Thanks for the tips! I think it's probably from around the turn of the century - machine made definitely. I went ahead and put it in some lukewarm water with some washing soda, and sloshed it around gently. The yellow started coming out immediately - at least a good part of it. I rinsed it out and washed it that way several times. And...the unmistakable faint odor of cigar smoke starting coming up. So it's not just age - anyway it looks a lot lighter, and prettier - still not white, but a lot lighter.
Don't know if that washing soda was a good or bad idea, but I didn't spend a lot on it, so, that's what I tried, and it worked quite a bit, so far.... Guess I'll keep it. It is pretty, and I think will be usable. It was apparently part of an estate from a doll maker - she's selling off a lot of lace from that collection, in case others are interested - including some real beautiful handmade lace, and older lace - more expensive and generally in short(er) pieces.... Any other advice for finishing this job will also be appreciated - as well as lectures if I did the wrong thing! Hope not, though! Regards, Ricki T -----Original Message----- From: Adele Shaak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:34 pm Subject: Re: [lace] age discoloration Hi:? ? One question - when you say it's old, how old do you mean? 1720? 1820? 1920? (I once had a customer tell me her book was very old indeed - her grandmother gave it to her mother, her mother gave it to her, and now her mother was gone ... I thought it had to be at least 1880, and when she brought it in for repair, it was 1976. One person's old is another person's yesterday.)? ? If it's old enough to be very scarce and very delicate, you could soak it in distilled water for a while (like, a few days). Maybe add a tiny amount of hydrogen peroxide, but water alone will often make a big difference. If you're lightening the lace with peroxide, a lot of the lightening will take place after the piece is out of the water, as it is drying, so don't despair if you don't see a lot of change while it is still in the water.? ? The good thing about soaking in water alone is that you don't damage the lace while you're doing it, so if it doesn't work you haven't wrecked anything.? ? Maybe you know this already, but just in case somebody else is reading this and doesn't know - if you soak lace, be careful about taking it out - water weighs a lot, and you can damage laces by removing them from the water while they are unsupported - slip a bit of net underneath the lace before you soak it, drain the water out before you lift the lace, and use the net to lift the wet lace out of the container.? ? If the lace is "old, but not *that* old" it will likely be more robust; I'd still soak it, but maybe I'd use soap or something else that's going to work a little faster.? ? You paid less than $1 a yard for it; to my way of thinking even if it doesn't lighten to a colour you like, you'll get more than $20 worth of experience and knowledge as you try to lighten it. I'd keep the lace, look on it as a learning opportunity, and give it a go.? ? Adele? North Vancouver, BC? (west coast of Canada)? ? > The pattern is pretty, but the color really is not. I wouldn't use it > as it is. It's not a pretty yellowish to my eyes - and really quite > dark on the exposed end, but I could cut that off I wouldn't use a > real bleach on it - I learned my lesson the hard on that years ago. > But I certainly wouldn't use it without trying to light it up a bit. I > don't know if anyone would ... maybe. Who knows?? >? > it's a delicate lace, but in good shape, other than the color, and > I'm a little miffed that she obviously had some photoshopping done on > it, to make it look that pretty white color, which I really wish it > was.? >? > I hate to let it go to waste though. Paid about $20 for 11 yards for > it, to give you some idea. Not a major investment. But.? ? -? To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line:? unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to? [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
