Dittto. I would HATE to cut it up in small pieces. The stitches would probably come out if you cut it up and it's too beautiful to cut.

B-U-T... remember that she said she had TWO quilts....OK, both not from her mother, but think of the memories those two would bring to the two daughters...

Make a whole cloth but add a beautiful contrasting blue border and perhaps miter it. It woul be out of this world beautiful. You just inspired me to do the same with a couple of mine.

That looks like linen to me and probably is since it's 32 yrs old. I also would make them into whole cloth quilts adding borders if needed and do some awesome quilting on them. I'm sure your daughters would love such a gift.

The table cloth is beautiful and probably linen. Since it is special to you, then definitely use it. I would make a whole cloth quilt and keep it for yourself. My mom passed away recently and I found a lot of linen cross stitch items she made and never used. She was probably afraid my bothers and I would get them dirty. I have used them to make pilows, a table runner and now I'm using the rest for a lap quilt for myself. I plan on using it and it will help me remember all the wonderful things my mom created and the good times we had.

I think your idea would be lovely. I know everyone is saying whole cloth, but I disagree. Which daughter would get the quilt? I would sit and look at it for awhile then, look around for some fabric that would go with it, then jump in and cut it up. There is so much you could do with the floral centers and the borders. Only my opinion.

My grandmother did a lot of needlepoint, crochet, cross stitch, tating. She did a few table cloths like your picture. The fabric was a linen. By the way the tablecloth in your picture is beautiful

Check out Cindy Needham. She has a whole book on using linens as quilt blocks/tops. She honors the original piece and enhances it at the same time.

Yes, make a quilt from the table cloth. Cindy Needam's book is excellent. I have made one from a small tea table cloth my Grandmother embroidered. Since it was "cut-work" I used muslin under it as well as the batting and backing. Worked great. just remember that these cloths are "squarish" so work within that perimeter.

Whole cloth w/borders.
Very nice work.
J J

Well I'm going to come from the daughters' point of view. You know your daughters-will both of them appreciate the value the end product as you want them to? If you want these passed down be sure you make that clear to them. Also do they have children? How to pass the items on? I know you have 2 pieces, but one is made by their grandmother, the other by her sister. Did or do they know your aunt? Will both pieces be valued equally or will one daughter feel slighted that she did not receive something from her grandmother? If these are possibilities I would say you should find a way to make two projects from each piece, unless you can somehow incorporate some of each of the originals into 2 new pieces. Family dynamics can be tricky and it's better to be totally honest with yourself concerning these issues now in the project decision making process than dealing with unexpected reactions down the road.JMHO

Almost anything can be done -

Why not just lay in on top of your bed as a bed-topper and look at it that way for a while?

Once it's been cut up - it's cut up.

I think it would be wonderful to be able to make use of it and not simply keep it in a drawer.
At a recent quilt show a vendor was selling 1950's table cloths for quilt tops. Go for it.

I have a friend that is into Colonial and vintage things. She gave a luncheon for several friends with like-minded decorating taste. She set her table with an antique quilt as a tablecloth. Very colorful and impressive. You will be doing just the opposite--covering a bed with a table cloth turned quilt. Go for it--and take a chance. sounds like a great idea!!

It had china to go with it! That must have been gorgeous. What a wonderful gift. The work is beautiful. I would just quilt it as is so that the embroidery is not ruined by cutting it up. Then either as a wall hanging(depending on size) or lap/bed quilt. It is a shame not to use it in some way it is gorgeous.

I'm wondering how many of us have tablecloths such as this we'd like to do something similar with. I have a tablecloth which my mother did a crosstitch design on in pink-rose with green to go with a set of dishes. I still have the dishes, also but never use either anymore. I think she bought it from a mail order place such as Hercheners (?) which was pre-marked. The one I have is some what scalloped around the edge which I thought I could possibly attach a soft pink flat border to the underside without deleting the scallops. Maybe just using it a bed throw or runner would be simpler. Will be watching for ideas others suggest for all of us who have unused keepsake tablecloths!

I would go for a whole cloth quilt and not cut it up, then add borders to make it bed size.

You can get these tablecloths at estate sales for very little...nothing compared to how much work it took to make them.
By all means, make them into a quilt(s). They are not good to anyone just sitting in a cabinent or drawer. I think this is a very good idea.

Personally, I don't think I would touch it. I think of all the time and love that went into making it. I have several beautiful linen embroidered table cloths (which I use on special occasions) gets so many compliments. I love using them. The same goes for the crochet table cloths, too. So keeping them in tack and using them as they were meant to be is what I would choose to do. But then, that's just my opinion.

Ditto from me !!

I'm guessing linen. At any rate I'd never take a cutter to it. NEVER.

Start a new tradition----------the wedding table cloth every time your family gets together. Buy a light weight clear plastic to go over it.

good idea on the cheap test run.

But still...........

If you want another color in the white spaces, you'd be better off appliqueing the print over the cloth left as is.

me too. Ihave several table cloths hanging in the closet that I never use any more. too big for the table I have now. smile

I would use it as a whole quilt - if you try cuting it you destroy the cross stitch embroidery.

Just beautiful

actually she said she said she had a similar one given to her by an aunt. two table cloths.

One of my friends bought a quilt top that was cross stitch and started it yrs ago and she began to finish it several years ago. So why not yours, not that you couldn't have done it anyway, but just knowing that there were kits for cross stitch quilts might be a little confidence booster, if needed.

I would go with a whole cloth quilt. My SIL has done these and they are beautiful. She's waiting to be published in one of the quilting magazines.

Oh yea!! Would be gorgeous.

I think that's a wonderful idea. Make a whole cloth quilt and quilt mofits on it.

What a great idea. I am going though a ton of linens from the family of my husbands. I have washed 6 loads and just finished folding and stacking a basket. I would make sure it is washable. You have washed it before, right? Children don't need another thing to pay for if it is dry clean only. I love your idea and am looking at the linens differently now. Thanks!

I agree about whole quilting it. Cutting the cross stitch will cause it to come inraveled.

I SOMETIMES PICK UP VINTAGE TABLE COVERS AT FLEA MARKETS AND USE THEM TO BACK QUILTS. BE SURE TO PREWASH ALL FABRIC USED IN THIS QUILT.

there was a time in the late 60's when people used a colorful floral table cloth for the center of the quilt, then added plain colored borders and of course, quilted around each flower.
i would thilnk your table cloth would be a beautiful quilt. remmber when we cross stitched blocks to make a quilt? same idea.

I was given what i thought was a linen table cloth. I opened it to find that it was a summer blanket and had two matching shams. It now resides in my guest room bed in the summer.

I wouldn't cut it, I would have it quilted. - Joan

It's too beautiful to cut up. I would go with a whole cloth quilt.

Ditto. Here's yet another affordable source of fabric.

wow great idea my mother embroidered tons of stuff and so did my aunt you guys are geniuses think of the stuff i could make ??? when i was growing up dresser scarves were a must and my mother made dozens and i have every one i think lol. hmmmm where is that box.
carla

I did this exact tablecloth back in 1976 for my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. I bought it from LeeWard's Craft Store. IF I remember correctly, it is 100% linen. I will try to find my paperwork---I keep all that kind of stuff---to verify for you. May take a couple of days to find.

Are you sure you don't have the napkins to go with it?? They would make a nice quilt also.

Whole cloth quilt would be beautiful!