Sunday, May 2, 2010

How Do I . . .

My VERY talented Mother-in-Law did this gorgeous embroidery on a linen tablecloth probably 65 years ago. It has some tears and stains so I want to cut it up and put part of it in a Heritage Quilt that SOMEDAY I'm going to make. I want to make myself a camp-type shirt out of the rest of it, but I think I probably need to somehow stabilize the fabric so it won't fall apart the first time I wear it. Any SUGGESTIONS?

8 comments:

Laura Burtis said...

I love the detail in the embroidery! It is such a beautiful pattern! I don't have any suggestions... but I just wanted to comment :) Love you!

Miranda said...

You are an AMAZING seamstress. Thank you for all the fixes and mends you've done thus far for ME! I have more, too!! I know you can help me!

Just so you know...my son LuBs you. He brings me things that need "fixin" and asks if I can just give it to Laura's Mom. He KNOWs I can't fix it.

Just yesterday he brought me 3 ties that the seam has come upart and asked if I could give them to "Laura's Mom" to fix...THEN...then...he leans over to me in Sac Mtg and tells me he needs a TOGA costume for a school play and wanted to know if you could "whip one up for him". I thought so funny...he thinks your his personal seamstress and he has TOTALY faith in your work.

We'll talk soon...we need HELP!

Alexandra said...

I don't have any suggestions but I wanted to say "hi" Maybe I'll learn something from your blog, My mom said I could have her old sewing machine but I don't even know how to turn it on... I have a lot of learning to do.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea for this blog! I will be following, cause I always need sewing tips!:) Thanks!!

Jeanette said...

WOW! HOW EXCITING that I had not just one comment, but FOUR!!! Thanks for all your support!! Miranda, just give me a call, or send stuff with Laura with explicit instructions. Alex - I'd love to help you learn how to use your sewing machine! (And you guys left an extended message on our phone that you obviously didn't know was on :) Don't worry - you and Brandon were just cheering Ava on for doing something cute.) And Rachelle (sp?) I hope you'll contribute tips too! Thanks again to y'all!

jenn said...

I'm so excited to read about your genius and little projects!

I don't have a suggestion, but I have a brilliant grandmother who knows all things* about saving old heirloom fabrics. I'll ask her.

*She'd probably disagree and just say she knows some things, but I know nothing, so her knowledge seems like all things.

jenn said...

Jeanette:
Here's my Grandma's suggestion. She said she once had great luck with a woven interfacing in making a suit for my dad. Good luck!

"As for using some of the fabric for a camp-type shirt (what exactly is that?), there are iron-on interfacings of various weights that can do wonders for flimsy materials.

Do take care if/when you launder it. Older fabrics are often a bit persnickety about this. Linen shrinks, but no doubt the tablecloth has been washed in times past. That leaves the present problem of its age-related delicacy."

Jeanette S. Paul said...

Those are great suggestions! April's mom who is also vastly knowledgeable said the same thing - to back the table cloth with muslin and then just cut it out and sew it as if it was just one layer. A camp shirt is just one of those button down the front shirts with a collar and short sleeves. I want a classic style that won't go out of style so I can wear it forever :) Thanks so much!