A hilarious look at the home-sewing and crafting crazes of the last several decades, Threadbared is a parade of pictures of the “fabulous” clothes and “darling” decorative items that sent people rushing to their sewing machines, knitting bags, and local notions shops. These vintage photographs from instruction booklets and patterns may bring a smile to your face, but the sassy, snarky commentary provided by Kimberly and Mary will have you in stitches.

Inside, you’ll find everything from speculation about why 1950s sewing patterns models had such incredibly small waists (Girdles? Malnutrition? Tapeworms?) to commentary on ladies’ fashion (“Is there anything sexier than a woman who sews her own underwear?”), to all-too-vivid reminders that the ’60s wasn’t just the Age of Aquarius—it was also the Age of Macramé! Laying bare the hideous history of homemade treasures, Threadbared leads crafters, wannabes, and don’t-wannabes alike to ponder the age-old question: Did anyone really think this stuff looked good?