Dear Susan, Size of hole? Size of total lace piece? There is not enough information given! Repairing old lace is quite a problem. Without holding damaged old lace in the hand, an expert will have a hard time deciding the best approach. It has to be determined if a mend will create additional (new) weakness or tears.
My recommendation would be to take it to a professional conservation facility. You could ask at a local museum of some size. Preferably, it will be one that has a costume/lace collection and someone on staff who speaks lace language! Ask to see similar work the restorer has done for the museum. Repairing lace requires proper tools and threads, experience, a light touch, smooth dry hands, no interruptions (phones/pets/people), and time. Someone who has not mended lace must first practice on several other pieces. I took museum-sponsored classes (requiring travel, hotel, etc.), and then practiced on my own collection.. No pins! Baste - in a slightly contrasting color that can be carefully picked out. One strand of DMC embroidery floss is soft and will not cut into old lace threads - perfect for basting. Never pierce lace threads with your needle. Leave long tails of thread - no knots that can accidentally be pulled into the lace. Secure any long mending threads when you have finished (use the away-knot concept taught to embroiderers, but with no knot). Generally, repairs are done with sewing/embroidery techniques. If the hole is large, lay a similar ground of lace under it and sew the way you would join lace yardage. Not a needle lace pillow - unwieldy, if a large piece of lace.. You could lay the lace on a supporting piece of tightly-woven fabric quite a bit larger than the lace (instead of the multi-layer pad held in the hand), with a piece of bobbin ground as a patch between, and do your basting through all layers. Do your repair, and cut the basting threads from underneath, as you would in needle lace. Finally, cut away excess ground from underneath, if that was how you chose to repair hole. Scary... You are in the U.S., and mentioned Elizabeth Kurella's book "Anybody Can Mend Lace and Linens". Master her lessons before you take on a piece of valued lace. To my knowledge, there is no new magic way to repair lace. Practice is essential. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center -------------------------------- In a message dated 5/21/2013 5:35:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: .....Does anyone have new info to share? ...It sounds like the "best Arachne advice" is to:consult the Elizabeth Kurella book ... employ a very fine needle & thread while heeding general admonitions about taking one's time. Will anyone who has made repairs kindly comment on how you started? Did you pin the piece to a pillow or padded grid to maintain the shape under tension? How did you secure the thread the body of the piece? Were any bobbins used or just needle(s) & thread(s)? - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
