Friday, October 18, 2013

a very special finish

Welcome to finish it up Friday!
This week I have a finish to share that was a WIP for who knows how long. Years and years ago, my grandmother bought pillow case tubing. (I'm not sure that's the technical term, but it's a pair of pillow cases that is connected in the middle.) Several years ago my aunt Betty took the pillow cases to Arizona and embroidered them. Aunt Betty's friend crocheted the beautiful edging. A few months ago the pillow cases landed in my hands. All I had to do was to cut the tube into two pieces and hem them up. I finished the ends with French seams and now the pillow cases are complete. (I just did that this morning!) I'm so excited to be the last link-and the recipient-of these very special pillow cases. I'm going to go against all my hoarding tendencies and actually USE them. :)

How about you? Do you have a finish to share? If so, please link up. Thank you, as always, for joining me for finish it up Friday!

54 comments:

Melissa Corry said...

The pillow cases are just beautiful. What a special finish!!

Kelsey said...

Lovely pillow cases! I especailly love that it was such a team effort and created collectively.

Heidi Staples said...

What a family treasure these are going to be! I'm glad you're putting them to use -- they're lovely!

Mama Spark said...

Beautiful pillow cases!! GREAT JOB!!

natalie christensen said...

Beautiful embroidery!

Snowcatcher said...

Oh, my goodness, I can't believe the shower of memories your lovely pillowcases brings! My grandmother, my mom and I used to do pillow cases for bazaars way back in the late 60s and early 70s. I did the crochet edgings. My grandmother is gone now, so I can't thank you enough for bringing back such sweet memories.

AmandaK@whatthebobbin said...

Wow those pillow cases are gorgeous. I love that several people had a hand in making them. Nice finish :)

Kimberly said...

Those are beautiful! I have some pillowcases that my grandmother embroidered and they are some of my most cherished possessions. Enjoy them!

Carla said...

So beautiful, and yes use them, I'm all for that

:-)

tara said...

The cases are just lovely!

Svetlana said...

such amazingly gorgeous pillowcases. You're one lucky lady.

msalleycat said...

I love this and I am so glad you're using them. I have ones embroidered by my mom and grandmother that I've been using for years, and I buy them whenever I find them in thrift stores and yardsales. When the actual cases wear out, I plan to cut them up and put them into quilts.

Maria said...

The pillow cases are beautiful! And I love the generations contributing to making them.
I wonder if it was meant to be one long case? That's how they are in many European countries. One long one with two regular ones are what we had on our bed at my cousin in Spain's and how the sheet sets we received as wedding gifts from relatives from Spain more than 30 years ago came.

Debbie said...

These are beautiful! We always slept on embroidered pillowcases when I was growing up - and I made more than my share when I first learned to embroider - lovely!

Linda said...

Those are lovely! What a treasure to remember both your Grandma and your Aunt. :)

Unknown said...

They are beautiful and such a treasure!

Anna said...

I love these! They're so fresh and pretty :) And what a wonderful trip they've taken to completion!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

So special! How lovely to have been passed to such talented ladies, the embroidery and crochet is beautiful. What treasures :)

Leanne said...

Those are beautiful pillowcases, what a lovely story about them too.

Di~ said...

Nice! I love this kind of thing. I've done a lot of these, BUT have never seen them in a tube!

beth said...

mmmm....Love those pillow cases!

e said...

I absolutely love embroidered pillow cases. Your set is gorgeous. I'd be doing the happy dance all over the place if I were you. And what wonderful familial history to share.

Diane said...

the pillowcases are beautiful-what a treasure! Definitely use them!!

Cathy said...

Vintage looking and oh so gorgeous and romantic looking.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

These are beautiful! A wonderful team project :)

Joan said...

Gorgeous pillowcases! Such a wonderful keepsake! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely amazing pillow cases. What a gift ...enjoy them. Thank you for hosting the linky party. Have a great weekend ...Marie

Kris said...

Those are so lovely. They remind me of ones my mom used to make which is a great memory!

Bess said...

These are so personal - so much nicer than ready made ones. All of my grandmother's pillowcases were embroidered..none of mine are though!

Penni Domikis said...

Love the pillowcases and love that there are so many generations that worked on them. Enjoy them for years to come.

Christine said...

Those are so gorgeous!!!!

Marjorie said...

I know this is going to sound stupid...but for years I have collected, repaired and used pillow cases like this. Today was the first time it ever occurred to me that I could make them "from scratch" for far less effort. Duh.

Needle little Balance said...

A very special finish indeed! How nice that so many women of one family worked together for such a pretty result!

Dominique said...

These are special pillowcases for sure and yes, use them! it is the best way to honour the people who have had a part in making them!

Dawn said...

What a lovely finish! The embroidery is wonderful and the crocheted edges are to die for. I'm so glad that you are using these. You will have a happy heart each time you gaze upon them.

P11otter said...

The are beautiful!! And please use them! Thanks for the inspiration every vryday.

jirons42 said...

what a treasure. I would sweet dreams feeling like I was laying my head in the hands of my wonderful family.

CrazyCatLady said...

Sew pretty!

Catherine said...

What beautiful embroidery your aunt did, and what a lovely thing to have in your household.

sewyouquilt2 said...

beautiful! it is funny as a year or so ago I came across a stamped pillowcase and I embroidered it and use it. my then 10 year old niece said "Auntie, I want one of those. Can you make me one?" I remember making them as a young girl a little older than she now is. everything comes around again I guess........beautiful and great that more than one of you worked on them.

Shauna said...

Very beautiful and what a wonderful treasure you have there.

Annalia said...

It would be a crying shame not to use those! They're lovely!

Patti said...

Beautiful pillow cases. And with so much meaning to them. Lucky girl!

Bearpawquilter said...

I would say they are legacy pillowcases. By all means use them but with one rule: All show, no go. Nobody's head touches them. Lovely! N

Unknown said...

such beautiful pillowcases and i love the story! i'm proud of you for using them-that is a problem i have...i collect nice tablecloths, pillowcases, etc, but hate to use them. maybe i should!

Anonymous said...

The embroidery is beautiful, and so is the crocheted edging. How wonderful to own a multi-generational project!

margaret said...

how great to have completed the pillow cases, I have quite a few pieces my grandmother stitched, fancy edging on hand towels etc, she passed away in 1956 so they must be pretty ancient.

Carie @ Space for the Butterflies said...

Aren't they just lovely - I do hope you use them, they're too pretty to be hidden away!

Tammy Lyons said...

Very special indeed! What a great thing to have years from now. Finished by members of your family and yourself. A great thing to use and hang on to for generations to come.

Unknown said...

So beautiful I love the vintage look.

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

What a keepsake to treasure AND use, good for you!

Susanne Tyree said...

They are beautiful! What a history behind their finally landing in your hands.
Susanne :)

Clair said...

The pillowcases look like something you should see at a bed and breakfast. Nice!

Kelly said...

My Grandmother made me many of these and I cherish them all! I did save a few and made one into an Amish type doll using the pillowcase as the skirt with the embroidery along the bottom.