Madeira Applique’ Pillowcase Renovation

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The Madeira hem is actually a taupe/tan color, not gold as it seems in this photo.

My daughter Rebecca has always loved fine linens. When she went to University of Florida, the non-standard size dormitory bunk beds could only be encased in tee-shirt knit or rough polyblend sheets. So I custom made pima cotton sheets for her. Otherwise, my sweet princess declared, she just didn’t know how she would sleep. I was tempted to put a pea under her mattress before she left home to prove without a doubt that she was royal. Maybe I didn’t really want the answer to that question.

When she and Harvey married, she was delighted but not surprised when he brought a set of glorious 1000 thread count cotton sheets to their marital linen closet. This luxurious bedding was just one more quirky affirmation of the newlyweds’ compatibility.

Purchased in 2004 and washed weekly since then, the linens are showing signs of wear, most notably the pillowcases. When Becca brought her pillow along on our trip to North Carolina, I saw just how shabby it had become. But even when offered my favorite pima cotton, she was unwilling to replace it, noting their unique dense but almost velvet texture.

I set out to fix the raggedy hem with Madeira applique’. This worked perfectly. I did remove the straight stitched hem and discard the loose piece. The stitching holes are still prominent, but I expect with a few launderings, they will fill back in.

The monogram is OESD’s Dazzle Alphabet. This is especially suitable since Rebecca had requested a smooth surface, without raised surface embroidery. The letters are both graceful and light. I would like to have added some bullion or pinwheel roses, but these are, after all, old pillow slips.

The pillowcase could just as easily have been salvaged by the addition of a vintage crochet edging, tatting or even a Swiss embroidered edging. But I like the splash of contrasting color, even though it is neutral.

We always think of heirloom sewing techniques as a means or frilly end. Who ever expected it to be so good for everyday household mending?