I know I am on the clean, clean, clean end, and many are not, but it seems to me that generally speaking, one should consider that lace needs to be cleaned at some point in it's life, unless it makes it to a ripe old age without it having to be done. I just think of those who wore it in ages past, and that they didn't bathe daily. Since so many pieces were collars and cuffs, etc. that were exposed to dirt and food, that it is a consideration and no doubt some specialized in cleaning (and starching) it.
There used to be a technique that I don't see mentioned much, which was to baste a needlework piece to something neutral (such as muslin in the US, etc.) to stabilize it so it kept it's shape and there was less shifting, but I don't remember it mentioned here in reference to lace. It would counter some potential problems though, and is similar to how some things are processed in museums, eg: that items are washed with a cloth beneath to lift it with, etc. and save strain on the textiles. Isn't so much of the dressing/blocking about tension on the edges (if possible) which makes the rest of it lie better? After all, bobbin lace is essentially a form of weaving, and tension generally remedies a high percentage of the problem within that medium. I do worry about the mixture of fiber composition though, as then one might consider pre-shrinking if the piece is to be cleaned at some point. Of course this can change the finish on things like silk and rayon (and even cotton, for that matter). Best, Susan Reishus - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
