Sewing with Vintage Linens

 

 

Repurposing vintage pieces into a new project

 can seem daunting at first.

Any vintage linen enthusiast hesitates

to cut a handmade item.

 

Here are a few tips

 I've learned along the journey. 

 I hope that they will encourage you

to begin a project using upcycled vintage linens.

 

Choose a small project for your first

vintage linen upcycle.

Save that hankie quilt project using

Grandma's special hankies

for a third or fourth upcycle project.

You'll be much more confident at that point.

 



Choose first to upcycle linens that have

no sentimental value to you.

This charm-square tote upcycles two

very small linen pieces -- an 11" crocheted doily

and a small embroidered dresser set side-piece.

Neither piece held any sentimental value to me.

They were thrifted finds that I didn't mind cutting.

Choosing to cut thrifted finds removes the

pressure of making cutting mistakes.

(charm square -- a 5" fabric square)

 



Secure the piece you've cut to a background.

After cutting the linen piece to fit above the brown charm square,

I top-stitched the raw edge to one

 of the brown square's raw edges.

The 1/8" seam secured the linen's wrong side

 to the charm square's right side.

I then top-stitched along the inside edge of the crocheted trim.

Once this charm square was pieced

within the others to form the tote's front,

the linen's raw edge was secured again

 within the 1/4" seams called for in the pattern.

 

A thrifted sheet was used for the tote's lining.

 

 

Another piece of the linen

 incorporated into the side of the tote.

Always secure loose/cut

crochet threads with Dritz Fray Check.

This beautiful variegated doily had many loose threads

after I cut it.  After stitching it to the blue charm square

with an 1/8" seam around the raw edges, I brushed

 the loose threadswith Fray Check. 

The stiffening Fray Check will prevent

the crochet threads from slipping under the square's seams.

The doily was secured again

within the pattern's 1/4" seam allowance

used to sew the tote's charm squares together.

 

 

 I hope you'll be inspired to start that

vintage upcycle project.

 

If you've sewn or crafted with vintage textiles,

please share any tips you've learned along the way!

The charm square pattern used for this tote

comes from Whistlepig Creek Productions

(#1156 Charming Totes 4)

The vintage-look charm square pack is

a lovely example of Moda's Fig Tree & Co. fabric line.

 

 

 

Happy Stitching!

Amy