Doilies Done Up and a Surprise!

I took photos of the doilies I "did up" after my little soiree last week. There are quite a few here. I made them for my own use, but decided to show them to you after at least one follower asked that I do so.

You may get bored with one picture after the other of items that are no longer in favor, but follow me to the end, as I think you'll be surprised with what a person of the male gender is capable of!

Leading off with this one because it's so colorful. Purchased it at an antique mall.

Crochet, made by mother

Crocheted dresser scarf, as they were called back when.

I think these were popular in the 1950s; cotton or linen center with heavy crochet edging. I have tons of this kind.

Crochet; pineapple pattern.

A long cotton scarf with crochet edging. These were used on buffets or tables.

Embroidered dresser scarf, part of a set that includes two smaller ones. 

Another set of dresser scarfs. I left these on the ironing board a few days and the ends curled; they will flatten out when stored away.

Crocheted scarf. Due to its shape, I think they were used on the arms of chairs with a larger one for the back of the chair.

Crocheted centerpiece. It's blue, but for some reason doesn't show up as that in the photo.

These dresser scarfs made with the variegated crochet cotton were popular in the 1950s. Mother made tons of these and I have more than a few!

One of my favorites; crocheted centerpiece made by my grandmother.

Pillowcase with elaborate crochet edging, made by one of my aunts.

Same pattern as the red one above, but done in all white. The bottom portion of the photo is in shadow; it is all the same in color/tone.

More of the dresser scarfs with a combination of cotton/crochet.

The following is not part of the doily series but wanted to show you what my father-in-law does. He pieces quilts and quilts them by hand. He entered this one in a quilt show and won third place. He sent it to my husband as a thank you for fixing his computer. Log cabin pattern, two pillow shams to match. (Note the crochet edging on the bed sheets; done by my mother, of course!)

My husband does not "take after" his father, My father-in-law is an expert quilt maker and cake/bread baker He apprenticed as a tailor in his homeland of Germany, and had a career in that field after he came to the U.S. in the early 1950s.  The wall hanging above the bed? I made that.

And here's an example of my mother-in-law's handwork. Applique embroidery.  

Another applique embroidery tea table scarf with a Christmas theme made by my mother-in-law. The back of her handwork is as pretty as the front side. Once she looked at the backside of a needlepoint piece I was working on and said, "messy." True, but I'm not the perfectionist in my handwork as was she. 

Close up of the above scarf. It's beautiful and I treasure it.

And finally, one of my favorites - a crochet centerpiece by my grandmother.

Thank you for visiting my blog, and for your comments.