Spot removal

I bought a load of pillowcase border fabrics a few years ago at a sale so spectacular it will never be matched. Even now, when the subject of Steffi's sale comes up among some of us who were there, we fall silent for a moment, raise our eyes heavenward and murmur our thanks to Steffi. None of us knew her -- she apparently was a 100-and-some years old when she died after a lifetime of shopping -- but we remain grateful for her madcap spending, her extraordinary taste and the fact that her single heir did not want anything but the proceeds from the sale. I finally got some of the fabric out last week with the intent of putting it on Etsy. I haven't done that yet. But I did get the fabric washed and ironed, and I was annoyed when I found a little dark spot on this piece. I obsess over spots like that.

 

It didn't look like the kind of spot that was ever going to come out, so I decided to disguise it. That's where the thread comes in. A few tight little stitches over the spot and voila! Instead of a dark spot, it looks like a thick thread in the weave. I'm not completely convinced that's a huge improvement over the spot, but it somehow made me feel better. And then I made it into a pillowcase, which took about a minute and a half.

And then I made up the bed for my sister-in-law, who's staying with us for a few days. It's a good thing we've had a lot of company this summer, because without deadline pressure, I don't think I'd ever get anything done.

Comments

[Ann]

Beautiful job on the pillowcase!! Love the fabric~

[LiLi M.]

Can we have a close up of the covered spot? I se numerous possibilities here!
Have a nice day!

[Patty]

What a great idea to cover the spot! I somehow got a hole in a new pillowcase so I folded it over (it was near the end seam) and as long as I iron it, it looks good. Ok, maybe not good but I liked the pillowcase too much to get rid of it. And, hey, did you know your Bakelite post was linked on Craft? http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/09/is_it_bakelite_or.html

[Judy]

I love the fabric. I keep saying I need to make new pillowcases.

[Sarah]

LOL If that tiny little spot would make you crazy, you do not want to visit our house.

[Joan]

Lovely fabric and it makes a great pillowcase.

[suzy]

Well, that's the difference between you and me, I just throw it on the bed and turn it spot side down! 'cause I'm lazy that way. xo, suzy

[Gail]

I can't wait to see the fabrics listed on etsy ;)

[Kathleen Grace]

I came to your beautiful blog through...I can't even remember who, but I wanted to tell you I have gotten spots out of many vintage textiles by soaking them in Biz. I have had things that had big orange and brown spots on them, even greasy old pillowcases, come out clean as a whistle and it doesn't fade the colors. It sometimes takes a couple days of soaking but, I have salvaged so many linens this way that look hopeless! Hope this helps. Looks like we share a love of old linens:>)