I have a thing for textiles, not just quilts.
This is not what stayed on my table, but it sure is pretty. (minus the wrinkles)
My dresser overfloweth...
My sister and I found this over the weekend while cleaning out my moms old apartment. My grandmother made it. We decided we would have to flip a coin for it. I soaked it a bit and am having my doubts if the rust spots(?) while ever come out. There is also candle wax on it.
Anybody else share my love for linens, textiles and old aprons? How do you display them?
I love old aprons. I have both doll size and human size, mostly blue and white checks and plaids, and a few brown calicos (hard to find). I display them on a peg rack.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, linens. I have used lemon juice on rust spots and they came out after it dried and was rewashed, I doubt it would hurt it. Not sure about the candle wax. Hope you win the coin toss.
ReplyDeleteTo remove candle wax, put the item in the freezer until the wax is hard. Then use the flat side of a butter knife to remove as much of the wax as possible. Finish by using a petroleum based cleaning product on any remaining residue.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you...love linens and have a cupboard full! Soak that gorgeous doilie in Oxy Clean...may take several days but it will come out! I have had such good luck with OC...I had a gorgeous scarf covered in blood that sat in a ziplock for a week before I remembered it(nose bleed and it was the only thing handy)...I almost tossed it but Oxy Cleaned it and the blood came right out! I also had a PERMANENT felt Pen leak in my yellow rain jacket pocket...producing an 8" stain on the outside of the jacket!! Soaked the jacket for about 5 days and the stain is now gone!! I soak all linens that I buy and it gets everything out! I have yet to not get any out...I should do a commercial for this stuff! The secret is to use a small bowl, use lots of OC and water to cover the item and LEAVE it for days if needed! Give it a swish now and again..
ReplyDeleteI use the tablecloths for special dinners and the doilies on dressers that don't have a quilted runner...:o)If you should think of another use please let me know...My daughter wants to cover a balloon with doilies soaked in starch to make a lampshade...I'll let you know how that turns out!!
P
Lovely!!!! I too love linens! I'll post about those soon - you've inspired me!! What a special treasure to have something your grandmother made!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings
I love old linens and can pour over them in antique shops, but I buy very few because I DON't know what to do with them. I've had a couple of old doilies framed, but they were made by family members, so I wanted to preserve them.
ReplyDeleteI love old linens too. Every yard sale, flea market I visit they catch my eye. I have an old rack some are displayed on. Others are draped over cupboard doors. Most regrettably, are on a shelf or in a drawer. Enjoy reading your blog. tks M
ReplyDeleteI was just getting ready to blog when I saw yours, so I posted a few of my old linens. I love them as well. You are very lucky to have the doily your Grandmother made! I hope the stains come out. As I said on my post, I do need ideas of what to do with some of mine. I have some tablecloths, doilies (both crocheted and embroidered). I'm thinking about making a quilted table runner by sewing some of them on the top and quilting it. We had a speaker come to our guild that did that. One of these days maybe I will do it. Also, my sister has more that were my Mom's, so I will probably get some of those.
ReplyDeleteOh YES!! I do! I do! I have TONS of aprons and right now they are being displayed in an old box! Yep, the ole brown corrugated kind! Shame on me!
ReplyDeleteLove the Blue/gray table cover!
I had to stop looking at eBay listings for tablecloths, I love them so much lol. Your grandmother MADE that??? Incredible.
ReplyDeleteHow funny you should ask....we have just moved and the last of the boxes are linens from my mom....lace table cloths, linen table clothes.....and napkins that fill a huge box....my mother entertained a lot....I'm in the process of trying to get the stains out...I heard Biz works very well.....I'm doing all this so I can use them.....I love to use cloth napkins....
ReplyDeleteI LOVE old linens and yours is wonderful - the little animals are just great!! I was an avid Ebay buyer of embroidered pillowcases with the crochet trim until I got up to about 50 or so. I decided to use them rather than just store them in a drawer. I now put fresh pillowcases on each morning and I just love them. I don't even mind the weekly ironing - for me, it's worth it! I am so amazed at the talent and creativity that was put into these old linens - amazing women!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried vinegar on the rust spots? Sometimes the sun will remove spots also.
ReplyDeleteHI...I just have to say that laying a kleenex over the was and ironing (carefully) has always worked to get candle wax out for me! Both on crochet and fabric. Just keep moving the kleenex or paper towel around to a fresh spot as it blots up the softened wax. Good Luck
ReplyDeleteSheri-Lee
My mom had that reindeer tablecloth and every year at Christmas she put it on top of a red tablecloth. I'm sure I still have it because I don't get rid of anything. It's nice to see it unexpectedly.
ReplyDeleteI have an apron collection, hand made lace (like doilies), the quilts, hankies (and hankie holders) I could go on and on ... I display some and rotate them.
ReplyDeleteThe filet piece is very nice, it will clean up.
Thanks for sharing your treasures - nice family pieces.
I love old linens too! Some I only pull out at Christmas, others I use for small tables etc. They bring back such fun memories! Love the ones you found! I am an OxyClean user too. It works great! Have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother made crocheted doilies and trim for pillow cases, etc. I use some of the things I have because they're beautiful and that's the reason she made them. I am collecting round and oval doilies with the idea that some day I will make a duvet cover for my bedroom with satin and velveteen, with doilies as embellishment.
ReplyDeleteThey used to sell some fantastic rust remover at Hancock Fabrics, I can't remember what the brand name was, though, sorry.
I love them but only have a few. I really love to find old crocheted potholders, especially if they are a dress or red. I don't have any ideas for displaying these either.
ReplyDeleteI have tried to refrain for collecting anything else, but I have a few treasured pieces from my family. Your grandmother's piece will be fun to display over the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThat is a pretty amazing doily your grandma made! I hope you can get the spots out - if not maybe you could display it folded.
ReplyDeleteHey Lori,
ReplyDeleteI love all that stuff too! That lace doily your G-ma made is fantastic. I will try to get organised to share some pix of some from my collection. cheers, CW
Your grandmother MADE that? WOW! No wonder where you got your amazing talent from! I am guessing that Sheila lost that one... I'm sure you will make great use of it!
ReplyDeletewow I am very impressed that your grandmother made this.
ReplyDeleteok I have to admit to becoming intrigued with tablecloths lately, older ones , have seen them at antique shops and always thought of using one for a quilt backing, thought ti would be another way to preserved them too! machine quilted of course ;)
doilies I always love them under lamps and bowls at aunts houses growing up
I wish I had things from my family to treasure. consider yourself very lucky.
Kathie
I also love old linens and have several bins of doilies and table cloths. One thing I've found that is good on rust spots is a product called Folex. Folex is a carpet cleaner that gets out practically any stain and I've found that if a mixture of oxyclean and bix bleach won't work, Folex will and it is completely harmless to the old cottons. Would love to find the pattern for that piece of filet work with the deer and birds in it. Lane
ReplyDeletePut it in Vintage Soak..bought at quilt shops.
ReplyDeleteI love the toppers that my Grandma made and linens that belonged to my Mom. Mostly ones that bring back memories for me.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! I love the painted table clothes from mid 20th century like you have in the first photo. I also love embroidered things because of the bright colors and work that went into them. I had a family luncheon last week after my son's high school graduation and I pulled out the crocheted doilies my grandmother made. They looked very pretty under my vases of hydrangeas. Love what you've shared. It's nice to own and use things our mothers, aunts and grandmothers made/used.
ReplyDeleteon the table.....
ReplyDeleteand there is one that has to go to the foo foo laundry as it is so precious.... 125 miles to the vintage elevator and 125 dollars to have it laundered. it does not happen often .... but it is so beautiful when used for those super special occasions.
I like old linens too - but I have most of them packed away and not displayed.
ReplyDeleteLove the table cloth!!
Lucky you! The crocheted cloth must have been a huge task. My favorite is the blue and white tablecloth. Yes, I have linens--many of them need to be repurposed into something else.
ReplyDeleteOh, they are wonderful! Oxy-Clean is great, but be very careful on vintage fabrics, as it is harsh and can break down the fibers. I've heard that a good soak in baking soda and water will help. I like the suggestions of lemon on the spots. Then let it dry in the sun. Good Luck...that crochet is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the table cloth Lori. Am happy to come over and help go through your linens any rime!! I put cloths and doilies on dressers, lowboys and cabinets under bits and bobs, then change them around periodically. Have started using doilies as quilt labels too.
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ReplyDeleteI use my old tablecloths with thick plastic from Walmart over them. Many of my old vintage pieces peek out of baskets and big ol' ceramic tubs and vintage boxes. Folding so pretty pieces show is a fave thing. On pieces like that, I'd hang it though...SO pretty. Oh, my sister made some stuffed bunnies with pieces for the dresses from Grandma's old embroidery.
ReplyDeleteLucy~
I love old linens, lace and doilies, some were made by my grandmother, some by me when I was very young and learning to embroider and crochet. I also have some my Mother had and some I've collected over the years. I do like to put them out now and again, but I don't change them around as much as I should! Somehow makes a home more homely, with history attached!
ReplyDeleteHi, Lori. Some lovely old linen you have there.
ReplyDeleteI keep going back looking at the white and blue one in the first photo. I am thinking how great that one would look hand quilted, maybe with some trapunto as well.
Inspirasjon for another project!!
Thanks for charing.
I love old linens and have collected then for years. I love the tablecloths on a diningroom table or a small round table under glass. Hankies look sweet folded in a little basket and doilies are often put under a vase. I don't use many at a time cause that can just be too twee but one or two at a time is a special treat to see.
ReplyDeleteCandle wax is easy to get rid of,just put a piece of brown paper,like a lunch bag or wrapping, and with a warm iron over
ReplyDeleteSorry, my blogger is playing up.
ReplyDeleteThe paper will soak up the wax as it melts.
The filet lace crochet piece is amazing, I hope the suggestions work. I love old linens and vintage ones too. I have just a few pieces from an old aunt in storage.
ReplyDeleteI too have old linens and doilies. Most of them are from my grandmother on my my moms side. I love to look through them once in awhile. Sometimes you can get the rust spots out by soaking the doilies in warm water then leaving them in direct sunlight...it has a bleaching effect that works quite well.
ReplyDeleteyes, i too LOVE old linens of all kinds. i will even purchase items that are clearly quite damaged and use the parts of them that are still beautiful within other mixed media pieces.
ReplyDeleteyou've certainly managed to get a lot of suggestions here in regards to the stains and the candle wax . . . you'll have to let us know what you decide to use and how it worked.
i like to display my better pieces in baskets, bowls, on tables, etc.
sometimes i'll use the best pieces for certain occasions and in certain display areas . . . i admire the work that went into them and so try to keep some out here and there.
:-)
libbyQ
Your old doily is wonderful - how special that your grandmother made it. The stains just add more character - some of my favorite pieces have little stains on them which just remind me that the previous owners loved and used them. My favorite way to display little round doilies is to hang them over the edge of shelves in the dish cupboard.
ReplyDeleteOkay it's time for you to take a Cindy Needham class! Your linens will turn into quilts!! Her book is entitled: Wholecloth Linen Quilts. Check out her website. You will be amazed!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow you already got a lot of comments so you probably don't need another...but I am the same way!!! I have been collecting since before they started showing off vintage textiles in decorating magazines...I love old linens and especially old needlework. Anything vintage or antique that was hand made makes me swoon. I feel like there's a connection between me and women who sewed in the past...it's like that quilter/crafter/sewer's connection.
ReplyDeleteA long time ago, I used a product called Whink. It was applied with an eye dropper and water on a quilt I made which had tiny rust marks from pins. I immediately washed it and most of the rust marks came out. Whink is sold in some grocery stores and hardware stores. It removes rust from sinks, etc. So if you decide to try it, I'd test it on something similar first and of course dilute the solution. I've also used OxyClean on my grandmothers tablecloth and it did get out some of the stain. There's also the old-time solution of hanging the piece on the line in the sun, and sprinkling lemon juice and salt on the stain. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteNot sure you need another comment on this, but I LOVE linens. I have quite a few pieces that I love and use. Some of the more delicate pieces are on display away from harsh use, others I use and love. Just having them squirrelled away in a drawer does not give pleasure. For me,seing and using does. We have a product here in Canada called Iron Out. It is for rust stains. Try on a less loved piece first, but I have used it in laundry. If that doesnt work, maybe a good washing, starching and pressing and then a "strategic" placement of vase or decorative item to cover the spot, lets you still use and enjoy it. Good luck!
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