So, there I am, moving some stuff around so I can get back to doing some garment sewing (something I must do for a friend/client today), and can't resist looking in a box that is in the heap from the storage unit. I have moved this box about 4-5 times - from NC to FL to Pittsburgh to MD to VA to NM to VA. I recognize it because it was from some equipment in my aunts office (the surgeon), and had sewing/knitting stuff in it - 1 of 2 similar boxes. Like a book-size carton. I open it, and find some packages of fabric and patterns - all set - never cut or sewn. Some really lovely sage, soft cordouroy. Some ugly as sin printed - like a border print - deep green and pink cordorouy - what was I thinking. The clothes patterns are nice - imaging Vogue patterns for $2.50. One of them, I think would be nice now - it's a Betsy Johnson cool looking hooded sundress - of course my size is doubled, but, hey. A couple of other things - must've been about to make a pillow - complete with some very usable yardage of trim tassels, and some poly crepe de' chine in a little sweet floral - I'd never make a garment with it - but it could be used for display stuff. Then I find a bag with several skeins of boucle, lovely heather colored, yarn, -sadly acrylic - and what seems to be a back, and 1 raglan sleeve. Hmmm - well - I did used to be much smaller - but I honestly don't remember knitting this 25 years ago - though it's possible. And then, in the bottom of the bag - an old Waldenbooks bag - behind the yarn - is a huge piece of linen. And an old aluminum embroidery hoop. And a little baggie of what I think is ORTs, but I now believe to be the yarn. It's a piece of crewel work - a lute and mandolin, with some curlicue border - the size of a dresser cloth topper or the like. The linen looks great - and the thing is 90% done - except for the ends of the curlicues. There are many of them, and the body is done in a satin stitch of goldish/yellow yarn - but the ends where it is very thin and then curls look to be maybe a stem stitch, and in brown. Some of the pattern in the middle of the piece is chain stitch. It's a stamped piece. So, since it was in the bag with the wool I'm thinking that my mom must've been working on this on some trip and it got put away. Has to be close to
30 years old - judging from the old tape receipt in the bag for some book.Anyhow - not being much of a crewel person - I guess I'll try to finish this up - after I clean it a bit and press it. I'll probably post a pic on RCTNP and ask advice. Just seems that if my mom had started this thing, it would be cool to finish it. And then it can sit on one of the antique dressers . Very nostalgic. Plus, I found 1 of the office boxes full of XS. Darn it - more UFOs to put in my neatly organized bin. Darn it. Including the 1st ever piece I did on linen - and still haven't finished. I did open it up, look at it, and shake my head - what was I thinking. And a small painted canvas from Julie Mars - that is 1/2 done. And now, of course, with my higher standards, I clearly have to frog out the top part as I didn't use a laying tool and to my current eye it looks baaaaad.
Oh, well, thought I'd share. Now back downstairs to some sewing.
ellice