Thursday, 11 February 2010

VTT 5 - Embroidered table cloths

This week I'm going to show you my table cloths over three generations. I have been joining Vintage Thingie Thursday,


the weekly show of used and loved treasures, 55 times now in almost 17 months. About 50 times I have shown something I have received from my family, a long line of keepers.

The first table cloth is from my Grandmother, with her monogram EK very skillfully embroidered on the linen damast cloth:



We used this on our Christmas dinner table, and now I need to wash and iron this beauty so it will be ready to use for the next big dinner. I would think this one comes from the time before the WWII.

The other table cloth will take us over two generations. It is one of the many unfinished projects my mother has given me in the hope that I will sew the missing parts and make the piece useful.



Mother had stitched the flowers in blue and white, thick perlé thread and embroidery floss. That was the fun part for her. She also finished the hemming, the mitred corners, and some of the lines dividing the middle area.



That is where I came in. I stitched some of the missing diagonal lines and many of the straight ones, and I got to sign this piece in 1992. It had been a project from the 1950's, I believe mother had ordered the kit from a women's magazine.

  

Maybe in 15 years I will start pushing my UFO's to my daughter, just to continue this tradition as well. She is a maker and a keeper already!



Have a happy VTT! Suzanne is hosting with a lovely  theme.

26 comments:

  1. beautiful! The keepers kept them well! Wonderful family taste and heritage.

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  2. These are beautiful, Ulla! I love the idea of pushing on those UFOs!

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  3. You always have the MOST lovely tablecloths, and these are some of the best yet!

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  4. Very beautiful!

    Jocelyn
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

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  5. Your family has a wonderful tradition of passing down treasured items. Very lovely textiles.

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  6. The blue and white embroidery is so delicate. Beautiful work!

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  7. Those are lovely Ulla. I like how each generation has been able to make their mark in turn. :-) It is so good when you have a daughter who likes to sew too. I can imagine how many memories of the past get shared as you hand something over.

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  8. Your table linens are beautiful. Passing your unfinished projects down to your daughter is most excellent.

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  9. I like the way more than one generation has worked on an unfinished project.

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  10. OMG STUNNING!! What a lovely keepsake of your mother!! You must treasure it!!
    Paulette

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  11. these cloths are so very beautiful!

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  12. What beautiful heirlooms! I love that they are still in use, where everyone can enjoy their beauty and the lovely handwork.

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  13. Absolutely gorgeous table cloths. The workmanship on them is great. How fortunate you are to be given these. Truly treasures.

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  14. How wonderful to have a tablecloth that both you and your mother worked on. That is my favorite of the two tho both are beautiful.
    Kathy

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  15. I love old linens & they are even more special when you have provenance. I need to take out Grandma's damask cloth & get it starched & pressed, it's a big job!

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  16. Oh, what lovelies! Old Linens are a weakness of mine....these are so pretty. Have a great VTT!

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  17. What lovely old linens! Thanks for sharing!

    Blessings, Grace

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  18. Beautiful linens! Happy Valentine's Day! Warm hugs, Esther

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  19. This is a really beautiful tablecloth! and so very delicate looking!

    Great that you and your Mom "collaborated" on it!

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  20. What beautiful handwork by both of you.

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  21. Another tablecloth that reminds of my childhood. Thanks for sharing!

    VTT~ Old horns

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  22. So lovely Ulla! I love the blue and white theme.

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  23. Ulla,
    The linens are simply gorgeous and such sweet treasures. I love the idea of passing these treasures through the generations. It's how it should be..

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  24. I do not have the skill of making embroideries like you, but I do love to see it (and to have it too, from my mother, grandmother and MIL). But I am not quite sure whether my daughter would like to have it once too....perhaps when she's got my "old" age ;-) !!). It's always nice to see your treasures.
    Have a nice weekend,
    Barbara

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  25. Beautiful! You have a wonderful family heritage!

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  26. Beautiful! I like the one with the monogram, but I LOVE the one with the flowers! Gorgeous work!!

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