This was prompted by a customer, Patricia, who asked me if I had any tips about ironing as I'm pleased to report that she was impressed by my smooth linens when her first parcel arrived.
I had to think about it because it is just something that I just do every day.
I have to have to listen to BBC radio 4! It is the only English thing that I still use and I absorb all sorts of useful/less information from it as I iron away.
I am going to invest in a rotary iron to speed things up a bit, but ironing my stock on a traditional board is a good way of inspecting all my linens thoroughly for any marks or damage.
There are no real short cuts, the best way to cut down on ironing is to put more effort into hanging the linens on the washing line, stretching and smoothing as you go. Linen is best ironed damp, but here in the heat of Summer it can dry in a very short time so smoothing it is the next best thing, then use a steam iron.
I also have an oversized thickly padded ironing board so that I can iron monograms face down without flattening them.
I do wonder what is was like in earlier centuries. This stove was considered a huge improvement on heating the iron up on a trivet over an open fire.
The centre contains the fire, probably coal and the heat is controlled
by dampers. It was very popular when it was first invented because the
soleplates of the irons remained clean. This one is in the window of a
local laundry. However it was still smoky and sooty and soon fell from favour.
I had to think about it because it is just something that I just do every day.
I have to have to listen to BBC radio 4! It is the only English thing that I still use and I absorb all sorts of useful/less information from it as I iron away.
There are no real short cuts, the best way to cut down on ironing is to put more effort into hanging the linens on the washing line, stretching and smoothing as you go. Linen is best ironed damp, but here in the heat of Summer it can dry in a very short time so smoothing it is the next best thing, then use a steam iron.
I also have an oversized thickly padded ironing board so that I can iron monograms face down without flattening them.
I do wonder what is was like in earlier centuries. This stove was considered a huge improvement on heating the iron up on a trivet over an open fire.
Patricia is an avid collector of antique embroidered linens and her knowledge and passion are infectious. Here are some photos of the pillow shams that started it all off.
They were embroidered by her grandmother for her trousseau and I think they are gorgeous. Here is a close up of the detail.
However not everyone was so impressed, apparently her Grandmother's five sisters all agreed that she wasn't particularly talented at embroidery! Both of us would love to be as untalented as her! I think it is the memories and connections that make antique linen so special.
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