Embroidering a tea towel to treasure

Taking a new tea towel out of the drawer reminded me of a used one I have put away as a keepsake.

One day, I was visiting Grandpa and Grandma Pollock at their house at Pine River. I must have read every book I could get my hands on for I was looking for something to do. Grandma asked, “Would you like to do some embroidery?” That sounded interesting but I didn’t have anything to embroider. For Grandma, that was no problem.

She found a new tea towel and one that had already been embroidered with a pretty cup and saucer pattern. She laid the embroidered towel flat on the table and carefully placed the new one on top of it, right side up.

I watched in amazement as she took a tablespoon out of the drawer and gently rubbed the back of its “bowl” over her hair. Then she firmly moved the spoon over the new tea towel. Lo and behold, dark lines began to appear, showing up a cup and saucer pattern. After several applications of the spoon, I had a tea towel ready to embroider.

Grandma found a needle and her embroidery silks from which I could choose the colours I preferred. And that is the story of my keepsake - rather worn it is, since I like to use my treasures.



May, 2022
Ruth Anne Hollands Robinson