Hard-Wearing Embroidery?

[ragnvaeig]

I've decided that I need to upgrade our feast gear linens, which is a bit problematic. I've been using obviously-modern cotton as tablecloth and napkins--hemmed, at least--because I'm totally okay with getting food all over them and then tossing them in the machine to wash. It would probably freak me out entirely to try to create embroidered

Comments

[risiko]

Does reversible pattern darning hold up in machine wash?

No idea but blackwork and cross stitch does.

Ought I to avoid using silk thread for the patterning to make sure it stays put?

OMG, yes. In fact I'd stick to cotton and use DMC embroidery floss for any embroidery. While less than authentic, cotton is completely machine wash-and-dry-able.
It's also cheap so you won't cry when that stubborn curry stain doesn't come out. If cotton is too far beond the pale for you, go for linen since you can still machine wash and dry it even if it'll shrink.

What else should I do to make sure my pieces wear well as table linens?

The standard hemming and fabric care. Also are you talking Viking Age or 14th c. table linens, because it its the latter there's some decent information out there.

[ragnvaeig]

No idea but blackwork and cross stitch does.

I think that might work, then. I only have anecdotal evidence that it holds up, as I keep giving away my blackwork. ;/

If cotton is too far beond the pale for you, go for linen since you can still machine wash and dry it even if it'll shrink.

...I actually don't own any cotton embroidery floss any more--it's all crewel yarn, linen twist, and silk thread. And is it the machine drying that's the problem? We're still sufficiently European in custom that we hang everything to dry.

Also are you talking Viking Age or 14th c. table linens, because it its the latter there's some decent information out there.

...there's any information on Viking Age table linens? ::hopeful::

[risiko]

...there's any information on Viking Age table linens? ::hopeful::

If only. sigh.

[kath_a]

I've never done anything thats had to stand up to machine washing, but my grandmothers (and possibly my great grandmothers) table linens are still going strong. I don't know what pattern darning is, but this embroidery was cross stitch, satin stitch, stem stitch, double running stitch (ie black work).

I believe my grandmother washed and ironed her threads before starting. I've steamed threads and ironed threads but never washed them, but it sounds like a good idea as any excess dye would bleed out and any shrinkage would happen. I will do it if I do any embroidery intended to be washable!

Can't wait to see new linens!

[ragnvaeig]

I was intending to wash my thread before embroidering with it, and I'm aware some ladies iron their linen thread. The thread I had in mind, though, I got several years ago at an 18th cen reenactment and I think it might be indigo-dyed.

Was your grandmother a feck-it-in-the-wash kind of lady, or was she more careful than that?

[ragnvaeig]

I have a stash of white, red and black linen that I picked up while I was still fully employed, but thanks for the offer.

[eithni]

I actually switched to all-linen table linens some time ago, but I have to admit they are not embroidered, just hemmed. I made mine of all white linen, because then I can bleach the crap out of them when they get stained. The key in that case is *not* to use silk thread, since it disintegrates when bleached. I used a heavyweight, loose weave linen which has become soft and absorbent with multiple uses and washes. I seriously abuse them and thus far they still wash and iron up nicely, three years later.

[ragnvaeig]

I've heard other people say that silk disintegrates, so I think I'll be using linen on linen. Thanks for that vote. Just a simple hem, or did you hemstitch?

[eithni]

Just a simple hem. I use them as feast linens and for camp cooking, so they get a lot of abuse.