Looking for Linens (119)In the old days, people embroidered lots of funky things on linens and bath towels (Ombretta remembers an old woman who even wrote, "I don't do this for pleasure, I do it for God," on her nightgown!). Hand sewn linens were definitely a trend. In fact, an important Italian tradition until only a few generations ago was "il Corredo." According to custom, a mother had to sew one hundred pieces of linen (towels, sheets, tablecloths, etc.) for her daughter as a wedding gift. While that custom is no longer practiced, it's definitely not unusual to see Italian women sewing linens at home.
Douglas: We found a town about thirty minutes from Florence that even has a local school where people still learn the fabled "Casalguidi Style of Embroidery." I was surprised to see that so many young people wanted to learn such a time-consuming and complicated skill.
Ombretta: I know. These women's embroidery work is incredibly detailed. It's not unusual for a traditional piece to take months if not a year to complete! It reminds me of my grandmother; I still remember when I was a little girl... she was always embroidering, whether it was for a birthday or some one getting married in the family.
)
