Dresser Scarves and more

I seem to have a large collection of what look to be dresser scarves.

Mostly these seem to be mass produced

Fairly well preserved, with the occasional stain.

Embroidered linen pillow cases.  I have the feeling that these may have been purchased, too.

And this one embroidered on all sides with the initial H at the center.I suspect it was made by my great aunt Hazel, or by her mother, Candace Campbell

 This one has the look of hand weaving with a fringed edge all around.  It looks like a Sherwood or Wands item to me.

Nothing fancy, but a lovely piece of densely woven linen, 17" selvedge to selvedge, hand hemmed on two sides.  I think I will start using these last two items myself.

Crocheted yoke with butterfly motifs for a child's dress.

 

Some pieces of very elaborate lace.  I think likely purchased, but never used.
 

Linen dresser scarves with crocheted ends.  I believe these were done by my paternal grandmother, Archangela Candela.  As an orphan in Sicily, she was brought up by nuns.  I know that Italian nuns are renown for teaching sewing skills, so I imagine she would have learned from them. 

These 100% cotton pillowcases from W.T Grant have been embellished with an elaborate crocheted edge.

Cotton pillowcases with a very complex tatting insertion.  Apparently one could purchase cotton goods double woven to form a tube for pillowcases, as these cases have no side seams, just a very carefully stitched closure at the bottom. 

More tatted cases.  It is hard to imagine the enormous patience one would have needed to create these.  My grandmother Archangela, died in 1943 at the age of 63, so I never met her, and these pillow cases are a bit of a family mystery.

When my mother's friend Alice Loubris Wilson got married in NYC, my mother was her maid of honor, and I was a flower girl.  My mother made these flowers out of silk organza and taffeta to embellish our dresses.

She also was a regular knitter of gloves for my siblings and me, with crocheted cords to be strung through our sleeves to avoid loss.  Her term for these crocheted cords was, "idiot's delight".