Stitching inside the lines...

Oct 17, 2008 2 Replies

I can't focus much right now (my house is waaaay too quiet without Emma), so I pulled out some stamped table linens I picked up at a rummage sale. Four napkins, very nice fabric, and each just needed a sprig of flowers. I looked in my leftovers bag and picked out floss to match some everyday dishes. Still haven't hemmed them though--doing the corners worries me. Any hints??



I found a little table centre that must be from the 1940s or so--a basket with some sprigs of flowers coming out to each side, but a big blank in the middle. I think the intent was that you crochet flowers and attach them, but I can't crochet, so I am attaching translucent flower-shaped buttons, and embroidering the sprigs to tone in. Once the buttons are on, I might make some leaves around them. Again, nice fabric, seems like linen, and nicely finished with a little open-work border.



It is very calming, like colouring in a colouring book. And since I had all of these and more in a cupboard, I think my stash is a 12.



Dawne


I wish I knew how to draw it out here, but I don't, so please bear with me while I try to explain how I do corners on linens. First, I fold in a bit of the corner itself twice so that the corner is now a folded at a 45 degree angle to the sides. I tack that down. Then, I do a double fold for the edges so it covers exactly half of the corner fold, and do a blind stitch. When I turn a corner I always take a wee little sitch or two to butt the two side hems together and hide the corner fold. The goal, which I usually but not always meet, is to have no raw edges and have very skinny hems. It can be a bit tedious, but is worth it. Now -- I suggest you take a piece of paper and do the folding at a corner and then at both sides, and you will see what I mean.

There are lots of instructions on the net for mitering corners. This one gives a good description.

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luck!...Mavia

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