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Re-Imagining A Crochet Tablecloth

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Getting creative with clients to turn a piece from something that can’t be used to something that can is one of my favorite types of collaborations.

This tablecloth had major damage around various part of the outer edge. However, like many crochet pieces, this one was modular – both in that the motifs used could be pulled out and put other places, and that each round of motifs and edging was not dependent on the last piece.

The first step for me was laying the piece out so I could take a careful look and mark and note the places that needed attention. There’s the obvious two holes along the edge, but there were also multiple smaller places that would need attention and reinforcement too.

The client preferred to be able to use the piece – no matter that we’d have to take off quite a bit of the outer edging. We could then use it as a table runner instead of a table cloth.

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After taking a good close look at the piece, and multiple conversations with the client, we determined the place where we could take the least off. I’d still need to repair some small areas, but we had reduced the amount of work to something that was in the client’s budget.

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Taking the edging off involved the use of a sharp pair of scissors and some time where I didn’t need to be interrupted. There was no room for mistakes! After several hours of carefully removing the outer edge, it was time to take a step back, take some pictures and consult with the client again.

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Here we have the piece with the edging taken off – it really changed the appearance and presentation of the finished product. I think the cleaner unadorned edge gives it a bit more of a formal and modern look.

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A quick and light steam press, shoring up some of the other areas, and it was ready to be sent on its way!

Preparing a Hole For Swiss Darning in a White Knit Throw

One of the first steps when I get a piece is an initial evaluation to make sure everything is ready to be worked on.  It always helps when clients secure stitches and mark the areas that need to be worked on.  In this paticular case, a hole had developed in a supremely soft knit afghan… clearly it needed repairing to be used this winter!  I feel like the end of 2020 has been a year of wanting to snuggle under a blanket, especially as in the Northern Hemisphere it’s getting cold.

hole in white knit throw held together with safety pins

hole in white knit throw held together with safety pins

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Challenges in Restoring Crochet Rag Rugs

teal sheet fabric against damaged rag rug

Normally I’m all about the yarn, but the most recent repair I’ve been working on is a set of three crochet rag rugs.  Restoring these pieces took some real inguenuity and creativity, as I worked with the client to come to a solution.  Let’s take a look at these three lovely rag rugs, and how we approached repairing them for further use!

These rugs started out with some pretty significant damage.  Because they were made out of rags, some of the more delicate fabrics had worn out quickly, while much of the rug was still in really good shape.  I thought when the client first sent picture that the rugs were made out of quilting cotton, but it became apparent once I had a them in my hands that the quilts were made from garments – most notably, men’s button up shirts. [Read more…]

Much Beloved Heirloom Crochet Tablecloth Made New

rectangular lace crochet tablecloth with center border and then outer border made up of flower motifs

rectangular lace crochet tablecloth with center border and then outer border made up of flower motifs

One of my favorite repairs, recently, has been a series of two different crochet lace tablecloths I took on.  These two pieces were both at least 30 or more years old, and were in pretty good condition.  Frank from Textile Restoration Inc in Chicago had sent the client my way.  I’ll highlight the first of the tablecloths today, and I’ll be highlighting the second of them a little later.

The first tablecloth, which I thought of as “Field of Flowers” when I worked on it, was a huge piece, at least 5 1/2 feet by 4 feet.  It was made of a center pannel of 4 x 12 motfs, an inner border of triangles, an outer set of motifs 4 deep, and then larger second outer border.

Most of the holes were areas where motifs that had been joined as the tablecloth was worked had come undone and unraveled – not uncommon, even in pieces where every single end is tightly woven in.  The areas where two motifs join together tend to be an area that recieves more stress.

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