Home

[Peaches McPhee]

I have a hand embroidered table cloth my mother made in the 50s, when she was a young wife.  I love it, but don't use it because I am afraid of of food stains.

[151949]

---

@Peaches McPhee wrote:

I have a hand embroidered table cloth my mother made in the 50s, when she was a young wife.  I love it, but don't use it because I am afraid of of food stains.

---

I think most of us collectors don't use our precious tablecloths when we are eating at that table - they are for show only.

[ECBG]

---

@Peaches McPhee wrote:

I have a hand embroidered table cloth my mother made in the 50s, when she was a young wife.  I love it, but don't use it because I am afraid of of food stains.

---

@Peaches McPheePut another smaller colored table cloth on top turned so that the corners point down on each side if her design is around the border.

Your special cloth would be on the bottom and not get dirty.

I'd center the top one.

[violann]

---

@CelticCrafter wrote:

I have one my grandmother cross stitched (stamped) for me 40 years ago tucked away in the closet.

It's white with red X's and it  has stains on it that I don't know if I would ever be able to get out.  I don't want to use bleach on it and fade the stitching.

---

Depending on how the pattern is layer out, I use diluted bleach on a Qtip to do that kind of touch up.

Sometimes, the bleached area looks too white compared to the aged white of the fabric, so you have to be careful and ALWAYS try this on an inconspicuous part of the item first.

[Mominohio]

I have a small collection of vintage tablecloths. 

One is a terry cloth with large roosters. I remember that one from being on the table at my grandparents and later my parents homes when I was a child. It has seen better days and been repaired (quite expertly by my grandma who could really sew) and we use it when we go on picnics.

I have several others I've come across over the years at thrift stores. The colors and patterns just caught my eye and they were really inexpensive. I never use them, because they simply don't match the decor style I'm trying to achieve. I love the look of them, just not in my main rooms, if that makes sense. I have a really big laundry room, and have a display of old Pyrex pieces in there on a shelving unit my son built for me. I'd like to find a way to display a lot of my vintage linens (I have a ton of vintage tea towels too) in there too, but will have to wait until some other things can be removed from there first. 

As for tablecloths in general, I only have one dining table in the house (the kitchen is too small to hold a table), and it is covered with a tablecloth at all times. It is in the dining room, and where we eat all our meals. I find that Heritage Lace (made in USA!!) is a very pretty but sturdy enough to use brand of table coverings, and highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for something a little more elegant, but washes well and holds up over time.

[151949]

@Mominohio  I agree if you are looking to achieve elegant then retro tablecloths are unlikely to go there. I have a very casual home and they really fit in for me - casual, retro , colorful and fun. I have a kitchen table so we don't use the DR often.