Stitching Up Tea Things

I had fun this week, going through pictures to look for examples of how tea themes are used in linens in our home. It seems like these 'gentle arts' --- tea and stitching, are amply expressed everywhere in our house!

I found the table runner pattern above at a quilt show and fell in love with it. A trip to a local quilt shop resulted in these beautiful prints. When I told my mother about my project, she offered to make it for me. I was delighted, as I am not an experience applique person and she was! There is a teacup in the center (under the candle holder). It was to be spilling out tea, but I thought that was messy for a proper centerpiece, so I asked mom to leave the tea-drops out.


For two years I belonged to a tea towel swap group. Each month I stitched at least one tea towel that I swapped with another person for one they stitched. It was such a nice way to make friends and to keep on track with embroidery projects! This tea towel went to Texas. . .as I believe I gave it to Patricia. I love the button at the top. It makes the top-knot on the teapot lid.

This is a simple quilt that was made by my mother. It's small and I use it as a tablecloth for a tea-for-two. The teapot and flowers blocks are printed on fabric that mom cut into squares. They are alternated with plain pink fabric that has been covered with lace.

This appliqued teapot is stitched onto a luncheon size tablecloth that is the perfect size for a small tea table. It was stitched by mom.

Soft, flour-sack tea towels are embroidered in tea themes. One is bordered in a tea print for added effect. Do you recognize it? It's a ME print.

This is a favorite doily that my mom made for me. It's starched nicely and makes a nice base for a candle holder. She made it by copying another doily that someone had given to me as a gift. Mom was very good at looking at a crocheted piece and copying it from the original without a pattern. Gardening and needlework were how she relaxed each day.