mshawii

I use them for special occasions and then send them out to be laundered and pressed. then they come home on a hanger which I then put away for next year. Jan

mayday

I do not care for "our day of simplicity", this usually means dumming down.
surely these could be used on special occasions, I use table pads and seersucker or poly cotton napkins for every day, but do like to see the graceful formality of a properly laid table and as you all seem to have the iron out permanently is it really such a chore once in a while to do this?-------I realise that blue bagging and using proper starch would be a chore but you can use either sugar water or spray starch. HOWEVER , if there are those who wouldn't do this ,why not embroider the t/cloths with your fancy machines , starch/iron properly and use over pine/oak chests ,side tables so that they maybe displayed permanently without regular washing as the starch will deflect dirt.

carhop

i have one table cloth ( that one doesn't need ironing and does not stain) that will cover two banquit tables together bought whe jeffersons went out of business also all of the kids and grandkids were comming over, should sell it or something.

catrancher

A woman came to speak at our guild one evening who does this. It generally requires cutting things up. She uses the crocheted edges of dresser scarves, vintage handkerchiefs, doilies, etc. and puts them over fabric for a very pretty quilt. Very feminine. I have tons of stuff my grandmother made, and I have in mind to do this one of these days. I have to get right with cutting up my grandmother's handwork first. But since it just sits hidden in a drawer, I might as well. She embroidered chair head and armrests, handkerchiefs, dresser scarves and usually crocheted a pretty edge around them. Also tons of pillowcases, tee towels. You name it.

Maride

You have to see what Cindy Needham does with old linens. Here is a link:

http://www.cindyneedham.com/

She appeared a while ago at The Quilt Show. If you are a basic member you can get her show for under $3.00 and watch it is show #202.

You will see linens in a totally different way.

TN Donna

I think a beautiful wall hanging and or some nice throw pillows for a bed. Also dresser scarfs for a bedroom would do nicely.

IndyQuilter

I was just going to post the same thing. She has a book called 'Wholecloth Linen Quilts'. Ther are a few examples in the front of the book, but mostly it is full of quilting designs.
Good luck with your project.

dutchie

This was my idea also. I have tons of linens from my grandparents and parents. I can't begin to get rid of them because some of them recall family dinners and holidays of my youth. But I could see myself embroidering a center motif on some of the plainer ones and using them as quilt squares. Damask weight napkins - definitely. Linen and Battenburg lace-edged pieces - probably not.

The older and more delicate pieces are still a question mark for me. I'd love to "re-purpose" them in a way that preserves their beauty.

Keep the ideas coming!

asmmauer

I used my 35 year old wedding gown to make heirloom Christmas
stockings for my kids, the front bodice of the gown is on my tree skirt I embellished it with lace dollies trims buttons etc. Your napkins and table cloth have endless possibilities.I say go for it!

dutchie

So THAT'S what I can do with my gown! I doubt I'll marry again so the box is just taking up space.

Sue