The vintage cloth with new “vintage-looking” decorations.
Last year I found a beautiful vintage tablecloth for my large dining room table.
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you likely know I cherish my finds of “gently used” old items.
When I sit in my small antique rocker, I consider the many babies who likely have been lulled to sleep by its subtle to and fro movement.
I picture my secondhand serving bowls and platters gracing the tables of families long gone from this earth. It’s OK that I spend time hand-washing these dishes that were created prior to the moment when “dishwasher safe” imprinting was a reality.
And so I imagined that my long vintage tablecloth would also add the same type of ambiance to the gatherings at our home.
But there is one serious drawback I hadn’t considered. Vintage cloth translates to the situation of that behemoth of a covering needing to be ironed.
Ugh. I can’t stand to iron. I’ve avoided ironing my entire life. Full disclosure: When I was a cheerleader in high school, I didn’t see the need to iron my whole blouse since 98% of it was covered by a pullover sweater.
So I took a shortcut and ironed just the collar and the cuffs on the sleeves.
My mother was appalled.
Alas, there are no ironing shortcuts with a tablecloth.
I lugged the ironing board up from the basement and begrudgingly began the task. I stopped to write a note: “Buy wrinkle-free large Christmas tablecloth.”
Because ironing provides time (in this case, LOTS of time) to think, I thought, you know, I have some friendships that fall in similar categories as tablecloths.
Some are no-iron/wrinkle-free that require little work on my part to maintain in excellent condition. Others are a little more fragile…vintage-ish and require some tending to maintain.
My wrinkle-free friendships are just that…I feel super comfortable in them without worrying I’m going to say something that might be taken the wrong way. These no-iron women and I truly understand each other.
The requires-tending friendships are also meaningful to me, and I need to adjust my attitude regarding the care they require. I can’t begrudge the time they take; I want to honor the time they take.
We knew the truth when we were kids; we knew it as young adults. It’s good to remind ourselves of it as we grow older. Not everyone can be our best friend or even be included in a group we consider our closest friends. AND…it’s still wonderfully fulfilling to have friends outside that circle.
And I have great news! For $12 my local dry cleaner will wash and iron my vintage tablecloth for me.
I found an ironing shortcut after all.
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A site for vintage tablecloths
I hope you think of me as a no-iron friend ❤️
Absolutely!
It is truly beautiful and a precious keepsake. Make sure to put it on a hanger when you get it pressed or it will have fold lines that will need to ironed. Been there and done that! Merry Christmas!
Will do…thanks for the advice!
Oh, the complexities of life?!?!?! Joy, To The World, The Lord Is Come!!!!
Several years ago I purchased 20 Christmas placemats; they were on sale after the holidays, 75% off, quite lovely and came with matching napkins! Yes, I have to iron all of the above, but it’s a cakewalk compared to wrestling with a large tablecloth. Happy to hear of your dry cleaning solution.
And PS – the tablecloth takes a week to come back so it’s a good thing I went to the dry cleaners early!
No ironing required here—-i’m just wash and wear.
LOVE YOU NORMA!!!!!!!!
Ha Ha. May I introduce you as “my wash and wear friend”?
Of course!!!!!!!………It would be an honor to represent clean and comfortable.. hahahahaha!
Norma:
Just a little post script and an after-thought. Can you iron out wrinkles from someone’s face??? Tee hee. My friend, Mae Carlson is always stressing about her wrinkles!!! I wear mine proudly, because they have been put there by all of my smiling, happy faces. Cheers. See you on Tuesday. Hugs.
Bill T.
I value our friendship ……………. wash and wear, wrinkle free, little ironing needed or toss me in the dryer!