In a message dated 6/3/04 11:29:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Subject: Stiff old crochet bedspread > > On another list I'm on, a poster asks: > > "I have an 50 - 70 yr old crocheted bed throw that's a family heirloom. It > is starting to get stiff and brittle. Would washing it delicately and using > fabric softener or just using fabric softener be helpful? Or would this > hurt it? Is there anything I can do do help with the stiff, brittleness?" > > She has heard the usual spiel about distilled water and Orvus, but keeps > asking about using fabric softener on it. > > So, conservators, what's the word on fabric softeners? > > Lynn Carpenter in SW Michigan, USA > alwen at i2k dot com > ------------ Coming out of lurkdom to ask questions and make recommendations. Any idea what has made the bedspread so stiff?? Could it have been starched? It is possible starch or some other substance is causing the problem. If there is too much starch, fibers can become brittle. Fibers will break in the folds. Without seeing the item, I would not make a firm recommendation - except to note that the least invasive method should be used if you decide to wet-clean. That means distilled water only as a beginning step. If the spread is unclean, you could then move on to adding Orvus. **I would not recommend fabric softeners, nor do I think any professional contemporary textile conservator would do so.** Softeners have different formulations, and possibly the problem originated because of using some unique "new" method of wet -cleaning. You might like to read the article I wrote about washing laces. It is at: http://www.honitonlace.com Go to the contents section labeled Cleaning & Restoration. A bedspread will be very heavy and will definitely break up from the water weight if you do not take special precautions. Read the section just below "Using a Needle". Note that there is the cautionary warning "For very large lace items that are STRONG and in good condition". That seems to foretell a problem for the bedspread in question. If you have another strong and in good condition item that could benefit from wet cleaning, such as a tablecloth or quilt, I would recommend you do a practice run with your helper. This is not a one-person job! This brittleness problem could have been made worse by poor storage at some time. Please remember not to store valuable textiles in an attic. It will "cook" in the daytime, and cool down at night. This means the fibers will be contracting and expanding. When this happens, you can imagine what has happened. To Newbies: If you have not printed out the washing instructions for lace on Jonathan's website, I would recommend you do so. Read the entire article before you begin this type of a project. Do not use washing instructions in old books that were published before modern textile conservators began to provide valuable information to save textile treasures. Do not "fall for" fabulous claims of people selling new washing products. If it's too good to be true...beware. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
