I had to pop into Hopkinson yesterday. Just near Nottingham railway station, Hopkinson is one of my favourite places in town.
Needless to say, it is a vintage emporium, but what an emporium!
Formerly H. Hopkinson Ltd, established around 1880, the building was an “Engineers Merchants” selling to factories, collieries, textile mills, anything relating to engineering, steel, aluminum, brass, nuts, bolts, tools etc.
Nowadays it houses four floors of vintage, antiques, art and creative studio space.
Here’s just a teeny corner of what’s on offer…
I couldn’t resist a little browse… and whilst browsing I stumbled upon the perfect thing for me: The Golden Hands Encyclopedia of Dressmaking.
It’s from 1972. Lets take a closer look at that cover…
That’s me that is, right there!
But they say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. Luckily, inside it just gets better and better!
I’m in love with the illustrations…
The typeface is terrific…
And there is lots of information on everything from fabrics and trims…
To techniques and design tips, measuring and fitting, projects, patterns and troubleshooting.
It’s exactly what I need to help me sort out my skirts, perfect my patterns, and generally sharpen up my stitchery.
Lord knows, I need it. I can’t afford to keep going to classes all my life!
Seriously… if, like me, you are trying to master the skills of dressmaking, this book could be your best friend.
The kind of friend that gives good advice, inspires you to greater things and is always there when you need them.
Ok, so it won’t feed your cat or babysit your kids, but hey, you probably have real-life friends for things like that. 🙂
Amazingly enough, you can find copies to buy very cheaply on amazon here.
Trust me, it’s pure gold. ♥
How achingly familiar that is – enjoy yourself!
Did you collect the magazines Sarah, or just own the encyclopedia at some point?
Think I just had a few copies – the illustration style is the thing that brings it all back so vividly.
Thank you!, I remember collecting this in weekly parts in the 70s…somewhere along the way I lost it. Thanks to you my book is on its way. Can’t believe I bought a book before I even got out of bed!!!!love those illustrations……now..need to get to Nottingham!
Brilliant! So glad to have been of service! I couldn’t believe it when I found it was available on Amazon so cheaply – less than I paid for it in fact!
It really is an excellent reference manual, not just a period piece. Looking forward to using it. I forsook my novel to read it in bed last night!
These things bring us such joy don’t they…..who the hell needs bling!!
Oooooh I love the look of that – I’ve got some great vintage craft books but none about making clothes…I’d buy it just for the illustrations, though one day I hope to take the plunge and make things to wear. And that shop looks AMAZING!!! x
It is! It is full of little booths run by different vintage sellers. If you ever come to Nottingham you must go!
golden hands!!!
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Thank you!
What a great book … I have a few of the Golden Hands installments found in a local charity shop … they have all sorts of crafts in them with lovely illustrations too … amazon is great for used books … I have gotten a few and they have always been good … usually ex library books … Bee xx
I don’t generally promote amazon as they charge independent retailers a fortune to sell through them. In this case I made an exception, but if anyone wants to avoid making small bookshops give their profits to amazon you can look up the independent shops listed and buy from them direct.
How I wish my Mom hadn’t got rid of her Golden Hands collection. She had one a week from the newsagents and put them all in their red binders. It was more familiar to me as a child than my story books. Sarah x
I can’t wait to go to Hopkins! tea and cake and browsing, heaven!! Is the army and navy shop still along there, can send Keith and Max there and then meet up for tea.
Alas no, it has closed down. Hopkinson is on Station Street, next door to the job centre. We’ll have to think of somewhere else to send Keith & Max!
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