“Needlework is a way to capture Love, Beauty, Peace & Time.” unknown
antique woolen petticoat, heavily embellished with surface embroidery, feather stitching and moth holes
Antique needlework has always intrigued me. So when I spotted this petticoat in an antique shop many years ago, the owner was surprised when I smiled and purchased this moth-eaten slip. Her eyes said “Why would you want that?” but her mouth said, “THANK YOU!”
First, I’ve always wondered who made this and who wore it? Whoever kept warm in this petticoat was either a beloved child or a tiny young lady. The satin waist band measures a scant 22,” has a lovely hand stitched buttonhole and a pearl button. The length is 24″. My first thought was just who would go to all this trouble for a child’s under garment? Then, as a mother and grandmother who has spent countless hours on a single garment for a precious little one, I laughed at that absurd thought. And I know many of you are laughing, too! At any rate, I’ll never know for whom this was stitched, but it’s obvious she was well loved.
“Needlework is a way to capture Love, Beauty, Peace & Time.” unknown
Well, clearly there is little to be done with this moth-meal leftover other than study it. And it certainly is worthy of careful scrutiny, with the exception of the moth holes. Just look at the features. Continue reading
or 37 years now the 8 women who make up 
