The scene:I have a medieval tablecloth bought many years ago, rather expensively, when I was new to re-enactment and doing late 14th century. This, and I cannot stress this enough, was an expensive purchase.
It was part of a set which also a smaller tablecloth made to a custom size. Also expensive, but I had thought it was to be woven to measure, so was not too upset about it. When the towels arrived, I was dismayed to discover that it was a bigger cloth cut down one side and hemmed. I could have paid less for it and cut it down myself had I wanted to do that. Another hand woven towel a friend had bought was a plain one with hand woven narrow ware stitched on for the stripes, which is also something we could have done ourselves for less outlay. Anyway, these were still hand woven and expensive.
The current situation:I'm focussing on earlier 14th century now, and the striped table cloths I see are just that:striped. No griffins or chained cats which are on my big, fancy tablecloth. I've continued to use it out of public eye, but what I really need is another striped tablecloth.
The expensive tablecloth has stripes on it also. You may see where I'm heading with this.
If I carefully cut the chained cats and griffons off, I could also extract the stripes and sew them on in the right places. Of course, cutting into a magnificent table cloth is horrifying. I have numerous friends who would happily buy it from me (at a second hand price, of course.) This preserves a table cloth however it means that I do not have a large table cloth. Having a new one woven and posted to my country is an expensive exercise, and I sure don't have the extra for frivolous purchases.
So.
I've started cutting and stitching and am delighted with how it's going thus far. I can potentially add the 15th century strips I'm removing to a plain tablecloth to make a whole separate one, so nothing is wasted. I've made a start.
I can sell the strips of dragons and griffins and someone else can do it themselves.
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