Conservation Stitching

A Private Client

Appliquéd and Embroidered Coverlet from Pakistan

After Treatment

Close-up of couching stitches on Pakistan coverlet

Couching Stitches Close-up

Treatment Received

•Surface cleaned with a variable powered museum vacuum through a mesh screen.
•Contact humidification using weights to realign and even out any lifting applique and the cheesecloth support.
•The appliqued textile was fully supported on a colour matched fabric and losses, failing seams and splits secured with a variety of conservation stitches including laid thread couching, whip stitch and running stitch in colour matched threads.
•The edges of the support fabric were turned to the front of the textile and used as a border.

All Saints Church, Cambridge

Red Velvet and Embroidered Altar Superfrontal, circa 1860

Superfrontal Detail

Fragmenting Velvet Before Treatment

During Treatment

Laid Thread Couching Stitches

Treatment Received

•The fringing was removed and surface cleaned.
•All fragments were recorded, secured to a support board and stored for later use.
•The original velvet panel was removed from the lining and box cover.
•All elements were surface cleaned through a mesh screen using a variable powered museum suction cleaner.
•Contact humidification was carried out on the reverse of the textile.
•The velvet border was placed onto a colour matched fabric support.
•The fragile areas, splits and fragments were secured to the support fabric using laid thread couching stitches.
•The original fringe was humidified and secured back into place using a conservation back stitch.
•A new altar top panel was made with colour matched support fabric and secured to the reconstructed front panel.
•The superfrontal was relined using a new linen, lock stitches were evenly spaced throughout to secure all layers.

Marlborough NY & The Abakanowicz Arts and Culture Charitable Foundation

Helena by Magdalena Abakanowicz

308 × 465cm. A tapestry woven using linen warps, and wefts in sisal, cotton, wool, horsehair and silk in different combinations, thicknesses and weaves.