Hot mats, pot holders on display at library

Vintage hand-crocheted hot mats and pot holders are on display this month at the Dorothy Henry branch of the Sussex County Library System, 66 Route 94, Vernon.

The items are from the collection of Maureen and Jon Lasslett, owners of Perfect Timing Sewing Machine Co. in McAfee.

“The collection represents many thousands of hours of skilled needlework, most likely by women of the 1950s and ’60s,” said Maureen Lasslett. “I am a longtime collector of quilts, linens and textiles. Anything hand-worked is especially charming to me.

“I can’t help but wonder what was going on in the maker’s life as she used her hands to create each and every stitch. Was she waiting for her first baby? Was her husband or son off to war? What was she thinking as she carefully worked the pattern?

“I know that working on my own quilting and needle arts projects have helped me to navigate through some rough times in life. These adorable little kitchen items have a lot of living history in them.”