Halloween Textravaganza
I’m not a huge Halloween aficionado, but I do have a few items that might help you in planning a Halloween party. It’s still early in the month – sure, you have time to whip this stuff up!
First, here is a tablecloth my grandmother embroidered back in her youth, probably about 1930-35. I don’t think she would have made it specifically for Halloween – maybe orange and black was a popular color combination at the time she made it. All I know is, she told me she was sick of it by the time she was finished!
Orange and black tablecloth
Detail, including binding and crochet edging
The back, showing how the stitch is started
Then there is a weaving sample I did, of spiders and flames. It was for a challenge about mythology, so I picked spiders for Arachne and fire for the Greek fire on Hercules’ cloak from Deianeira, but I think it works for Halloween too. (Technical info for any weavers – I used 10/2 mercerized cotton for the warp, at 24 ends to the inch. I used doubled embroidery floss for the pattern, and sewing thread for the tabby.)
The spiders’ upper legs look like antennae, but they still look sort of creepy.
The spider pattern actually shows up more clearly on the reverse.
Here’s the draft. Both designs can be woven from one tie-up.
If you don’t want to embroider 120 little orange spider webs, or weave your own spider table runner, you can check out these suggestions from my favorite party-planning book, Bright Ideas for Entertainment by Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott (George W. Jacobs and Co., 1905). I love how she says that “All formality must be dispensed with on Hallowe’en” but then goes on to suggest huge amounts of decorations.
I guess you’re relieved you can dispense with the formal wait staff. But you will need a bagpipe player, a pumpkin twirler, and some white-draped figures, as seen in these additional suggestions.
Well, I’m off to hang thrust ears of corn through fishnets for decoration, and to practice twirling the alphabet pumpkin to determine my fate!
Wow, Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott has very different assumptions about the world than I do… And as usual, your textiles are lovely, and that book is fantastic! I imagine digging through your attic would be a blast 🙂
Ya, nothing brightens my day like Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott – what a role model! I don’t think she would approve of my attic though, or the amount of cleaning we would have to do to actually use the barn for a party!
I’m so glad you copied Mrs. Linscott’s advice. I lost my copy and I just knew I forgot a few items like not using the wait staff etc. Leftie
I hope you are already working on your apple festoons for the portiere!
The tablecloth is nice!
Thanks! It would look nice with a fall centerpiece in the middle of it – if I tried to actually use it though, my cats would jump up and sleep on it.
Reblogged this on Windows into History (Reblogs and News) and commented:
Scroll down for some interesting snippets from a 1905 book! Reblogged on Windows into History.
Thanks for the reblog! If you want though, you can just copy the image of the old book and use that, you don’t have to include the tablecloth, etc. I have also posted the Football Dinner and some of the parlor games from that book and you are welcome to use those.