Historic Snippet – Embroidering Luncheon Sets

Note from Martha: Embroidering table linens has always been in vogue. Flowers are used so many times to make tables beautiful. It is so much fun to "make a gorgeous tablecloth" by purchasing a tablecloth and embellishing it with our embroidery machines. I thought you would like to read about a philosophic view of making luncheon sets from a vintage magazine. As I look at our gorgeous Historic Quilts of the DAR Museum, I can see so many of those designs being beautiful embroidered on placemats, bridge cloths or napkins. I might add that I ADORE beautiful card table sized cloths since I use them almost every time I entertain for more than 10 people at dinner. At our licensings we usually seat about 40 for dinner and I love using my collection of bridge cloths for the extra tables. At all of our larger family dinners-Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Mother's Day I always use a variety of table cloths for these small tables. We have some beautiful ready to embroider place mats, card tablecloths and napkins just waiting for your embroidery machine to begin to whir away.

Browse Linens

"Two Useful Luncheon Sets-One Reminds Of the Fall Flowers-From The American Needlewoman, November 1924

Lunchcloth - Some people think June the prettiest month of the year; and when it is with us we almost feel that way about it ourselves, for what can be nicer in our climate than the days which are growing longer, and gradually growing warmer; when the trees are putting forth their green leaves; the fruit-trees coming into blossom; all the grasses, ferns and in fact, every thing, putting on the cool, restful shades of spring?

The air is a tonic to those of us who have been obliged to be under cover most of the time during the winter; but now we can get back to Nature and enjoy everything.
But when fall comes, then nature shows us all the colors of the rainbow and then some more. All the seeds we planted, and bulbs we set out, all the perennial plants in our gardens, and all the wild flowers scattered in the fields and along the roads and byways, are putting forth in blossoms their variegated colors. And what a mass of bloom!

And so with this thought in mind, we are trying to bring to you some of these blossoms to remind you of the summer just passed and which we hope you enjoyed so much."

Note from Martha: There were several lunchcloths shown with embroidery in all four corners and the matching napkins with embroidery done in one corner. Aren't we glad we have embroidery machines to make quick projects such as these square lunchcloths? By the way, I use this size cloth many times per year since I serve overflow dinner guests on card tables with four chairs around each.

Machine Embroidery Napkin Creativity For Gary’s Birthday

At the recent Echidna Conference on the Gold Coast, it was Gary’s birthday. His staff had sent all 300 ladies a white napkin and asked them to embroider it for Gary’s birthday. They were told to do anything at all. Gary’s group had digitized their logo “Decorate your life with Embroidery” and sent it to each lady. The creativity that was expressed on those plain white napkins was unbelievable!! I want you to see many of them to give you ideas about your own embroidery. I think you will love it. Gary was thrilled. He received everything from a hat to wear to a sailboat picture. Enjoy seeing how these ladies created napkins and memories for a lifetime for Gary. As you can see I had the time of my life. Be sure you look at my four videos showcasing the whole trip.

 

Martha's Trip to Australia! (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4)

Enjoy watching more from my trip to Australia...

Lynne Holyoake’s Train Car Sewing Studio - Australia

God has given me many sewing friends from all over the world—friends that are truly sisters.  Lynne Holyoake is one of these friends. I first met her about 25 years ago on my first trip to Australia. Gloria McKinnon had brought me down to teach a class of lovely ladies from all over Australia. Lynne Holyoake was one of those students. I will always remember Lynne’s gorgeous nightgown and robe made of blue Nelona Swiss batiste with the beautifully shaped lace bows, pintucks and all sorts of heirloom trims. We became instant friends.

On my recent trip to Australia I had the privilege of visiting, for the first time, Lynne's train car studio. What a treat!! I made lots of pictures to share with you at the end of this little letter.

Lynne has been to Huntsville to teach many times and has always been accompanied by her incredibly wonderful husband David. He is truly a Southern gentleman, although the Southern is southern Australia. David, a successful businessman in several businesses, has always helped Lynne with her classes that she has taught in her train cars. David has prepared the morning and afternoon teas as well as the lunches in the “lunch train car.” They love the sewing ladies and of course the love is mutual. Lynne teaches on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and sometimes she has “overnight” classes. They all spend the night in their lovely home on their beautiful estate near Sydney.

Lynne and David accompanied our first MPC group trip to England about ten years ago. We called it “Christmastime in England,” and we visited many of England’s great places including all of my favorite places. We had a private party at Christie’s auction house and attended an auction. We had hand embroidery lessons at the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace, had a private tea at Liberty of London’s store, went to ALL of my favorite flea markets, toured completely and got to touch many garments at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, went to Bath, had high tea at Harrods and saw three “Broadway” plays. I almost forgot we had an incredible Christmas boat trip on the Thames River and danced the night away while seeing London by night.

Now, just enjoy looking at every nook and cranny in Lynne’s studio! I had a wonderful time there. Enjoy.