Because life’s celebrations shouldn’t cost the Earth

Monday 2 March 2015

Vintage Linen Bunting Tutorial

Antique Embroidered Garland  



Now I'm not known for being overly sentimental but there is something about antique embroidered tablecloths and tray covers that makes me want to swoon!  I think it's the combination of their great age and the hours and hours of work that first went into creating such gorgeous works of stitched art. I don't know how ladies in the 1940s and 1950s found the time to produce them, although the lack of television and internet might have been a contributing factor!


Vintage linens regularly turn up at car boot sales in all kinds of condition and I find that table cloths often show the most signs of wear, particularly in their centres, where crockery, cutlery and hands would have constantly rubbed against the fabric. However the edges, where the embroidery is normally to be found, is usually in far better condition having hung below the edge of the table top and therefore avoided such friction and wear.     


Once the centers are full of holes they're clearly no longer suitable for covering a dining table and besides, in our house, a tablecloth would need washing and ironing after every (messy) meal!  


Instead the perfect project is to stitch up some gloriously shabby chic bunting - Every upcycled garland produced is totally unique and it feels so good to breathe new life into these forgotten treasures!


If you're feeling inspired, I've written an easy to follow tutorial, with step by step photos, over at the Cuddly Buddly blog


Vintage linens are also perfect for pouches and purses.  This kitsch 'Crinoline Lady' was too large for a bunting flag but she works really well on a little patchwork makeup bag.


I love the Spring colours, and they still look as fresh as the day they were first stitched.


You can read more about it here, and having watched episode three of 'The Great British Sewing Bee', I'm feeling very grateful that my sewing is done on a modern Bernina machine, although those antique Singers are so charming. Do you think Mr Larkin would approve of me buying a fifth sewing machine because 'it's pretty'?!


Another string of my upcycled vintage bunting was featured in Reloved Magazine.


The full blog post is here.


The original stitched designs on the tablecloths I used were each so different but I love both sets of finished bunting equally.  I gave one set to my mum and the other is hanging in my kitchen where it reminds me of English summers full of village fetes and weddings!



Happy Repurposing!



30 comments:

  1. Love the bunting and what a good idea for using up old table cloths. Loved the little purse.

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  2. Your bunting is absolutely fabulous and it really goes to show how easy it is to turn a piece of unloved fabric into something truly beautiful! xx

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  3. Your bunting is so pretty, what a super idea. The sewing machines used in the Sewing Bee were Singer 221 Featherweights, I was so disappointed that they didn't like using them, perhaps they weren't shown how to use them correctly. I absolutely love sewing with my Featherweight, it is a delight to use, does perfect stitching and is soooooo pretty to look at. For more robust sewing, I use my Singer 201, it will sew through anything (horse rugs). Take care Sharon

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  4. I love the bunting - I will have to dig out my stash of old bits and bobs and look at then with new eyes!

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  5. Such a great idea Josie! I've got many embroidered napkins and runners from my grandma. It's time to use them!

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  6. I'm in complete awe of anyone who is good with their hands, as I'm so badly coordinated I can barely use scissors!! The bunting is amazing :-)

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  7. Love this! Wonderful way to upcycle vintage linens! Thank you!

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  8. Oh my word Josie, these are so lovely. The colours are so vivid, they look like they were stitched yesterday, they were probably kept "for best" and rarely used. Love this project! Xx

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  9. There is SEW much to check out I this post! Happy "jet lag" to me! Wow! Marvelous ideas and creative inspiration indeed!

    Happy week to you,Josie!
    Kelley... back inthe U.S. fromCanada <3

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  10. My sentiments exactly!
    https://noddfacrafts.wordpress.com

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  11. Hi,found you over at Nikki Fretwell,your bunting is fab. I too swoon over embroidered linens,especially crinoline ladies!My passion is also vintage china I have loads of teasets and rose decorated "stuff".I source things for my space "La Boheme" within Olympia House Vintage and Antiques in Chesterfield.Pam.

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  12. Gorgeous! I'm going to keep an eye out for linen in the charity shops so I can give this a try.

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  13. I sell vintage linens and am always ending up with items that are too damaged to sell but too nice to throw away. Your ideas here are wonderful, as ways to re-purpose beautiful embroidery!

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  14. This is a wonderful idea, so different from the usual bunting and looks so pretty.
    Ali xx

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  15. Your bunting is beautiful, and another wonderful way of using beautiful embroidery.

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  16. They are so pretty together, what a great way to give old tablecloths a new use.

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  17. What a great idea. I have quite a few bits of embroidery I have bought, and then not quite known what to do with it.

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  18. Oh my goodness what beautiful bunting! I love the idea of upcycling vintage linens :) x

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  19. Wow! This is beautiful. I love the fine finishing and the fine embroidery. And, the way you stitched them together is amazing. I love you! Great job.

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  20. That bunting is lovely, such a good idea.

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  21. The bunting is beautiful, great find re the vintage linens:)

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  22. Wonderful vintages projects! Thank you for sharing those lovely ideas!
    Hope you have a wonderful day!
    Hugs and love from Portugal,
    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  23. this is so pretty! I am hopping over from terrific tuesday. I invite you to share at my Thursday hop too ♥ xo

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  24. This has got to be one of the cutest projects I have seen in a long time! This would go great in a little girl's room. I am thinking of one of my good girlfriend's daughter. I am going to share this post with her. Thanks for sharing this!

    J @ www.AHotSouthernMess.com

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  25. I have never heard of bunting but this is gorgeous. I am in love with this vintage style. Pinning and sharing. Thanks for sharing at Totally Terrific Tuesday last week! Can't wait to see what you have lined up tonight!

    Sharon
    herorganizedchaos.com

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  26. This is just beautiful. I love how you find a new life for textiles that has no use anymore - such a nice way to upcycle needlework! I find it truly inspiring.

    I am putting together a sort of Easter crafts compilation blog post, with pictures of creative projects for spring. Would you mind if I shared one of your pictures? I will of course credit it to this post. I did the same thing last year if you would like a reference on how it might look: http://aliciasivert.blogspot.se/2014/04/paskpeppen-2014.html

    Thank you for the inspiration!
    Sincerely,
    Alicia

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    1. Thanks for asking and yes of course! xx

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  27. Oh I have some embroidered towels somewhere, I now know what I want to use them for. Thanks for a great tutorial and awesome pictures!

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