August 2017
I purchased some vintage linens at an estate sale a few years ago. The previous owner was a Scottish immigrant who had worked in one of our town’s first mercantiles built in 1872…. I don’t know whether he purchased these through the store, or if he had them sent from his native Scotland, but I am interested in identifying and restoring them. Do you provide these services or can you direct me to someone who could? Thank you for your time!
– Jill
Hello, Jill.
Thank you for your inquiry. Your linens have an intriguing story, and I’m so glad you want to restore them! If you’d like to send pics to me (close-up/flash off works best), I’ll be happy to take a look. I do not provide formal identification or restoration services, but I can better direct you once I see what you have.
If the necessary restoration involves primarily storage stains, I encourage you to check out my linen care series. You may be able to do it yourself. If, however, there are significant tears or holes, I address some of that in the series as well.
I look forward to seeing your treasures!
Unfortunately, Jill never sent me any pics. That happens a lot. My interest is piqued, and then . . . 🙁 I hope the stains were basic storage stains and she was able to return her “new” treasures to circulation all by herself, but it remains a mystery.
Nevertheless, the takeaways from this letter are:
- I LOVE seeing your pretties (even if the restoration they need is more than I can take on), so please send pics!
- Every vintage item has a story; we’re lucky if we know even a tiny part of it! (If you purchase from estate sales or auctions, always ask questions to see how much you can find out!)
- If I don’t know the answer to your question, I’ll always do my best to help you find someone who does.
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