Vintage Linen Score!

Also at the rummage sale, I found some lady's entire workbasket, stuffed with what appears to be vintage embroidery, applique and crewel projects, mostly from about 1920 to the mid-1950's although some is clearly earlier.  Some of it has, over the years, suffered some stains but they look like they will wash out.

There was a folder full of patterns & instruction sheets.

A bunch of floss, it seems to date from the 1920's-30's mostly.

This enterprising lady wrapped her floss around bits of old cardboard--Chesterfield cigarette cartons and a voting stub.

This is about half of the balls of thread.

Several yards each of vintage fabric which looks like it's from the 1930's.

Some utility bill envelopes from the '30's, which she had sealed and stuffed bits of extra floss into--you could just pull out what you wanted through the window openings.

And a lovely surprise mixed in amongst all this stuff--a souvenir ribbon from 1897!  As near as I can figure out from my research it genuinely dates from 1897.  The silverwork is tarnished but other than that it's in great shape.

None of the work was finished, but several were started.  This is lovely in person.

The company and project info stamped onto the linens was beautifully done, they had style back then.

A pattern for a corset cover.

The original Angry Bird.

I love finding old treasure troves like this, it's a fun glimpse into someone's life in the past.  I don't really know what I'll do with all this stuff, but we'll see!