Crafting with Textiles

Careful_with_that_Axe

I've recently been given a bag with lots of old textiles in - tablecloths with lace edgings type of stuff. I was hoping to remove the lace parts (whether they are on the edge of the item or in the middle) and use them for decorating other things like Lampshades and other fabrics, maybe some decoupage.

Anyone done this type of thing? I am wondering what it best to use to cut out the bits I want - scissors, craft knife, scapel etc without causing too much damage.

Any suggestions for the cutting/use/design would be gratefully received.

[Deleted User]

I would suggest a stitch unpicker. Google to see piccys of this item.

Also, I would buy some very small, sharp scissors. Ones which have tiny points at their ends as they are really useful for cutting precise shapes. The type I mean can be seen in the link below :

http://www.scissors-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Clover_Cut_Work_Scissors.html

Careful_with_that_Axe

Brilliant idea! Thank you so much.

meritaten

yes - a stitch unpicker is a really useful item! so are pinking shears - you may find that you cannot identify where the lace is attached, so use the shears to take a border of the fabric without it fraying. If the textiles cannot be saved in one piece (and if they are really old, dont cut them up, but get them evaulated by an expert - they could be antique and worth money) then re-using them is a lovely thing to do.
I would make sure you arent destroying antiques before cutting them up!

ChocClare

Such a nice idea: if some parts of the tablecloths are sound you can also use them, particularly if they're decent linen or cotton. Cutting away some background fabric with the lace would also enable you to layer the lace in a crazy quilt effect - sounds probably naff, I know, but you can get some really nice effects with all white, and it doesn't matter if you only have "bits".

The best example I have of this is in a book I have so can't post it here, but you can get an idea of the sort of thing I mean here.

Old lace usually has a leading thread on one edge (I'm talking about machine-made lace now, not crochet lace) - if you lift the various likely threads with the point of a needle and give each one a slight tug you will find one which will gather up the lace without your having to sew it - useful if you want to do ruffles of any kind.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Some lovely ideas there; thank you. This is my first foray into textile crafting and I am looking forward to it.

Some of the napkins etc are lovely quality linen and cotton so I do wonder about making something like a quilt with the bits and covering the joins with some lace or something. My local libraries aren't very good, but I think I may have to pay a visit and see if I can find any guidance. I do have a sewing machine but it is barely used! I bought it so it was there when I needed it and I'm glad I did.

I very much doubt there will be any antique items, but I will keep an eye out for things and maybe do a bit of reading up first on what is valuable and what is not. Thank you as I wouldn't have thought of that. Wouldn't it be lovely to find a piece of tatting that I could cherish!

THIRZAH

There are lots of crazy patchwork sites around-one I like is Ivory Blush Roses-http://ivoryblushroses.blogspot.com/.

She's done some lovely cream and lace blocks .

ChocClare

Thanks for that, thirzah, that site is really lovely.

Careful_with_that_Axe

It's gorgeous and just the sort of things I dream about making. That's what I love about crafters; we love to share the passion and any resources we come across.

I also have an old fireside chair to recover (a bargain at £4!) and now I am torn between which project to start first! So many ideas, so little time and energy!