Category Archive: Household Textiles

Family Quilt Mystery Solved

Back in 2017, my mother-in-law downsized, and passed four quilts on to me.  Since they were in an old family trunk from Ohio, I justifiably assumed that they had come from family in… Continue reading

Pattern Books from the 1950s

As the year comes to a close, it seems like a good time to dip back in to the pattern book collection I got at an auction in the spring. The 1950s brought… Continue reading

A Stack of Summer Dish Towels

One of my goals for the year is to use up most of my weaving yarn. I have been weaving on and off for over 40 years, and my favorite thing to weave… Continue reading

Guest Post: Never Give Up

You might know Sue (Mac’s Girl) from her lovely nature blog, where she takes us along on seasonal walks and shows us both vistas and details, and also shares observations of the nature… Continue reading

Decorator Dreams from the 1940s

As I wrote last month, I am cataloging a box full of vintage needlework books and patterns that I bought at an auction. To review the history of this crafty family, in 1917,… Continue reading

Rummage Sale Find

Yesterday I went to a huge rummage sale at a local church, and found these cute vintage dish towels.

Wrapping up 2019

Looking back at my resolutions from last year, I accomplished about half.  I am happy with that. Big Projects I finished repairing our friend Chuck’s quilt, not much more than a year after… Continue reading

The Richness of Greek Embroidery

When I think of “household embroideries,” I think of framed cross stitch samplers on the wall, or some pillowcases with daisy-stitched flowers with French knot centers.  But last week I got to visit… Continue reading

Textile Inventory from 1844

In going through the old papers from my husband’s family, I have come across an inventory from 1844, from his great-great-great-grandfather’s estate. I don’t have the original, I am working from a Xerox… Continue reading

Souvenirs from Washington

On our way to the Maryhill Museum of Art, we had time to meander and stop at little towns and scenic overlooks. In the historic district of Ellensburg, we had a delicious breakfast,… Continue reading