One of the gifts received from our ancestors is an appreciation for fine needlework. Many of us count among our most prized possessions a piece of needlework passed down through the family. The sample may be a tablecloth, a pillowcase, or another type of household linen used in your family. Or maybe you are one of the fortunate few that have in your possession the garments worn by your grandparents during times of celebration. Oh, the stories these objects could tell – being present during times of family togetherness and celebration, joy and sorrow.
What is unique about these objects? Simply, these are all items that were made to be USED. Because the needlework projects were functional in nature, their method of finishing gives some indication of the purpose served by them. These samples give evidence of the life around them, sometimes even showing the training being given by one stitcher to another.
Often household linens were works in process. The projects would start their lives as hand-spun, hand-woven materials. A household linen would be finished with a simple hem, and used by the homemaker. When a similar object was needed for a different occasion, the linen might be "remodeled." There was much less time needed to add additional decoration to the existing linen than it would have taken to produce an entirely new cloth. As a result, another row of stitching would be added and the linen used again. Over time, the cloth would gradually become more and more elaborate. The table linens, in particular, were often treated in this manner. Samples found in museums often are decorated with multiple borders of stitching, placed one inside the other for this very reason.
The final lesson to learn from our ancestors is the need to experiment. In the best folk art tradition, many of these needleworkers borrowed ideas (and stitches) from their family, friends and neighbors. At times, the copying was done with a needle in hand. In other cases, the duplication was done from a rough illustration - or from memory - much later. Some of these attempts worked out beautifully, others failed or were abandoned along the way. In any case, each linen was unique and enjoyed in it's own way. Much like each of us, as needle workers - unique and meant to be enjoyed in our own way.
HANDFINISHING TECHNIQUES FROM MANY CULTURES
On the "SHOP - Techniques of " tab look for complete instructions for this technique.