Asked on Jul 25, 2014
How to save this beautiful antique crochet lace.
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My grandmother gave me a set of four crochet/tatted lace pillowcases. I have been told they are tatted and then I have been told they are actually crochet. I don't know what they are.The actual pillowcase fabric is disintegrating.
How can I save this beautiful lace? SK Sartell
How can I save this beautiful lace? SK Sartell
Crochet/Tatted Lace Pillowcases
40 answers
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Do you simply want to save the lace? Or do you want to attach the lace to something else? It most definitely is crochet.
Marilyn Highley
on Jul 25, 2014
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You could cut the lace from the current pillow slips...being very careful not to cut the lace. Then attach lace to another pillow slip of your choosing. Remember to never use bleach on the lace, it will cause it to yellow and degrade
Michelle Thompson
on Jul 25, 2014
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There are SO many things you can do with it. It is gorgeous lace, and really deserves to be preserved in a way that you can see it and enjoy it often. Some ideas are: 1) frame photo of your grandmother and decorate the picture frame using the lace 2) create a holiday ornament from the lace so it becomes a family heirloom, 3) make a wall hanging, 4) use the lace to make sachets, 5) make a journal or photo album with a cover decorated in lace. If you have lots of photos of your grandmother, this would be a perfect place for some of them. See the photos attached for other ideas! With any of these ideas, if you are concerned about the beautiful lace falling apart, you could treat it with a finishing spray that will preserve it.
Judy H
on Jul 25, 2014
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No problem sweetie... I was told 'No Bleach' over and over and over... Glad I listened.
Michelle Thompson
on Jul 25, 2014
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Do you sew? Salem has some nice sewing machine/supply stores. Maybe someone at one of the stores could make some suggestions or connections with other people for you.
Marilyn Highley
on Jul 25, 2014
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my great grandmother did tatting all the time. it's much finer than regular crochet due to the tiny tatting tool used. why not use the lace as a matte around a picture of her, cover in glass so it won't yellow?
Terri Brodfuehrer
on Jul 26, 2014
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Beautiful work! Suggest *carefully* cutting the material above where it is attached (or even the whole hem, since it's not likely to be as worn). Then attach to a shawl; won't get as much stress but still a special remembrance of your grandmother and all the time and work she put into crocheting them for you. It is likely mercerized cotton so it would hold a due if you want to change the color.
JS
on Jul 26, 2014
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I would do a part of the pillow case and lace in a frame with a picture of your grandmother and even maybe something else of hers. Give another part of it to a sister, child or other family family member to do the same. Heirlooms are wonderful.
Love Design, Decorating, Furniture Painting
on Jul 26, 2014
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I took some of my grandmother's and used them as a border around pictures, I also have 3 with needlepointed women with crocheted dress on pillowcases. I folded them up and put them in a frame.
Linda H
on Jul 26, 2014
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I think you could remove the lace with a seam ripper if you are used to using one. If not, so to someone who sews and has experience and that person can remove it from where it was attached to the pillow case.
Barbara Ann
on Jul 26, 2014
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DP Paducah Ky. You could fold and have them framed. If you had someone special do that and gift them, I think they would be beautiful that way,,
Annie
on Jul 26, 2014
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I would suggest that you cut the lace off, but leave an inch or two of the original pillowcase on it. Then use it to decorate another, new white pillowcase!
Jeanette S
on Jul 26, 2014
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Edging on a beautiful throw pillow for a bedroom. You can make your own pillow...or buy one and hand sew the lace onto it. You'll get the idea...here's some ideas: If you have someone in the family getting married or need a baby gown for an occasion, use some of the lace for a small pillow or the bottom of the gown. What a precious gift as an heirloom!
Barbara R
on Jul 26, 2014
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Your lovely lace is not tatting, it's crochet. I do both. Love the pattern.
Patricia Stevens
on Jul 26, 2014
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I recently watched an episode of Love It Or List It on Tv and they framed some of the grandmother's doilies with some lovely coordinating fabric for one of the home owners. I thought it was an awesome idea..we display many other collected treasures from our loved ones, but doilies etc...not so much out on display nowadays.
Donna Arsenault
on Jul 26, 2014
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I took some tatting off some of my grandmothers work and used them to make flowers and designs in shadow boxes for her grand children, they all loved them for they then had a piece of their grand or great mothers work safe behind glass to keep and pass on forever!!
Connie Shelton
on Jul 26, 2014
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I also did some of her doilies behind glass with calligraphy of her name with love from her.
Connie Shelton
on Jul 26, 2014
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I would put it in a shadowbox frame with hatpins and maybe add a picture or 2 of your grandmother in there. I did a little of this with my memories of my mom!
Angela Phillips
on Jul 26, 2014
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It's crochet for sure. It would depend on how it's attached to the fabric, you might be able to take it off the pillowcase, or you might have to trim a little bit of the fabric with it. You can use the lace on another pillow case, a throw pillow, use it on clothing, or put it in a special frame with a few other things that reminds you of her. If you need help with it, in person, I live in Salem too.
Becca R
on Jul 26, 2014
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Your lace is beautiful You should be able to remove it and put it on a new pillow case. Here is a great article on the differences. http://ldslacemaker.com/2014/05/01/tatting-vs-crochet/
Debbie Worley
on Jul 26, 2014
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I took the lace off some I had and put them on the bottom of curtains that I made. I learned the hard way, not to take the lace off the fabric. They put that stuff on with invisible stitches. Most of the fabrics this lace was put on was 100% cotton and usually had a good size hem. Cut on top side of the hemline. Then where you decide to put it you can adjust how much you need. Don't cut the lace until needed, from a pillow case, and make sure you zig-zag in smaller stitches to make sure they don't unravel. It does matter if the design matches or not. People will just be in awe of how creative you are! I used the lace from the sheets for the big windows and pillow cases for the little ones. It's just an idea. I'm prattling on.
Sharon
on Jul 26, 2014
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I'd trim up above the lacing and frame it in a photo frame with a picture of your grandma in the middle. I wouldn't attempt to use a seam ripper, just trim it off the pillow case and frame it, or reattach it to another pillow case or on the hem of a curtain.
Debra Anderson
on Jul 26, 2014
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Connie Shelton - your fabric is not safe when placed under glass. Research shows that fabrics need AIR and they do not get it when under glass. Everything I have read says never put fabrics under glass. I must admit that I have done it also.. I framed (under glass) the first two items that I embroidered when I was about 10 years old. Then I later read I shouldn't have!
Carolyn (Gail)
on Jul 26, 2014
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That is crocheted. Beautiful - frame or make into a pillow
Nancy
on Jul 26, 2014
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That is crocheted ! And lots of time went into crocheting ! I would preserve behind class as others have stated !
DIANEKENNY
on Jul 27, 2014
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Not tatting. That is crocheted edging. Just remove from the old pillow cases and sew onto new pillow cases.
Stephanie DuWig
on Jul 27, 2014
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I used something similar.on a chest. I put an old sewing machine on top. it came quite nicely.
Joyce Spiteri
on Jul 27, 2014
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if you want to preserve it, i would suggest you contact a museum who would have professionals to handle it.
Kellianne M
on Jul 27, 2014
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Anything that is a true keepsake should be museum framed. That is making sure that any paper boards used in the process are 100% rag content. You can tell because when you trim the mat to size, you can see that the center is white instead of a light cream colored. If you use a shadow box molding, you can provide ventilation by adding a couple of small holes punched into the corners.
Jeanette S
on Jul 27, 2014
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U a lucky girl!!!
Jacqueline Saam Cleary
on Jul 27, 2014
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Thanks for all of the comments posted. I have a piece I thought could frame and protect. So glad I read the post I would have been crushed if I ruined my daughters keepsake piece from her great grandmother.
Tina
on Jul 27, 2014
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The fabric looks like linen. The lace is crocheted. The lace will last and last so you could use it again or frame it which ever you choose. I think Michael's does a decent shadow box frame and you could ask about the backing. I've boiled and bleached crocheted lace I made years ago with no problem to get stains out. It works, too!
Rose
on Jul 27, 2014
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My daddy tatted when he was alive. Many of my clothes while growing up we're made by my mama and embellished with daddy's tatting!!
Martha G
on Jul 27, 2014
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This looks crochetted on to that pillow slip maybe up could cut 1/4 of the fabric and sew it on to another pillow case
Shirley C
on Jul 27, 2014
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I would take them to someone who sews. Cut the lace off and sew them onto other pillowcases.
Marilyn
on Jul 27, 2014
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I'd frame most of it with her picture in the center, and if you have her crochet hooks I'd put them in the frame too. I have several that my grand mother did and all her hooks, plus a few other things she did, they are going into a shadow box. one for each grandchild. my mom did nothing in hand work except one embroidered thing from high school that is already in a frame, I have it in my kitchen,
Sherry Poore
on Jul 27, 2014
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That's a nice idea, to include the crochet hooks in the framing :)
Judy H
on Jul 28, 2014
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Beatiful sheet ,it is linen surely but crochet is not the same than lace because is made in different way. Crochet can saved if you know to do with an special kind of needle, LACE is impossible to do it. Look for somebody, maby aged because we learned that in catholics school.
Beatriz Maria
on Jul 30, 2014
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I love the shadowbox ideas, but, I would also use some of it for a small throw pillow for your bed (or a guest bed if you're not a throw pillow person) so that the delicate beauty is there also to touch and value.
Cynthia H
on Dec 19, 2015
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I had BAGS of lace my grandmother made and I didn't know what to do with it. All my pillowcases had lace on them as did most of my sheets! Soooo I found a really old-looking frame with a large outside framework, sewed (by hand) pieces of this beautiful lace onto a piece of black velvet. In between I glued pictures of her, of her and me, etc. Beautiful memory that hangs in my bedroom. Everyone comments on how great the idea is.
Dee5193856
on May 30, 2016
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