Dressing Up A Space With Vintage Linens

It has been a few weeks with lots of soaking and hundreds of stitches.......and now I can happily say that my workbasket is completely empty and that the whole stash of embroidered linens has been
repaired, cleaned, and ready for another use.

Some vintage linens, I sell in my vintage shop.........but there 

are some that I just cannot let go of and keep to 

decorate my home with.  I won't  use these lovely potholders for 

anything else but to decorate with. 

They add such sweet character to the corner by the stove.

Many times I change things around, including the vintage linens.

The apron in the front with the embroidered basket is vintage.

It's neckline was completely ripped and there was a hole in the body.
So I repaired the whole and repaired the neckline as best I could.
Now it is a pretty piece to decorate with

  

The embroidery on this piece is lovely, and I want to be

able to enjoy looking at it when I am cooking.

So it is hanging with my newer apron that I have made for 

myself to wear during cooking

When I am not using the stove or oven, I like to keep

pretty vintage linens hanging on it.

This "lunchtime" cloth is perfect for this use.

I also use vintage tablecloths to dress the tables in other rooms.

If you have some vintage linens that you think have too many stains, too 

many holes and too badly torn crochet edging..........

Take your time soaking the piece to remove the stains. 

Lately, I have found rubbing salt and lemon juice onto the stains,

then laying them out in the sunshine on the grass for a few hours is the 

best way to get rid of stubborn stains without ruining the fabric. 

Gently hand wash the piece afterwards. 

If you are worried about the torn edging, 

you can remove it from the piece.........

but with needle and thread, you can most of the time

repair it and it looks like new. 

Just work with your needle

matching up as much as you can , weaving in and out

and it is restored!

Holes are the biggest common problem in vintage linens.

cut matching color fabric and stitch around the hole and 

hem the fabric onto the back and the holes ........the piece 

looks whole again. 

If the embroidery is missing or pulled out, 

Just re embroider the missing part or re enforce the loose stitches.

After all of  your patience and work, you will have a lovely

vintage linen, ready for another use. As  you can see in the photo

the stains are gone......the patched holes are barely noticeable and the 

edging is complete.

Vintage embroidered linens are perfect to just place somewhere

to be seen.  They add such prettiness and character to any spot.

Do you agree?