Linens saved................

I have written about this before but as I just finished ironing all afternoon, well, I had to share my love of linens again. There are many beautiful linens to buy and choose from on the market today. I prefer old linens though. When I iron them I see how much love and work was put into them. It's just not the same when something is mass produced or manufactured. Mine have imperfections and stains and that's OK. It's a part of who they are. They were used and loved once and so when I see them at garage sales I buy them. I have way more than I will ever use, drawers full now. People don't like to iron things anymore. I don't mind that. I just had to be in the mood. It took most of the afternoon but had been accumulating for a couple of years maybe.
So here are a few pictures of some of my lovies.





I am always amazed at some of the skill of the people who did the embroidery. I can't say ladies because my Dad was quite skilled in the art. Dad did this table runner, detail of one end. I remember both mum and dad sitting by the fire with needles flashing.

Some are just pretty and the linens that they are sewn on is so soft and always comes up beautiful after a wash



Some of the towels, I can't imagine doing all that work and actually using them. I have a whole drawer full of table cloths, they get used frequently. The tea towels and guest towels though, not so much.

I use the table runners a lot, keeps dust off of bedroom furniture for one thing.

I have some favourites. This next one......The back is as lovely as the front, someone was very skilled.The French knots have flattened and are soft now.


Some have been mended and the skill of the people who darned them is as great as those who embroidered. This one is a table runner and was apparently not long enough for the hand crochet lace.
You can't see the stitches they are so small.

I do love the crocheted doilies, have done several of those myself. I doubt I will do any more now. Too much else to do and no one really appreciates the time and skill it takes. I often wonder if any of the girls in the family will ever take up any of the domestic skills.?

I think only by doing this yourself can you appreciate the work that goes into it. I taught myself crochet but embroidery and sewing were taught in school. Not an elective either. We began in the early grades and worked up. Learned it all. One of the things was thread pulling.

We learned cross stitch on gingham, we learned to hem and gather stitches and sew a pocket on an apron. Then embroidered it with cross stitch.


I have yet to learn tatting. I should really as I would love to know how. Is there any point now I wonder


I really like the stitches on this one. Applicate and the embroidery is so cute too.

Remember when ladies had hankerchiefs?

Look at the French knots on this one. What a beautiful blue.

Well, that's my ironing out of the way and I did enjoy it and the memories it invoked.