Duds made from vintage linens?

[ohairas]

Has anyone made a dress or other clothing out of vintage tablecloths or hankies? I really want to, but just don't have the heart to use my linens this way. However, I'm not using them as it is....
I guess If I find some with flawed edeges, but the things I have are in too good of condition.

Nikki

 

[Lady Day]

Well, I made this from a crappy wrap skirt that I was gonna use as something else.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=247041&postcount=398

My Mama useta do that a lot. Shed buy bulks of old linnens and make curtains or smocks with them. Its just cloth with finished edges, its fair game in my opinion

LD

 

[ohairas]

Its just cloth with finished edges, its fair game in my opinion

True that Lady Day... putting it that way makes me feel a lot better!

I love how that smock turned out... you are so clever in using the pattern of the fabric in certain places!

I had seen a dress on ebay once made from a fifties bright tablecloth and it was SOO cute. I really would like to try it!

Nikki

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

Go for it!, Ohairas!

Particularly if you like the tablecloth/fabric in question - if something makes you happy, do it!

My mother once made me a white summer dress - a simple 1910's style out of a fine cotton tablecloth with this really great chain stitching. I still have it someplace - I'll post a picture when I find it. And I used to cut up all sorts of things from thrift stores and hand-me-downs to make dresses and other things for my daughter when she was little. (not to mention aprons and rag rugs).

 

[ohairas]

Would love to see the dress HH! Thanks!
Nikki

 

[Elaina]

I use linens from the thrift store as fabric for mock ups since I can get a king sized sheet set for $2, or an assortment of sheets for $10 (with 5-20 sheets in it.)

Made a few shirts out of some wild prints.

 

[epr25]

I got this really cool atomic raindeer christmas table cloth. I think it's even gaberdine. I wanted to make a skirt out of that since all that I would have to do is add that waist and things that go with it in the middle.

 

[ShooShooBaby]

i have a couple chenille bedspreads i've thought of making a robe out of. they just sit in my dad's closet, but i don't use them, and they were my grandma's so i don't want to just sell them.

i also have a few tablecloths in bad condition that i plan on removing the embroidery for reusing. i generally will only cut something up to make into something else if it's already in unusable condition.

Elaina, i've used thrift store sheets for costumes before. i paid a totally of $4 for my Blueberry Muffin costume last halloween!

 

[ohairas]

LOVE the chenille robe and Christmas skirt ideas, go for it girls!!
Nikki

 

[Elaina]

Shoo Shoo: I know who you went as.

Matter of fact, I've been threatening my son that I'm going as Mandy to the next con we go to (from the Grim adventures of). I found the perfect sheet to do the trick for all of a quarter.

Ironically, one of my costumes I made for cosplay was made entirely of linens from the 60's. I went as a lava lamp, because there was too much wild embroidery, prints and colors to go to waste.

 

[Lady Day]

Slightly fftopic:

But, what defines an 'Atomic' print/pattern?

Ive looked online and have seen so many variations of what is being called 'atomic'. Are their any guidelines?

Thanks Ladies,

LD

 

[Lauren]

I always think of Atomic as a space agey style print. Kind of like when you think about how Disneyland's Tomorrowland was laid out originally lol lots of circular shapes and stuff that looks out of "the Jetsons"

 

[ShooShooBaby]

Shoo Shoo: I know who you went as.

Matter of fact, I've been threatening my son that I'm going as Mandy to the next con we go to (from the Grim adventures of). I found the perfect sheet to do the trick for all of a quarter.

Ironically, one of my costumes I made for cosplay was made entirely of linens from the 60's. I went as a lava lamp, because there was too much wild embroidery, prints and colors to go to waste.

i think i've been mixed up with somebody else....

but i would love to see a lava lamp costume!

 

[Lady Day]

*bump*

I am making a 30s night gown from an old sheet I got at the thrift store for $2. Whoo hoo!

LD
will keep you posted

 

[Grace]

What about out of an old light weight cotton quilt?

I bought it at an auction, and shame on me for not inspecting it first. The edges are completely worn through, with various holes throughout. It has patchwork cottages around the edges done in pale pink and light green. I think it would make for a lovely strapless dress, with the cottages used as a sort of border print on the hem.

Am I nuts?

 

[RedHotRidinHood]

I got this really cool atomic raindeer christmas table cloth. I think it's even gaberdine. I wanted to make a skirt out of that since all that I would have to do is add that waist and things that go with it in the middle.

It isn't gab-it is viscose rayon, and it was made by a company called California Handprints in the 50s. It is actually rather hard to find...and I know this isn't popular opinion, but I have to say it anyway: think twice before cutting that one up-it's a really good tablecloth! Or, is it the round version with the fringe? That way all you would have to do is cut a hole in the middle, and boy, would that be easy! CAHP made the best quality rayon tablecloths, and believe me, they can be hard to find anymore other than on eBay. Also, NEVER use Oxy products on rayon or fabrics with metallic dyes, as it will literally eat the fabric into holes. BIZ is usually safest.

You want anymore info on vintage linens, this is the site for the club I helped to start a number of years ago:

www.vintagetableclothsclub.com

Linens and textiles are near and dear to my heart!

 

[BeBopBaby]

I love vintage table clothes! I miss being able to find them in thrift stores for cheap. Thanks for posting the link to your tablecloth website. I got a surprise when I clicked on the resources button from your main page. I own a tablecloth almost identical to the 1940s red oriental one pictured, except mine is pink. You don't know more about that tablecloth do you?

I have quite a few in my collection, but never thought you could identify the makers, etc. because none of the tableclothes I have are labelled in any way. Very interesting!

 

[Miss Dottie]

I too have a thing for vintage tablecloths. There is this terrific white elephant sale that the Oakland Museum runs every year and on the last day, everything is half off, so I get great prices on vintage tableclothes. So beautiful and so sturdy to boot!

 

[Grnidwitch]

What about out of an old light weight cotton quilt?

I bought it at an auction, and shame on me for not inspecting it first. The edges are completely worn through, with various holes throughout. It has patchwork cottages around the edges done in pale pink and light green. I think it would make for a lovely strapless dress, with the cottages used as a sort of border print on the hem.

Am I nuts?

Heck no Grace, you aren't nuts at all. I've seen lightweight quilts used as skirts in the colder months. They are beautiful.