This family sampler of my Mom's (step mom) was framed under glass, and subjected to a humid climate in storage limbo while my parents moved and built their dream house a few years ago. The maker, older relative was long passed and I had never met her.
When I found it in the storage building, I really thought it was beyond saving. Mom told me to just discard it. That made me want to try and save it, for her sake.
I decided that it was a lost cause, which made me want to try and save it. I decided that I couldn't make it any worse...
It had spots of mildew and many yellow areas, I suspect due to exposure to lignin, a chemical in paper from wood pulp (the same stuff that turns newspaper clippings brown). It was mounted years and years ago on a cardboard mount, long before people realized that textiles should only be exposed to acid-free paper.
It was worked on linen and trimmed WAY to close for the framing.
See the residual paper/cardboard around the edges? It was glued to the cardboard mounting. What a freaking mess!
I had this little sample of Vintage Textile Soak I had picked up somewhere and thought I would give it a try...
I soaked it in tepid water with the dissolved wonder product. I soaked it overnight...afraid to soak it any longer because I didn't want to damage the dye in the old embroidery thread.
The water was disgusting before I started rinsing out the cleaning agent.
I soaked and rinsed until the water was crystal clear...you can see below that I wasn't quite "there" yet...
I gently squeezed out as much water as possible before rolling in a clean towel and squeezing further.
Using a pencil, I traced a rectangle of the right dimensions on a piece of foam board to use as a guide, then I stretched out the damp piece and pinned generously before allowing to air dry.
It's not perfect, and I think it looks cleaner than my poor photography demonstrates. I will remove the pins and press it well before choosing some neutral fabric that closely matches to "make" a fabric mat for it using overlapping folded strips. I will show that part later.
There is some very slight staining in places, but I choose to call that patina. We'll see how it looks when the whole restoration is done.
In stitches,
Teresa :o)
Wow, what a difference!
ReplyDeleteI think it looks A LOT better . . . I had heard about the product you used, happy to see it in action!
ReplyDeleteIt’s such a sweet little piece. So glad you have been able to save it.
ReplyDeleteI agree it looks better. good for you for trying to save it, and thanks for sharing the results.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how clean you got this - such a lovely piece, it would be a shame to lose it to time.
ReplyDeleteMany times old textiles are left in wooden boxes or around cardboard as your was. The tanic acid is an enemy also. Your efforts will be appreciated. Chris
ReplyDeleteIt looks fabulous! You did a fabulous restoration job! The bits that are left give it character without overwhelming it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful save! Almost as good as new. I'll be buying some of that soak!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so much brighter! I've heard that prayer so many times throughout my life but I've never heard or seen that last stanza. It's a much more hopeful prayer than I'd ever thought.
ReplyDeleteSuch a good save... Well done!
ReplyDeleteHI!!!! It looks sooo much better!!!! Glad you saved it!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great and was definitely worth saving. I had a similar one over my bed when I was little and I have no idea what happened to it.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! The thread colors are still bright. The "patina" gives it authenticity!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a treasure worth saving... good job!
ReplyDeleteThat is a darling sampler and it looks fine. There are always spots on vintage linens....gives them character. I would have suggested that Vintage Linen Soak too. I need to get some to use on some of my old things.....great job!
ReplyDeleteTeresa it looks so much better. I have one of those to save in my house too. I will watch closely. That product looks very clever.
ReplyDeleteI think you did an amazing job of restoring that prayer. It looks fabulous. I have heard that prayer many times over my life, but didn't know the last part of it. It makes me want to find one pre-printed to embroidery for a new baby coming in our family. Thanks for showing what you did and how it looks.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! It's so nice to have a keepsake like that. You were lucky you could take it out of the frame & save it. We were doing a quilt history day and a lady took a sampler out of the frame & it fell apart. You did an amazing job and I'm sure it'll look great when you re-frame it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet sweet sampler! That is the prayer my Mama and I said every night, only our prayer ended, "I pray thee Lord, my soul to take. God bless..." followed by a list of family. I really like the last verse! I am going to remember it to teach my someday grandbabies!
ReplyDeleteI have an embroidered sampler stitched by my hubby's grandfather. He gave it to us when we married 30 years ago. It says, "Bless this house, oh Lord, I pray. Keep it safe by night and day. With an outline of praying hands. It appears to be glued to a cardboard backing, cardboard matting and cardboard frame. It must have been a kit.
Grandpa has been gone twenty eight years now and I have been worried about the sampler's survival for the future generations.
Should I soak it in plain water to release it from the backing before using the Vintage Textile Soak?
I am so glad you were able to save this little treasure , I have said that prayer since a small child and still do .
ReplyDeleteI have been into cross stitching for years and would be tickled pink to see a relation take the time to restore something I made. Im sure itll be great!
ReplyDelete