Doily Day Spa
Oct. 11th, 2008 11:02 amYou know what saddens me? To step into a nicely decorated, expensive home - and the first thing I see is a beautifully crocheted doily in a stage of neglect that just screams "safe me!".
A friend of mine who must be in her 70s (she won't tell anybody how old she is) has a collection of the most amazing hand-crocheted doilies and tabletoppers her grandmother (!) made. And how does she take care of them? She throws them in the washer, in the dryer, and then back on the table. - No! NO!! NO!!!! :-(
100% cotton thread is practically indestructible. The washer won't hurt it, neither will the dryer. But how can you bring yourself to use your doily without starching and pressing it??? If it could, the poor wrinkled thing would pick its sorry little limp self off the table and crawl off in search of the nearest ironing board.
Fortunately for my friend's doilies, Nico is there to take them home and give them a loving make-over. They get washed and gently coaxed back to their former glory (one of them is awaiting such treatment right now). My friend claims she doesn't notice the difference afterwards, but I do.
So the next time you're at granny's house and see a dusty, wrinkly, sorry-looking doily, please rescue it! It will reward granny with more long years of faithful service, and who knows - you might inherit it! And if you don't want it, send it to me! :)