TABLE LINENS

These small pieces are perfect for the center of a table or on the top of a bureau. They come from a tradition when handmade linens were cherished and passed down through the family, demonstrating the beauty hands can create from fiber.

Most are woven; many of them are miniatures of our rag rugs. Others are made using a variety of techniques including tapestry, boundweave and overshot. Materials vary too -- cotton, linen, rayon chenille, wool and silk.

A few are quilted using tiny pieces of the many fabrics that come our way. These are hand-sewn and quilted, and each is unique. They are labor-intensive, hence the relatively high cost of these pieces.

Hooked mats, which can be used for a chair pad or as a table centerpiece, are made the traditional way with fine strips of wool pulled through a burlap backing.

Finally, knitted and crocheted doilies are delicate and complex.