One-of-a-Kind

Item Description

Awarded “Best Hand or Machine Knitted Article”, Eastern States Exposition (The Big "E"), 2013

This tablecloth is Bonny Zeh’s variation of the classic English lace pattern “The English Rose” by Marianne Kinzel (circa 1940). Mrs. Kinzel was a master lace knitter and designer. This pattern is regarded as one of the finest and most challenging patterns in the lace knitting tradition.

Since the Victorian era, English lace knitters have favored the Tudor Rose motif. Ms. Zeh’s variation includes a Vandyke border favored by the Victorian lace knitters. This replaces a rather plain and unsatisfying border designed by Mrs. Kinzel.

This pattern has a reputation amongst knitters as a suitable competition pattern. Knitters have won major state fairs, including the State of Texas Fair and the Virginia State Fair, with their “Rose of England” tablecloths. Ms. Zeh continued in this tradition, winning “Best Machine or Hand Knitted Article” in the 2013 Eastern States Exposition (The Big “E”) in West Springfield, MA.

Materials:

100% Egyptian Cotton: Grignasco Cotton 5

Grignasco is a small Italian manufacturer of luxury yarns for the high fashion industry. The piece contains a box (10 balls) of cotton that had been attacked by boll weevils. The boll weevils deposited enzymes that make the yarn slightly fluorescent under older fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights. Ms. Zeh has been told that this will diminish over time.

Care Instructions:

This is an heirloom piece designed to withstand even daily use if properly cared for. 

Do not expose this piece to direct sunlight or fluorescent lights. To so will cause the color to fade.

Hand wash this tablecloth using Ivory Snowflakes or any other suitable detergent used for fine textiles DO NOT DRY CLEAN. DO NOT MACHINE WASH OR DRY. DO NOT USE WOOLITE OR ANY PRODUCT CONTAINING BLEACH. After hand washing, lay flat to dry and “block” this piece using a steamer to smooth out any wrinkles and to shape. DO NOT IRON.

For a fee, Bonny Zeh is willing to wash and block this piece. It will take her approximately one month.

Item Special Note

Winning bidder will be responsible for shipping and handling, which will be added to the final winning bid amount.  Item may also be picked up at BiddingforGood's office in Cambridge, MA.