how the dress on the cover could be made.
When my mother showed me this and asked me if I wanted it, you know my response!   And can you imagine, 20oo beads and 2000 palliates.  
I never saw her wear it. She said she wore it a few times to cocktail parties.  Oh, how I would love to have a photo of her in the dress, at a party.  I can only imagine how cute she must have looked.  Too bad she said she didn't make those matching earrings!
It probably won't get worn anytime soon, but I certainly won't part with it. 
I will be back to knitting, cookies and regular blog reading next week. 
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Ha.  I just looked closely at the photo.  I am wearing the dress backwards!!!  Oh well, you get the point.  

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73 comments

  1. That is soo cool! I wish my mom kept her clothes so I could have something fun to play with!

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  2. Anonymous4/25/2008

    omg....that dress is really cute. cocktail parties galore in that one. i didn't get any old issues of vogue but i can certainly leave some for any future daughters.

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  3. Anonymous4/25/2008

    What a treasure that dress is! It reminds me to hang on to some odds and ends like this for my (future) children.

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  4. That is absolutely amazing!! And you look great in it. I can't imagine how much work went into it.

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  5. this is absolutely the coolest! I'm so glad our mother's hang on to these kinds things and then pass them on to us...
    happy weekend!

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  6. Anonymous4/25/2008

    This is fabulous! My grandmother had an amazing collection of clothes from the 1940s ad 50s, but unfortunately when she died nobody realised that I coveted them!

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  7. Wow, a real treasure!

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  8. What a cool story. My mom used to sew and made alot of dresses and skirts in the 70s. I never picked up sewing because I dove straight into knitting and cannot imagine having another craft obsession. I would have loved to own all of my mom's handmade stuff but she was alot more petite than me in her younger days. Bummer.

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  9. Wow, that is really neat! What a find!

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  10. Oh my word, that dress is GORGEOUS! And a family heirloom now. Fabulous! you are quite fortunate. Enjoy it.

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  11. Anonymous4/25/2008

    looks like it was made just for you. great fit and very pretty. what a treasure!

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  12. It is the very definition of fabulous!! I'm sure your mom rocked it out.

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  13. That is a fabulous dress! I can only imagine all the work that went into it.

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  14. What a wonderful treasure to hand from mother to daughter! I bet your mom was so hip and hot at those parties. I'm with you on the lack of pictures.

    Enjoy your legacy of handmade elegance!

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  15. Wow it fits wonderfully....I think you need to host a cocktail party so you can wear it girl! Either that or pair it with some cool green shoes and rock the grocery store!!

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  16. both the magazine and the dress are treasures. how lucky for you to have both of them. that dress looks great on you! such a cute pose that you struck, too. ;)

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  17. HOW COOL! Does she have anymore hidden knitting treasures in her stash?

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  18. You must have a stylish mom! What a fun dress, and such a masterpiece! The effort! It is stunning!

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  19. that is so cool that your mother made that! a treasure!

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  20. That's amazing--that she knit it, kept it, and gave it to you at a time when it's totally in style again. If I thought I could possibly tolerate all those beads and paillettes, I'd be tempted to knit it myself.

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  21. Anonymous4/25/2008

    That is way too cool! Now you know that all the handmade things you're making now will be worth something to your kids in future. I have to say you have your moms' crafty and stylish genes!!!

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  22. Anonymous4/25/2008

    That is incredible! I once knit a tank top covered in paillettes circa 1984. It was not fun. Your mom must be an unbelievably patient knitter. How fun that you have these treasures!

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  23. The dress is divine! Your mother did a wonderful job with it, and what a clever woman to hold onto it. Lucky you!

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  24. How great, thanks for sharing with us. And I just noticed your new banner, it's lovely.

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  25. that dress is hot! look at you! please say you will wear it. please.

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  26. Anonymous4/25/2008

    I've saved all my old knits too.What a treasure this dress is-very cool...

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  27. Anonymous4/25/2008

    That dress is so cool! I know what you mean - I don't feel like I've been knitting that much either. I wish I were.

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  28. That dress is amazing! Soooo cool! It fits you perfectly. Your mom must be an amazing knitter.

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  29. Wow -- way cool dress! My mom crocheted a bag once...

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  30. Anonymous4/25/2008

    It's too gosh darn nice outside to be knitting! I am trying to but can't get any knitting done.

    That dress is amazing! How wonderful that your mother saved it and passed it on. What a treasure!

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  31. ooh, it's a treasure indeed. How cool that she kept it and you can fit into it :)

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  32. That dress, oh that dress! It is fantastic!!! You must wear it if only to run to the store for cookie supplies!!

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  33. Oh my! What a fab dress! You have to wear it out! It looks like it was made just for you!!!

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  34. Anonymous4/26/2008

    this is soooooooo gorgeous!!!

    And so modern and vintage and just unbelievable.

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  35. Leslie I am BEGGING you to wear that dress to church, puh-leeze!!

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  36. That is fantastic! I love that she saved the magazine too. Check out my blog as I scored a little time machine of old knitting magazines yesterday.

    On your previous post I was in awe of your ability to knit on the beach. I always worry about sunscreen ruining my project. What do you knit on the beach? I'd love to find the perfect projects for summer sun fun.

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  37. OMG

    what a dress!

    Pretty cool that your mom made that. All that beaded detail! She did an awesome job. I bet she was too cool in that dress!

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  38. Wow, that dress is fantastic! I can't believe she made that. I'm totally impressed. It's such a statement piece--worn at the right place and the right time, it will continue to be a hit.

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  39. That is such an incredible treasure! And definitely an added bonus that it fits you perfectly.
    I have the cardigan that my mom knitted my father when they were dating in high school. She actually made them matching cardigans. How cute. ;)

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  40. That is an amazing dress, and it doesn't look like it's on backwards!! What an heirloom - you must never get rid of it!
    Have a super weekend.
    :)

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  41. Oh my God! I love that dress -- I think it would be perfect for any office Christmas party -- it's gorgeous!! During the first year of her marriage, my mother knit her mother-in-law a three piece suit -- on 3 needles!! I would die to have it.

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  42. Anonymous4/26/2008

    Love the dress! Unfortunately, my Mom is not a crafty woman (can you believe-she rarely sews a button on!) I do, however, have several infant dresses my Great-grandmother hand made (including hand made lace) for my Grandfather. I wore the dresses-as did my girls. I have packed them away--along with the smocked dresses I made, for my grandchildren.
    BTW--I rather like the dress backwards!

    Rene'

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  43. What a fantastic dress. It's even more amazing that your mom made it and held on to it. Definitely a treasure.

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  44. Wow, that is a treasure! I can imagine how fabulous your mother must have looked in it back in the day!

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  45. Leslie - there really is nothing left to say. That dress is incredible and it looks fantastic on you. Hopefully some day when digging through family photos you'll find a picture of your mom wearing it as well! g

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  46. Wow!! What a great momento to go along with great memories!

    Happy knitting-
    ali

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  47. O.M.G. That is AMAZING, you had better wear it Leslie, it is so incredible! You are absolutely right, the Vogue in and of itself is a treasure, let alone the dress! Perhaps you should make the matching earings (?!)...
    xoxo,
    Sabrina

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  48. backwards forwards and upside down, it is a stunning masterpiece! your mom is amazing!

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  49. Anonymous4/26/2008

    How I wish I also had some of Mother's knitted garments. Wow, also wish I had paid more attention back (way back) then! You are so fortunate, and wise, girl!

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  50. Anonymous4/26/2008

    Well I like it backwards! Your mum must be one hip chick!

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  51. That's soo cool to be handed down...

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  52. WOW!! How fantastic. My mother was also a big knitter but nothing quite so glam. She did sew some gorgeous dresses throughout her life and I have occasionally worn them too. Isn't the magazine wonderful. The dress looks great on you. Maybe do another one without all the sparkly bits - would look great with pair of boots!

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  53. Anonymous4/26/2008

    The dress is beautiful! You must be so glad that your Mom kept it. Little did she know she was knitting it for her daughter as well as hersel because it fits you beautifully. Never, never, never get rid of it!
    Thanks for sharing. It reminds us not to be so quick to get rid of our homemade items!

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  54. Anonymous4/27/2008

    What a cool dress!
    And I don't think you're wearing it backwards - the model in the lower left seems to be wearing it that way too!

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  55. WOW!!!

    seriously, what else can I say?

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  56. That is awesome!

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  57. Backwards *or* forwards, what a treasure!!!

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  58. Wow... what a fabulous dress!

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  59. Anonymous4/28/2008

    i think most people slow down with their knitting at this time of year. i know i have. there's just too many other things to take care of like the yard. and for me getting ready for dyeing. your knitting will pick up again. in the meantime your mother and this dress are amazing!

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  60. Anonymous4/28/2008

    Wow...forty years later and that dress is still hot! You SO have to wear it somewhere...it looks FAB on you!

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  61. Wow!! That dress is something else :)
    Oh, I wish I had kept all of the things my grand-mother knit for me...

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  62. That dress is awesome and I want to make it! I'll have to look on ebay for a copy of the mag so I can! Thank you for sharing this treasure with us!

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  63. OH MY GOSH, that is absolutely amazing, such a treasure and looks so funky and cool on you, you must wear it!! Your mother was quite the knitting fashionista.

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  64. What a delightful dress :)

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  65. Whoa - that is all way too cool for words: even just having the magazine/pattern would have been awesome. But then having made the dress, worn it - and it fits you, too (like a dream, of course!)? That is all just incredible!

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  66. I love your new blog header. Great colors! As for the dress, wow. Just Wow! Can't wait to see some more of your FOs.

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  67. Wow! That is definitely a knitterly showpiece!

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  68. Wow, that is so awesome! I can't believe your mom had the patience to knit this. And how fun that she still has it--and you can wear it!

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  69. They just don't make them like they used to, do they?

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  70. Oh that is fabulous!!! My mom was the same way. :)

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  71. oh my god, that is so AWESOME. i'm totally drooling over it.

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  72. What a fabulous dress! I can see Barbie wearing something like it to a cocktail party. You look absolutely adorable in it...even if you are wearing it backwards.

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