Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Vintage Faux Tortoise Knitting Needles

Hello my friends!  How is your week going?  Things are well here, we're having more sunny warm days which makes me happy.  I found my size 7 vintage faux tortoise shell knitting needles that I *love* to knit with - and am over halfway done with my 2nd golden washcloth - as I sent my first one to my daughter Amy as a gift.  I have a *thing* for variegated colored things.  I thought I'd share my collection with you as you may have never seen these needles.  I first saw them on an Australian blog years ago and fell in love right then and there and began a search on eBay to find a set of my very own.  Instead I found a whole collection for a very reasonable price!  I love how there are several different designs on the top.  The big one is called a Beehive design.  I like the ones with the bone inlay.


I stuck all my knitting needles in an old Ball jar with some antique marbles in the bottom to hold the jar from tipping.  My tortoise needles are below.



I usually use the shorter ones as I am not a super knitter, so I stick with wash cloths.  Although, I did knit my most complicated item - the little pink dress for my Maggie Maria Rabbit (from Alicia Paulson's kit collection).


These needles are made of "shellonite", which was registered as a trademark in Australia in 1930 and manufactured artificial amber, horn and resin.  So, almost all of these needles are to be found in Australia and I feel honored to be the owner of this small collection.



If you ever see any in an antique or thrift shop, I recommend that you grab them.  I've never used such a delightful needle.  It's warm to the touch, is flexible and looks FAB in your knit project.  :-)



It's just a joy to knit by the fire while watching TV shows.  Just a head's up - I got this wonderful organic cotton from KnitPicks but they discontinued ALL THE COLORED YARN.. argh!  But you can get this spectacular yarn in unbleached off white and I can attest.. it's the softest, best cotton yarn ever.  If you like off-white.  Luckily I do.  :-)


Do you love the tortoise look of these needles?  No turtles were harmed in the filming of this episode of "The Lady Who Collects Stuff".


I just had to show you my little Narcissus which are bringing happiness to those of us who live in this little old farmhouse.  I need to photograph my garden daffodils which are coming up and we have little white buds on the Snowdrops!


Look at this little old Polaroid photo I came across - it's me after returning from living in Hawaii for 7 months right after I graduated from high school.  If you're wondering why my hands are like that, it's because I was striking a "hula" pose.  I think my bangs needed trimming, you can't see my eyes!


OK, time to pack my swim bag and head off to the pool to swim in the sunshine with Gracie!  What are your plans for the day?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

31 comments:

  1. Awesome photograph Teresa!! How exotic living in Hawaii !!!
    I think I would make a dive for those sort of knitting needles too if I saw them in a market or antique shop. I would certainly like to own them and I don't knit. I collect lace bobbins. It started with the antique ones my mother found in a shop and gave to me and then she left me hers when she passed away too so now I always look out for them. I think it might be a good theme for a post.......that is a thought!!!

    keep well

    Amanda xx

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  2. Love the picture!! And I think I might just have to take up knitting just to get those needles. They're fabulous!

    Shan

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  3. Those are really cool! I've never seen needles like that! How fun! Great pic! Have a nice swim! :-)

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  4. I LoVe that picture of you Teresa. So cute and sassy! :-) I also love your knitting needles. I knit a lot and usually use my knit picks or hiya hiya needles. I have a lot of clover bamboo needles too. I sure like your tortoise shell needles though Teresa. They're beautiful.
    We have absolutely NO flowers coming up around here yet although the snow is beginning to melt too.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  5. I love the knitting needles they are stunning, what a great find. The photograph of you made me smile, how amazing to have spent such a time in Hawaii.

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  6. What a fantastic needle collection. LOVE the tortoise shell !! I shall snatch them up if ever I have the chance. I also love your bee hive tops.
    You look adorable after months in Hawaii!
    My plans: I'm done for the day with chores. I'm under a NEW electric blanket. I ve been so dang cold ...yesterday with a hot water bottle and microwaved neck warmer, I was still frozen. Today at Kohls I scored a sale electric blanket ...and Im set to knit for the night..and be cozy warm

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  7. I love that picture of you! What wonderful times you must have had in Hawaii! The knitting needles are very pretty. I knit with my circulars for everything, it seems to take the weight off my hands so I can knit for longer periods of time. If I had these needles, I'd keep them in glass jar just like you have them, so they could sparkle and shine in the sunlight. Lovely post. ((hugs)) to you sweet friend. :)

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  8. Love those tortoise shell needles, Teresa! So fun to have collections of things we love. I'm a big collector also. Loved the photo of you from Hawaii, so cute : )
    Enjoy your swim, xoRobin

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  9. What a neat picture of you striking the pose ☺ You know what....I think my Mum still has some of those needles and as you know I am in Oz sooooo next time I visit her will try to remember to look, coz I know my Nanna knitted with them for sure....Today I am getting on with some crochet ☺☺

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  10. They are such pretty needles Teresa and much more fun than plain metal or wood. Enjoy your knitting. What a fun photo you found, great memories I am sure x

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  11. I did own a pair of needles just like yours. I found them in a charity shop on the Isle of Wight,when on holiday. Unfortunately they were very brittle and old so I didn't have them for long.😢

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  12. Not Ladies Who Lunch, but Ladies Who Collect Stuff.
    You and me both.

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  13. Those knitting needles are like pieces of art! That is a great photograph of you!!!!!

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  14. Beautiful set of needles! I love the tortoise shell color on most things. Look at you go on that knit dishcloth! I'm still just staring at my new wood needles and thinking about it. Ha. Love the old photo of you!

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  15. Looks like you brought a great tan home from Hawaii! such a cute dress too....

    Those knitting needles are truly gorgeous. I like the gentle curve of some of them. But is it save to have needles that look fab in your project? Doesn't it tempt you to not finish? ;)

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  16. Dear Teresa,

    Now, I must confess I am a circular and DPN kind of girl BUT straight needles, YOUR needles, are just so beautiful. They are craftmanship at its best: practical and beautiful. I keep all my straight needles in a beautiful jug and tend to use them solely for stuffing soft toys.

    I also love the idea of you and Gracie swimming together. I almost feel as though I were there with you. I wonder how long you swim for, how many lengths, etc...

    See you soon dear Teresa,

    Stephanie x

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  17. Wonderful !!!! I still knit with straight needles, I learned with them even if I'm ease with circular .... Yours are just impressive !!! Have a lovely day !

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  18. Wonderful needles,wonderful narcissi ,wonderful you x

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  19. Love the photo of young Teresa. Aren't those needles just THE BEST? I love mine and have had them for years. I think I might even have a pair or two of real tortoise-shell - which I think is horrible now but I do have them and wouldn't part with them for anything. The faux ones are pretty good too. You were lucky to get some on eBay. xox

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  20. Gosh, beauty in a jar, they are wonderful needles! Suzy xo

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  21. Super photo Teresa. What did you do during your time in Hawaii? Think I've seen your fabulous knitting needle collection before but never tire of seeing your lovely things. Hope you had a good swim. After we have taken mum home I hope to check out a new (to me) swimming pool. Hugs Anne x

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  22. Look at you, hula girl! That must have been a fun way to spend some time when you were younger. Your knitting needles are so pretty. I love tortoiseshell and amber, real and fake. It's just so pretty. I know plastic headbands aren't really in style anymore but I've had a fake tortoiseshell one since I was in high school and I still love wearing it now and then!

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  23. Those needles are like works of art! Each one so unique! I love when the light comes through them! And might I add that photo of you after high school is adorable! Very fashionable!

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  24. Those needles are so pretty. And I love the hula pic :o)

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  25. Is it possible to have insane needle jealousy? because I do!
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  26. Back in the day I had tortoise shell [plastic] frames for my glasses. I like your tortoise shell knitting needles much better!!! : ) xx

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  27. Your collection of knitting needles is fantastic. I have so many metal ones that I don't even use anymore. We have several sets of wooden ones, too, that are lovely. I love to stand them up in a tall LB basket, so fun to look at. Loved your picture!

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  28. i"m so exited to see your needle collection,my friends mum had some when we were young..we used to hold them up to the light,twist them round as fast as we could to see the colours dance up and down the needle.I love your picture,especially your dress did you make it?don"t you think it"s great to look back,do you say..ah those were the days..x.

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  29. Gorgeous knitting needles, and I loved seeing the picture of you there......happy days!
    Helen xox

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  30. I'm catching up with ten of your posts, I like to have a stack of posts to catch up on by my fave bloggers. I've love the photo! Look at that old American car, fantastic, and didn't you look like lovely.

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  31. I’m in Melbourne Australia and my mum says my great grandma knitted with them. I just recently bought a set and Mum told me she had a whole box. She sent me a photo the next day the whole jar of them disintegrated and broke. So be careful where you store them away from heat and extreme temperatures.
    Lucky I bought the other lot. Mum said they were good for people with arthritis which is what I have. Stay safe everyone.

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