I've found lots of vintage linens over the years in thrift stores: pillowcases, small tablecloths, napkins, doilies, and multiple other pieces that leave me scratching my head as to their use.
Most of the time I had no idea how I would use them - I just couldn't bear to see these beautiful handmade creations moldering in a pile of junk. I knew from experience how long embroidery took - but drawn-thread work? I can't imagine.
Which leads me to the second reason I like buying things at thrift stores (just slightly below the savings factor) :
It honors, in a way, the time, love, and talent that went into handmade (or even quality made manufactured) vintage items from days when everything wasn't outsourced to China.
For day 2 of Thrift Store Transformations, I'd like to highlight one of the ways I've found to easily use some of these vintage linens. Find the complete tutorial I wrote over at The Happy Housewife:
Create one-of-a-kind, simple cafe curtains from vintage linens
It's easy to do and takes relatively no sewing so you, too, can liberate some sweet, old linens to live again as curtains.
How do you like to use old linens that you've collected or that have been handed down to you?
Mary says
Commenting kinda late on the topic, but I have the same "no cut" urge and a slightly different way to solve it. What I did was use the tension rod method. I folded over just enough of the linen to create a "rod pocket," ironed it so it lay even and flat. I then used a one loop vintage button to tack the pocket down at each upper corner--and add a cool decorative touch--to hold the "pocket" in place. I tacked on two more of the vintage buttons in each of the lower corners of the piece of linen. So now I had essentially a piece of linen hanging to cover the entire window, decoratively embellished in each corner with vintage buttons. To adjust for light, I took a piece of pretty vintage ribbon which, when folded in half, was as long as the curtain. I folded the end of the folded ribbon over the back of the tension rod/top of the linen to hang about a third of the way down the back. In the morning, I tuck the ends of the ribbon through the loop--gathering the linen up as I go--and tie a loose bow as high as I feel like the day deserves. Because it's a fairly stiff piece of cloth (similar to the pulled thread piece in your tutorial), it gathers in perfect pleats and the four buttons at each corner still show up beautifully. No sewing (other than decorative buttons easily removed), easy to adjust for light, looks adorable.
Jami says
That's a great idea, Mary - if you see in my photos and the article, that's exactly what I did (not sure why some think I cut the linens...I mentioned you could, not that I did...), except I sewed the rod pocket with a large stitch that will be easy to remove later if I want. Thanks for the comment!
Mary says
Yes, I knew that you didn't cut. I'm one of those people who can't even sew a large stitch but can sew on a button, so I just wanted to toss one more option out there.
daisy says
What a fabulous idea! I have linens that my 87-year old mom completed in boarding school in France. Love, love, love this idea! Thanks!
Andrea says
Now I must confess I have suitcases and draws full of old linens and now I have just stop myself looking or buying them. I especially love handmade aprons which have been lovingly made and worn over the years..............the stories these could tell !
I recently cut up a tablecloth (it had a small hole) to make some bunting...... I'm heading over to look at your tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
kimberly says
I am forever rescuing linens. Most, I use according to their original design. All our napkins are vintage embroidered napkins. It's what we use for all meals and yes, I have little kids. I love tea towels for towels and lining baskets and draping all over. Vintage hankies are used by us all as well. So much nicer on little stuffy noses and tucked in a purse. I can rarely cut up and repurpose linens, but I am off to read your tutorial. I need to do something for my little girl's room soon.
Jami says
I hope you get a chance to read the tutorial, Kimberly, because for the curtains I made for our bathrooms I didn't cut the linens and they have a large stitch that will be easy to remove in the future. I, too, have a hard time cutting things unless they are stained and torn beyond repair. 🙂
Shelly says
I have found some really nice vintage linens at Estate Sales too. I recently saw a pinterest pin about using tea towels to make a tablecloth. I may try this project with some vintage ones. I think it would look great. Curtains are another option I had not thought of.