With Christmas now just days away, we’re getting close to crunch time when it comes to holiday shopping. If you’d like to find a gift that’s as unique and colorful as your giftee, you should definitely drop by Re.De.Find in downtown Barrington.
Re.De.Find carries vintage and vintage-inspired clothing and accessories, hand-picked by shop owner, Laura Knecht. “I have everything imaginable. It’s a plethora of creative stuff and vintage items, including designer Gucci and Louis Vuitton handbags. Our prices range from a $5 ring made by hand to a never-been-used, alligator bag from the 1950’s that’s $1,000.”
“I’m also featuring a lot of products made in the USA and by local artists.” Which brings me to Laura’s recommendation for one great gift you can find at Re.De.Find this year, and it’s home made socks and scarves, created by retired Barrington District 220 school teacher, Jeff Andruss.
Jeff makes his pieces at home on a 1917 LeGare, cast-iron, hand-crank sock knitting machine and calls his creations “Magni-feet“. “Because I make socks-scarves, which are long tubes with a sock attached at each end of it. They make great gifts because they’re colorful, hand-made and one-of-a-kind. You’re never going to find another one like them around. Plus, once somebody wears homemade socks, they’re never going to go back to store bought socks again. They’re just so warm, they’re comfortable and they fit to your foot better than store bought socks. They’re wonderful”
“And we make socks out of the kind of wool that a lot of us grew up with that was a little unforgiving and a little scratchy. But we also create socks out of yarns that almost make you feel like you’re wearing a hot fudge sundae.” By “we”, Jeff is also referring to his wife, Pam Andruss, who is a master hand-knitter and works next door to Re.De.Find at Gene Anne’s Yarns, a great place to find gifts for the knitters in your life.
The Magni-feet socks are $30 a pair and the scarves are $65. You’ll find them, along with many other great gifts, at Re.De.Find in Barrington. The shop is located at 115 E. Station Street in Barrington, Illinois and you can learn more about Laura’s store online at VintageReDeFind.com.
