You thrifters out there know the feeling. The love of the hunt, that unexplained glee. Spontaneity and bargains, with possibility thrown on top. It’s a combination that’s tough to resist.

I’ve long been a lover of consignment stores; just ask me to list the good ones in every place I’ve lived. Indeed, most of my wardrobe came from one resale shop or another. It wasn’t till recently, though, that I started seeing thrift stores–the Goodwills and Value Villages this time–as an inspiration for my sewing.

I was happy to come across Butterfly Tree’s superb pattern for a newsboy cap. Not only did it have 14 pages with 43 how-to photos, but it began with tips on reusing thrifted clothes. And so, I embarked to my local Savers.

Armed with instructions to find the largest items I could (more fabric, you know), I sauntered to the men’s aisles. Feeling only slightly like an interloper–funny, I usually stick to a certain section of the store–I found myself surrounded by a wonderland of tweeds.

After a mild internal debate, I selected a suit coat that seemed perfectly hat-like. Along the way, I also picked up a greenish polyester jacket that was practically begging to be made into a bag. “Look at my funky pockets,” it screamed up at me, “I positively MUST become a slouchy cross-body bag one day!”

But that’s a project for another day. For now, I’ll leave you with pics of the newsboy cap.