Hidden in grandmothers' sewing boxes, lurking in the back of linen cupboards, and piled high on flea-market stalls . . . vintage fabrics in every style, colour and condition are just waiting to be transformed into beautiful home accessories.
From 19th-century lace trimmings to 1950s abstracts, these fabrics bring a timeless air to modern interiors. Precious pieces can be used as they are - crisply pressed Victorian linen for a dining table, a vintage designer dress hung up as a piece of art - or reinvented as cushions, table runners, lamp shades and more. Textiles and soft-furnishings expert Lucinda Ganderton and stylist Rose Hammick suggest a multitude of creative ways to use these treasures and cast-offs.
Among hundreds of other ideas, they show how to transform an old piece of patchwork into country-style curtains, make a sturdy apron from an old pair of jeans, and use soft woollen blankets to upholster chairs.
