Textiles for Celebrations

 

rose border on table runner

A friend went to Romania, and she found this lovely table runner.  It is a 'heritage' piece, and I would not be surprised if the linen had been domestically grown and spun.  The pattern threads look like mercerized cotton, therefore most likely not hand spun but purchased.  The teal has transferred some dye to the ground, which would not be surprising.

The cloth is quite long at about 90" in length and about 17" in width (2 meters 28 cm by 43 cm).

The foundation cloth still holds the reed marks, and there are minor 'errors' here and there.  But the beat is very even and the selvedges straight with slight reduction in width in the areas of the patterning.  And the borders at either end are not entirely 'perfect'.  The patterning is largely 'perfect' and it is obvious that someone spent a lot of time weaving this cloth.  The ends have been rolled and hand stitched down, then a crochet loop/filet on each end is used to tie a tassel fringe to it in both white (looks like merc. cotton) and red (merc. cotton).

I have no idea if they used a pick up stick or if they had a loom with loom controlled patterning, but it doesn't matter.  It was a lovely and thoughtful gift, and I am delighted to have received it.

The size and the way the cloth has been woven puts me in mind of a cloth I remember from a Ukrainian dance.  As I recall they do this dance in celebration - a successful harvest, weddings and such.  It is generally used to hold a 'loaf' of bread (memory may not be accurate) and a small container of salt.  

On the cloth that was given me, the pattern is a border of roses, so if it was intended for a special occasion, perhaps it was meant for a wedding?  

Speculation on my part, as I don't know if Romanians had the same kind of ceremony although the motif is very similar to those I am familiar with in Ukrainian textiles (no, I'm not Ukrainian heritage, but there is a large Ukrainian population in my town.)

We can learn a great deal from what our ancestors have done.  And while this cloth isn't particularly old (using merc. cotton I suspect late 19th, early 20th century) but the care and attention to details tells me that it was made with care and attention, but neither is it 'perfect' - which doesn't make it any less appreciated then - and by me - now.