Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Linens

Do you remember a time when bed linens were bought as separate pieces instead of a matched set, and when most sheets and pillowcases came in white?  Before the addition of polyester in fabrics, the pillowcases were starched and ironed;(o.k., maybe we don't want to remember that!) Women took great pride in embellishing the pillowcases


with hand crocheted insertions,



crocheted edgings,



or hand embroidery.



What a wonderful work of love and enjoyment!  So, I'm thinking, there'll be no more matching sets of sheets and pillowcases for me; I'll buy basic white and maybe make my own pillowcases, and adorn them with colorful threads and stitches.


Charlotte

12 comments:

  1. Beautiful work on these pieces. I can see that they have been meticulously starched and ironed.

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  2. Now that you mention this I do remember seeing these. What a lovely touch.

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  3. I just love vintage linens. One of my aunts used to embroider pillow cases and give them as gifts! Hope you'll share some of your work!

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  4. I love your idea. I would love a bed with hand embroidered pillowcases and maybe a hand made quilt. To me that just says "home".

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  5. I'm fortunate enough to have two of my mother's handmade quilts, but what I would give to have some of her handmade pillowcases as well. I would give even more to have some of the ones I embroidered myself as a child. The pieces in your photos are lovely and your post brings back lots of wonderful memories for me. Thank you!

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  6. My Mom's linens all look like the beautiful pieces you've pictured Charlotte. There is something so comforting and elegant in them. I just love them.

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  7. Those are all so beautiful, Charlotte!!

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  8. I love that. There are so many conveniences it seems that true workmanship is sometimes forgotten. Beautiful examples, thanks for sharing them.

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  9. Those are so elegant. I hadn't thought of this type handicraft in ages.
    I hope you'll post a few of your creations. I know they'll be beautiful.
    :)

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  10. I still starch and iron my pillow cases. If there is an estate sale and I see these items I will still buy. I have some pillow cases my mother and grandmother made for me.
    Memories - good ones :)

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  11. Yes! Go for it Charlotte! You will love the process of making it and then enjoy sleeping under them every night!

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  12. I love embroidered pillow slips. Grandma would never have anything but white bed linens. Bought me several separate flat sheets as wedding gifts. I've been absent lately. Hope you fared well this summer.

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