Real Thrift Doesn't Mean Cheap! Vintage Linens

Lot's of folks consider themselves 'thrifty'. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. Way back in the day, the word, 'thrift' meant buying something of value and quality for a reasonable price. Thrift, as I was taught back in the dark ages, is 'buy well, buy once.' We were taught to buy the best quality for the most you can afford because we intended to use it for a lifetime. Remember the quality of things back in the day? We still have bath towels made in the USA from the 1960's and use still use them. We still use dish towels from the 1950's made of linen and cotton to actually dry dishes, and as hand towels in the bathroom. The thread count is high and the quality of the cotton and linen last forever because the fibers are longer and the yarn is thicker.   I've seen the new 'vintage look' cotton toweling in the market today, distributed by MODA, and sadly, the quality and expected life span of that stuff is hardly up to snuff. The fiber used in the yarn is short and the weave is not as tight or thick compared to fabrics from the 50's and earlier.

Tablecloths of cotton and linen are wonderful! Good solid fabric with and without printed designs from the mid-century are beautiful and useful. I still use tablecloths from the 1930's and 1940's of wonderful, thick cotton; some of which have a lovely woven damask pattern. The key to long life for tablecloths is to soak them immediately for any serious stain. Cornstarch rubbed into a grease stain and allowed to absorb the grease overnight will usually take care of that problem before washing. It might take a couple of applications, but it will work.  Launder tablecloths in cool water and rinse twice to make sure all the detergent is washed out. Pull them out of the dyer while they are still a little damp. Shake them out gently and hang or drape them to dry completely. Good fabric won't really need ironing. A soft, crisp hand can be achieved in the dryer and removing them before they are completely dry will prevent the fibers from shrinking and becoming brittle over time. If you do iron tablecloths, do so when they are lightly damp and use a moderate temp on the iron.  Over-ironing will flatten the fibers and creasing the fabric with heat will eventually split the fibers.  No starch is necessary and actually can be harmful.  Storing linens finished with high heat and starch is a great invite to silverfish and other creatures who to consume the cellulose as a food source.

There are many things you can do with an old tablecloth, especially if it's heavy cotton. The average kitchen towel is about 16 inches wide and 24 to 26 inches in length. It's simple and thrifty to make some fabulous kitchen towels out of an old tablecloth. Just cut out sections from the areas that still good, fold the edges over twice and stitch in place. That's the thrifty alternative to tossing out perfectly good fabric and spending your hard earned money on a new, lesser quality contemporary replacement for kitchen towels. The leftover pieces are still useful as cleaning rags, adding thickness to quilts and patching other tablecloths.

Fabulous cotton napkins from days gone by, are a perfect alternative to reams of paper napkins and their contemporary polyester cousins. Polyester is a petroleum product and as such, latches onto oil stains like salad dressing and sauces made with butter and oil. They don't wash out which is why the cheaply made polyester napkins are never a bargin at any price. Cotton and linen, as natural fibers let go of stains like oil and look great year after year. No need to iron them if you pull them out of the dyer while still slightly damp. Just straighten them and let them finish air drying. And the key to removing stains, just like for all cotton and linen, is to soak them immediately so the stain has no chance of setting. Fancy or casual, natural fiber napkins will last a good long time.

It's easy to find clean, good quality linens online at etsy, (our specialty) and other local specialty shops too. No need to pay retail for lesser quality which have probably been made in China and have poorly finished hems. Thrift means more than the price paid for something. It means buying quality for the use of a lifetime.

Be sure to stop in http://www.teaworkscottage.etsy.com/ for some fabulous linens at truly thrifty prices.