or even should it!!! I have a beautiful tablecloth that my mother embroidered for us when we got married almost 32 years ago. We have sold the china that went with it and we no longer use tablecloths. I also have a similar one given to me my my aunt as a shower gift done in verigated browns.

Do you think it can be made into a quilt top instead? Its not l00%cotton and I am not really sure what it is. I have tried to take a picture of fabric so you have an idea. Also including picture of parts of tablecloth.

I havbe 2 daughters so they would each have a quilt if it can be done (they would be more apt to use a quilt than a tablecloth)

Do you think I should try it or just keep it as is - It is very special to me but its not being used!!!! Help!!!!

It is beautiful - are you contemplating a whole cloth that would just be backed with batting between and quilted, or are you thinking of cutting it and piecing it? If it were me, I would go down the first route. If it isn't big enough you could add suitable borders, or just use it on top of your bed, on point, as decoration.

I would definitely use it as a whole cloth with borders if necessary and beautiful quilting. It could be breath-takingly
spectacular!

It looks like its linen to me and from the vintage it could be. Counted thread cross stitch on linen was very popular here around that time.

I think it will be a beautiful quilt top and its something that your daughters can look at and and know that their grandmother worked it and you constructed it!!

I'm going to look through my linen press now, I have some tablecloths worked by my grandmother and there could be a world of possibilities for them. Thanks for the suggestion and good luck with your project.

Ditto! Go for it. It's beautiful.

Love the idea.

I just found one during a move with my parents. I was wondering the same thing. Mine is a linen vintage tablecloth with flowers and fruit around the border. I was thinking a whole cloth quilt also. I was wondering if anyone has done this and could share a picture of the final product.

Thanks....

That's a great idea. Wish I had a tablecloth.

Yes, it can be done! In my opinion it is a way of preserving something that would otherwise be stuck in a drawer. A quilt would be lovely.

I am presently working on the same idea. I have a tablecloth made for me by an 89 year old, now deceased, lady, but it does not fit our dining table that well. I am putting borders around it (stitching it down by applique) and then will quilt the whole thing with a special design in the middle.

My tablecloth is also a blend so the fabric used on the borders will be pre-shrunk or also a blend (same with batting and backing). The back will have a label with her picture, dates, etc.

Cindy Needham has a book out about Wholecloth Linen Quilts that you might find interesting.

Good luck.

I'm a flea marketer, so my first thought would be to pick up something similar and do a "test run" first, to make sure I liked the end result.

At the end of the day, it's YOURS to do with as you wish. If you would enjoy it more in a new form, then by all means do it!

That is a great idea. I was just thinking last week when cleaning out drawers, that the stack of embroidered pillowcases my mother made could maybe go into a quilt.

I would do your tablecloth as a whole cloth quilt, too. Linen wrinkles a lot though so maybe it will need a lot of close quilting so it looks good after washing????

Be sure to post a picture when it is done.

I would whole quilt it as well as sometime cutting cross stitching can and will lead to several stitches coming out. Linen is a stinker that likes to shrink so close quilting is a definate.

I wonder if you could cut out the excess white, so that you have a border and a center - and applique the embroidery on blue - or applique blue over the plain white, just using the embroidered parts. I think that is called "shadow quilting". It would be a lot of work, but I think well worth it. It has probably been washed enough times so that it wouldn't shrink any more. It's beautiful!!

a lot of work went into that.. i think I would just leave it as be.....

You absolutely can. I agree with the other posts that a whole cloth will be gorgeous. You'll be able to show off some great quilting and keep the integrity of the embroidery in the table cloth. I can't wait to see it finished :thumbup:

Oh my, that's a treasure!! I would do anything that would make you see and enjoy it more. The others gave you great tips :)

Everyone has such nice ideas!! But the main thing she said was that she has TWO daughters, both of whom would like something from the past. I think the problem is that it must be cut apart to make two quilts, possibly with carefully matched colors to extend the original tablecloth. I'd like to see how that would be done. I think that making several pictures of it and cutting each of them apart and putting them into different patterns might show a way to make two quilts from this lovely piece of art.

Gosh, how lucky you are! There's so much room for quilting on these and so many options - maybe trapunto under the cross-stitching? I would definitely go the whole cloth route. :)

She has two similar tablecloths, so she doesn't have to cut them. :)

It's a great idea

I would not be the least bit put off if someone "remade" one of my gifts into something they would get more use out of :D
I love the idea of leaving them as is and adding borders if needed :D:D:D

Thanks soo much for your input!!! I will have to look up and research wholecloth quilting - this piece has been washed several times so I doubt it would shrink anymore.
I have sooo many ufo's that this will be down the road but I just didnt know if I should put in my to do pile or just place them back in cedar chest lol thanks again cheryl :thumbup:

beautiful!!

I go with the whole cloth quilt. I think your Mom would be really happy to see it become a displayed and used item instead of sitting in a cedar chest. Yes, it was a lot of work so please be careful to not cut into the cross-stitching. It will be beautiful and treasured by your daughters. You're so lucky to have two of tablecloths for two of your daughters!

Make the quilts. Better on a bed and loved than in a drawer.

I am by no means a free motion quilting artist, but have seen some lovely medallions quilted in whole cloth quilts using contrasting thread. Maybe have one quilted in the center white space with blue thread and maybe incorporate your daughter's name or initial like a monogram?

I've sent some vinage tablecloths to screwystewy and he's quilted them their beauiful

This lady specializes in quilting heirloom linens - maybe you can get some ideas from her book, website, classes.
http://www.cindyneedham.com/

I agree!

How would you quilt it so the quilting stitchs don't interfere with the embroidery stitches. I have a few I'd like to do but don't want to stitch overtop the embroidery.
Great idea if it can be done. I hate to use them as tablecloths and have them get stained.

Great idea...i couldn't put scissors to that..its beautiful

My Mom made table cloths just about like this one of yours. She ordered them from Hersheners Company. Spelled wrong.
It would make a lovely bed topper. Thanks for the idea.
Please don't think about cutting up your Moms beautifull
embrodery work. It is lovely.

I would definately do a whole cloth quilt. No mention of the size. So possibly add coordinating fabric to make desired size if desired. Ask a good LA quilter for opinion on quilting. I would think that feathers would be gorgous in the large open space. Good luck and post pics, please.

A quilt is a wonderful idea. Anything that doesn't get used and sits on a shelf ends up with no personal value. This is a great idea. I have a table cloth I inherited from my grandmother that I have never used because we don't use table cloths. I think I am going to copy your idea and make it into a quilt. A quilt will get used and be even more special.

There is s quilter - book author and teacher - who specializes in taking old linens and making quilts out of them. Google her for some ideas.

If you are worried about bearding, you could put a layer between the tablecloth and the batting, very fine muslin, maybe.

(didn't read p2, 3)

My vote is wholecloth, leave the tablecloth intact. Add borders primarily the same color (cream or white). I'd like something with small triangles of lt & med blue, in a complementary block pattern.

I agree with the whole cloth idea also. I suggest that you take "before" and "after" pictures of the items to document the work of your mother, your aunt, and yourself. I treasure all of the old linens made by my mother, sister, and others and still use many of them.

Please let us know what you decided to do, and show us a picture.

The LA quilters at a LQS where I worked did this several times and they turned out beautifully. Even quilted, they can still be displayed on the table when not in use.

I think it is a lovely idea and I think it could be done. I would leave it whole cloth.