Vintage Linens

If you haven't figured it out by now...I LOVE old linens...be it tablecloths, bedspreads, dish towels, quilts, dresser scarves...just all kinds of pretty embroidery!

It doesn't matter...faded or not...they're all beautiful. The feel of the fabric, the smell when it's freshly washed and dried in the sun...HEAVEN on earth.

I'm compelled to buy old linens whether they are worn with holes and stains or look like they've never been used. I love to find old quilts...especially really worn looking ones.

There is usually something salvageable from them. Maybe a small purse, a heart pillow with a bit of embroidery, maybe a wall hanging (see Belle Starr hanging here)...maybe even something bigger!

I purchased this old quilt a while back and knew that eventually I would find a good use for it in a project. There were large areas that were in good condition, but the edges were in very sad shape and there were a few squares in the middle that were very worn.

I initially removed the outer edges because they were so worn and took off any of the appliques that were salvageable.

The white squares have not held up as well over the years as the pink squares. There was minimal wear on most of the pink squares...but the white ones all seemed to have worn spots.

For the project I have in mind I removed the appliqued circles from the white squares that were still good...and I'll probably save them for some other project in the future. Most of them came off in one piece.

There were a few of the white squares that needed to be replaced, so I used good ones from the edge. I needed a large area to be in fairly good shape to complete my project.

I think this quilt was made by several ladies. The stitching on this quilt is all by hand and some stitches are very neat and almost perfect, others were loose (great when taking it apart) and not a neatly stitched.

My parents will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend....so you'll have to wait for the reveal till then. I don't want to give away the surprise (knowing my mother may be lurking out there!)

As promised - here are pictures of my latest apron, which I made for Emily. It's reversible - both sides from a vintage tablecloth. I need to add a button to the back neck for closure, but it's ready to move to her new kitchen and once again the vintage fabric can be enjoyed as a whole new creation!

So...I'll post the pictures of the completed vintage quilt project once the anniversary party is over...so probably by Monday.

Till then......

debi