In a message dated 1/27/04 2:23:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> I have the book “A Manual of Lace” by Jeanette E Pethebridge, published in > 1947 by Cassell & Co. Ltd..... I was lucky enough to buy this from a second > hand > bookshop for £5..... Then right at the back of the book is Care and > Restoration of Lace.... > > PIECES OF VALUABLE LACE should always be kept *folded in blue paper* when > not in use as this helps to preserve the colour. > When lace becomes soiled it can be washed quite successfully. If very > fragile, wind the lace onto a tall thin bottle, which should be filled with > sand to weight it. Have ready a larger bottle with a wide neck; the kind in > which confectioners keep sweets does quite well. Lay lace on muslin, wrap > round bottle, tack outer layer of muslin to keep in place. Fill the large > bottle with soft water and immerse the small bottle to cover the muslin. > Leave for a day. If the lace is very soiled change the water and leave > again. **Fill the large bottle with suds made with pure flaked soap and a > little milk.** -------------------------- Dear Lacemakers, Jean provided the above information, and because we have new members on Arachne all the time, it might be good to remind them that textile conservation techniques have changed since this book was published in 1947, and old instructions are NOT the best ones to use. Museum science has come a long way. *About blue tissue paper: The first reason not to use blue tissue paper is that if it becomes damp or wet, the blue dye may run into your stored laces. There is no guarantee it can be washed out! The second concern is that the paper may have been made from wood pulp and that means it will act the same way white tissue paper from wood pulp does. The paper, whether blue or white, gradually develops a tanish appearance if made from wood pulp. That is a visual sign of acidic off-gasing. Lace stored in this tissue will turn tan-to-brown. The effects of acid burn from wood are permanent. Further, the laces often become brittle and crumble into pieces. **About Ivory Flakes: Not specifically addressed above by product name, but something our younger lace makers should know. If my aged brain remembers correctly, during and following the Vietnam War some not-so-nice people used Ivory Flakes as one of the ingredients to make a home-brewed form of Napalm. This is a very dangerous substance. I looked up Ivory Flakes on Google, and found that the product was discontinued in 1978. **We do NOT use milk. It has been found that if you put away a christening dress on which milk was spilled, permanent brown spots will eventually appear. Therefore, to even use it in diluted form does not seem wise. Further, milk is now processed in many ways compared to 1947. Today, we use the soap product called Orvus, produced by Procter & Gamble, to wash heirloom textiles, including lace. If you need to learn about washing lace, I believe my instructions are still on the Honiton Lace Shop's website: http://www.honitonlace.com/shop/cleaning2.htm Since specific instructions for washing lace are practically non-existent, it would be of value for you to copy the information for use in the future. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - where it is believed the history of women as reflected in their lace and embroidery creations should be preserved! - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
