This morning I walked into a local thrift store and straight to a bag of vintage linens marked at $5.
You can bet I paid for those and left as quickly as I could. This store almost never has any vintage linens, and I'm guessing most of these came from the same person or estate.
However, when I returned home and opened them, it was clear they had been stored in a cedar chest--for years. They were once gorgeous, and I'm hoping they can become so once again. These were all once white.
The damage is especially notable around the edges and on folds, and where they had touched the cedar.
However, these are the two that take the cake!--Stored with food spills still on them! I'm going to go take care of that right now!
The lessons these former owners will probably never learn is that cedar chests are moth prevention for woolens. If something is any other fiber, including paper, an airtight cedar chest is a very, very bad idea! I wish I knew how to get that information out to more people!!
Happy quiltmaking.
I was in a local thrift store and found 5 yards of an old Daisy Kingdon print that has flags printed on it. And another piece that is a panel I'll use for a QOV. Score!
ReplyDeleteHope they clean up nicely.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThere are some great recipes to make linens white again. Google and check Pinterest. These are a great find!
ReplyDeleteThose are so gorgeous!!!!! I've used Oxy Clean.....let them soak in a large bucket for a couple hours, "stirring" them up once in a while. The results have been quite good. I know there's other ideas out there. White vinegar solution also helps in some case. Anyhow, these "ingredients" are the ones I have around the house and seem to be the safest for use on old cloths.
ReplyDeleteI must admit I did not know this about cedar chests! I have my mother's cedar chest which is like a piece of furniture on legs. I have three first communion dresses stored in it, along with knit and crocheted baby blankets. So far I've noticed no damage to the blankets, but I'm wondering if this is why the dresses do not seem to be as white as they once were.
ReplyDeleteGood job with your lucky finds
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