small projects

In February there is Valentine’s Day: the day for lovers. And what could be more appropriate than to choose the heart – the symbol for love – for this month’s tablecloth decoration. Of course, the heart is doubly appropriate for our purpose since the motif plays a big role in Schwalm whitework.

In past posts, “A Comparison of Iron-On Transfer Pencils” and “Iron Transfer versus direct Tracing”, one can find a heart design. Also on this blog one can find many articles describing how to embroider a heart.

Embroider some such hearts, either all the same size and the same shape or in different sizes or shapes.

One can see how to cut out an embroidered heart here: “Small Project – Slate meets Linen”.

It is a fun to play with the finished pieces to test the different possibilities for decoration and to find your favorite arrangement.

January is the snowiest month of the year here. So, I decided to create snowballs to decorate the monthly tablecloth.

A simple circle design with a double line (Here: internal diameter 7.3 cm; external diameter 8.5 cm) was ironed on Weddigen linen, 13.5/cm thread count. I think ironing is the best way to get a true circle on the linen.

Use Coton à broder No. 16 for Coral Knot stitches, No. 20 for Blanket stitches and for Chain stitches. Coral Knot stitches were worked along the inner line. Chain stitches were worked a small distance outside, the Coral Knot stitches. The outside Chain stitches were covered with densely worked Blanket stitches between the outline and the Coral Knot line.

Using Coton à broder No. 30 Chain stitches were worked directly inside the Coral Knot stitches. The shape was filled with pattern “445”.

After finishing, the embroidered piece was washed (boiled), starched and ironed. Then, the circle was cut.

If needed, such closely trimmed embroidery can be washed and ironed – quick and easy – at any time, but never spun in a washing machine!

To decorate your tablecloth with snowballs, work several and place them in a pleasing arrangement over the tabletop.

Of course, such small doilies also can be used as coasters.

The season of Advent has come. The home is brought to a high gloss and decorated for Christmas.
For tables, desks, chests of drawers and sideboards matching cloths and runners are sought out.
Like every year, I go to my linen closet and marvel, again, at how many different Christmas tablecloths I have accumulated. There are far too many to display all at once for the few holiday weeks. There are cloths colorfully embroidered, decorated with Danish or American Cross Stitch, embellished with Satin stitches or needle painting, but lately my collection has grown to include many done in white. The whitework pieces include some done in cutwork (Richelieu), but the majority are drawn thread embroidery in the way of Schwalm whitework.
Then there are the Easter cloths – not quite as many as the Christmas versions , but a sizable stack.
Also, I embroidered Spring cloths and those with autumnal motifs.

So very many different cloths, is it really necessary?

Now I got the idea to make one tablecloth and let it become, with a few interchangeable embellishments, a tablecloth for all seasons. This cloth should get an elaborate hem – perhaps one of them seen below – and remain un-embroidered in the center.

Hem with a mitred corner – combination of Four-Sided stitches, Wave stitches, Peahole and Needleweaving with spider legs

Hem with a mitred corner “Christmas Stripe”

Hem with a mitred corner – combination of Satin stitch bars and Honeycomb Darning stitches

These and many more beautiful hems, more or less elaborate, and with various corners, one can find in my book “Fancy Hems“, described in great detail.

At the time of publication, this book was available only in German. However, it served as inspiration for Barbara Kershaw and her students, all of whom were members of the Embroidery Guild of Toronto. They set out to embroider their own cloths with unique fancy hems. Barbara has written about and published this story.

Some time ago, Barbara Kershaw and some of her students travelled to Germany and visited with me at my exhibition. They told me about their experience and I obtained permission to share this story with you.

For the German-speaking readers, I have made a free translation.
Ganz_spontan_-_Das_Tischdecken-Projekt.pdf
But the many beautiful pictures can only be seen in the original version. Since the file is large, it takes a few moments to download.
Simple_Spontaneity[1].pdf (3.448 KB)

If you have embroidered such a tablecloth with a beautiful edging and want to make it a cloth for all seasons, next year I will show you how you can make it accommodate (via matching accessories) the seasons, and special holidays throughout the year. Be curious and look forward to it!

I wish you a beautiful, peaceful Christmas season with many moments of relaxation and plenty of time for embroidery.