Vintage Inspiration and my Awesome Book Collection

I already shop at Thrift Shops, 2nd hand stores, and rummage sales (I'd shop at flea markets or open air markets too, but there aren't any in my area). I am fortunate enough to have a job where this isn't my only option for purchasing stuff, but it is a part of how I was raised (poor and thrifty).

I've always been a fan of finding popular books that EVERYONE bought when they first came out, or rare books that nobody has even thought of collecting. But I never thought about purchasing Craft books second hand until a couple of years ago.

I mean, if it is completely normal for me to go on Amazon and buying a Used copy of a text book or really old novel, why not do the same for Craft books?

Well, I've started buying various Knitting and Crochet books from the local second hand and thrift stores, and lemme tell you, it's a roller coaster adventure.


Sometimes, there's really cute and useful stuff:



And other times, you might as well put that money toward a Stephen King Novel:



Often, there is a very small selection of craft books, and good luck to you should you only be looking for one particular craft. A year and a half ago, I was only looking for Crochet books, and Origami books. So, not much success on my part at getting a hold of a timeless, paper-bound treasure. Now, this year, I'm already bonking my head against the wall for failing to pick up any inexpensive knitting books I've found along the way. I started knitting, and knitting books are kinda expensive.

Plus, if you find a book along the way that you think you might eventually use, pick it up if it's reasonably priced. Even if you don't get to "Crazy Extreme Norwegian Knitting", you can always have a "crafting book swap" amongst friends. I've picked up one or two sewing books, and though I don't sew (yet), I have three friends that do, and maybe they could use them.

If your into cooking, I STRONGLY recommend you explore your local second hand shop. There are so many vintage recipe books. Anyone that is missing out on great food from their childhood, well, now's your chance to find a dusty old copy just like the one your mom had. I'm currently on a quest to find a copy of that Orange Betty Crocker Binder of recipes that I grew up with.



You have to be patient. Sure, you can probably find the exact book you want, when you want it on Amazon, but that takes alot of the fun out of it for me. I have "The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing" which I was lucky to pick up for $1.75. This same book goes on Amazon for $6.79 to $74 (not sure why it goes for $74....)



This was a book I was actually looking for, because I love the series of books it came from, and I want to learn to sew (and not that horrid stitching I currently call sewing). But, becase I decided I would go out and find a copy of this book, rather than look online, I discovered some other cool items along the way. Sure, I could have looked at the "Amazon Suggests" or "Other Online User's also bought", but I'm so used to tuning out pop ups and advertisements, I don't even see those messages anymore.

Another thing, it's hard to find a good craft book in a 2nd hand shop or thrift shop. For three reasons:

1. eBay sellers know that a good/excellent condition book of any kind will provide at least double in profit. And these people are blind to the subject matter. If an eBay seller finds your favorite sock knitting book for 1.98 at a thrift shop, the first thing they are going to do is find the retail price, and then mark it down less than 5% retail, which really isn't that great of a price after shipping. Why? Because this is the business practice for other used books as well.

2. It's hard to get a knitter/crocheter/crafter to give up a good book. This is gonna sound terrible, but sometimes the only reason you find an awesome crafting book is because someone passed away, or got sick, and their relatives just threw the books out (It's sad, but at least that knitter's relatives were nice enough to donate the book). The only way to get an old copy of an good book from a knitter is to pry it from her cold, dying hands. I still have my original copies of Stitch N' Bitch: The Happy Hooker Crochet Book. This book is not the greatest, but it was the most popular, inspirational, and has a great selection of patterns. It's beat up, pages falling out, but I'd sooner give up the shoes on my feet than give up this book.

3. A good book is always a little "worn". Sometimes, I'll find a book I like, buy it, and bring it home, only to find the pattern on page 37 is missing, or that the detailed instructions on a new stitch technique are written over with someone elses notes, or someone's kid drew an elephant over the most important part. When a good book comes out, it's not just used by the reader, but everyone in the reader's life. Their kids, their clumsy spouse that spills coffee, the next door neighbor that borrows it, the kind bus driver that found the book when it was left in a seat, etc...

But then again, that's the magic of a good book.



Here are my well-traveled book links I commonly use:

Alibris

Bookcrossing.com - It's like the "Where's George?" of the book world

Ravelry's Book Destash and ISO Forum

and yes, Amazon.com and eBay

I haven't tried these yet, but I have friends that have had success:

Bookmooch

SwapTree