Handmade Christmas Gifts Frugally Victorian and Mid Century

 The Victorians appreciated personal handmade gifts of monogrammed and embroidered linens at Christmas and considered them wonderful expressions of friendship and family.  Contrary to the practice of spending far too much money for gifts today, the time invested in even the simplest piece of linen was valued greatly. Here are some beautiful ideas for gifts you can invest a little time is creating that will surely be appreciated for years and generations to come. 

Good, wonderfully woven fabrics are readily available in vintage linen shops locally and online.   Hand towels, tea towels, kitchen towels, pillowcases and small table cloths and linen runners are perfect for the simple embroidered monogram or a center cartouche embellishment.  Vintage damask fabric have beautiful field patterns in many motifs which feature a center frame called a cartouche.  That is the traditional area for the single or entwined monogram or symbol.  A flower or geometric choice, even a white on white running stitch outlining some of the detail in the damask pattern highlights the quality of the piece.  Bold colors or pastels, in cross stitch, whip stitch and outlined with a contrasting color make a stunning piece.


Alphabet transfers can be found at any craft or fabric shop.  Online vintage shops on etsy have an lovely assortment of old embroidery transfer patterns that will make a lovely presentation as a gift as well.  Silk, cotton and wool yarn or floss is available in a huge assortment or colors and sheen these days at the local craft or fabric store.  You can find simple stitch instructions online and demonstrations on youtube.com if you have trouble following the directions from pictures in an embroidery book.  Again, the work doesn't have to be complicated and in fact, the simpler, the better.

Another great idea is working a simple monogram in the corner of a good quality linen vintage kitchen or tea towel.  The rage these days is old German or French linen toweling and you may see samples of this kind of work with just a tiny initial in the corner, usually in black or red.  You can choose any color you like, and scale the initials to the the size of the stripes or pattern of the towel. 

Choosing the right textile is important.  Good, thick, tightly woven fabric holds the stitches properly and wears well with use.  Good fabric doesn't have to be ironed at all if pulled from the dryer when still slightly damp and laid flat to finish drying.  The cottage chic look of the natural weave of the fabric is charming. 

Kitchen towels can be embroidered with the words, Glass, China, Silver or days of the week as well.  Even vintage calender towels can be outline embroidered for a special look around the year or embellished on particular birthdays and anniversary dates.

You can find calender towels going back decades that are in fabulous condition on etsy or other retro textile shops and ebay.  Read the descriptions carefully and inquire as to the specific condition and quality.  Kay-Dee is an excellent brand, Startex, Martex, Stevens, Cannon and Wilendur are quality brands as well.  I would avoid the reproduction Moda brands sometimes marketed as Aunt Martha because the fabric is thin and while it's vintage-like, it's not good vintage quality. The fabric doesn't have the heft to embroider on the front surface. Quality work, even the most simple work doesn't have to go through the fabric.  Thick, hefty vintage linen has the required hand so the majority of the work never has to go through to the back.

 Small Linen or cotton table toppers are an excellent field for your embellishments.  Usually 32 to 34 inches square, these old cloths were traditionally used for card tables.  Ladies played bridge as a regular club activity back in the day and the hostess usually had to set 3 to 4 tables. They weren't used much and sometimes the embroidered work on these cloths is perfect as a gift the way they are.  Or the old work is easily picked out to start again with your design. Today, these cloths work beautifully for small side tables and as a cover cloth atop another on a dinner table.  So search around for some great vintage linens that will make wonderful gifts and add your special touch.  Your effort will be cherished and appreciated. 

www.teaworkscottage.etsy.com

Second Hand isn't Necessarily Second Rate

Have you noticed the condition of the economy has everything to do with our urgent desire to re-define our frugal ways? It seems we are in the midst of such a revival. I've noticed an increased number of blogs, articles and tips outlining ways to save money on those things we must have, and ways to recycle what we already have.

So I'm going to add my two cents from personal experience! I was raised in a very frugal household. Which is not be be confused with 'cheap'. Cheap simply wasn't done in our home because cheap was a waste of money. 'Buy well the first time and take care of it', that was our motto. Sometimes that meant buying something secondhand because it was a better value for the money and expectation of use. Finding vintage glass and useful dinnerware are always a bonus.  A terrific way to add color to the table or kitchen display.  But it makes the most sense if you plan to actually use the finds you bring home! 

I think we are familiar with second hand clothing shops like Goodwill, Salvation Army and the scores of consignments shops. Now some people stalk these secondhand shops looking for that treasure someone else threw out which is worth its weight in gold. I stalk them as the first line of shopping for clothes. I used to find great clothes for my son when he was young. When kids are at the stage of growth where they outgrow things before they've worn them out...secondhand is the only way to go in my book. Vintage linens are another find at most Thrift shops.  Cleanouts of older relatives' homes yield wonderful kitchen towels that simply get passed along to donation centers.

I recently found a brand new designer white cotton dress shirt with the tags intact for $6, well below the retail price and just my size. I found two sets of Laura Ashley cotton window curtains complete with tiebacks and fully lined for $10. Now I do a lot of sewing with cotton and there is enough excellent quality yardage in those curtains to make a dozen pillow cases, cushions, tote bags with enough left over the make some sachets, wrist cuffs and add several squares to my recycled quilt. Vintage napkins are a common find, however, finding napkins in good condition is not so easy.  Don't be quick to pass up stained cotton and linen.  Older cotton and linen fabrics were better made of longer fiber threads and are perfect as lining inside a potholder or sachet. As long as the fabric is washed and free of odors, who cares if the stains are hidden from view.

Beautiful embroidered linens are a marvel of talent and color.  Even if the pieces has some staining, the bits of the embroidery can easily be cut away and used to fashion a sented sachet or embellish a pillow.  The frugal minded used pieces like this to cover holes in the center of doilies.

But remember, great buys are only great if you saved money on something you were going to buy anyway. It has to fit, it has to be useful and it has to be reasonable. Don't waste money on something you'll have to fix because you'll never get around to it.