Vintage Pattern Preservation / Storage

Here are some things you can do to prevent vintage pattern envelopes, tissues and instructions
from becoming brittle and disintegrating during storage. 

 
When making repairs NEVER use regular tape or adhesives. Use acid free tapes and or adhesives, preferably archival quality.

To help prevent brittleness and disintegration you can spray pattern tissues, envelopes and instructions with "Make it Acid Free" a ph balancing aerosol spray. Please spray lightly, don't saturate.


Store each pattern in an archival quality acid free plastic sleeve.
 
If you want to add a cardboard backer make sure it is acid free cardboard.

Store patterns upright and loosely (don't pack them in tightly) to encourage airflow and prevent further damage.  


If you live in an area with high humidity you can add a silica gel packet to your storage container or drawer (silica is toxic so keep out of reach of  pets and children). It's best to store patterns in metal storage drawers or acid free containers.

Don't store your patterns in extreme temperature environments.


Never store patterns in a damp basement, it will encourage mildew growth.

Here's a link to info about the spray, you can find it on Amazon.com and I believe Joann's Fabric also sells it.
http://www.krylon.com/products/make-it-acidfree/

Huggable Rag Doll

I got this pattern in the very first box lot of vintage patterns that I bought. 

I sold most of the others years ago but I couldn't part with this one. 

She's so cute I just had to make her up!

Embroidering her face and making her yarn wig were time consuming. 

But I'm really happy with the way she turned out!

She even has a cute little nose. 

 And here she is in her nightgown and slippers.

Find her in my Etsy shop

Vintage Pattern Link Party for February is up!

Stop by to shop or add your patterns to the link party here:

 February Link List

KinseySue

Fabric Burn Test, Identifying Fabric Content

Have you ever been unsure of the content of that great piece of vintage fabric you picked up at a rummage or yard sale? Or you've had your fabric for so long you can't remember what you bought it for let alone whether it's cotton or not. Here's an excellent burn test resource www.fabriclink.com/University/BurnTest.
Below are burn test results. Please go to the link above for complete info on how to do a burn test.

The following information is from fabriclink.com

• Cotton: Burns, but does not melt. It has the odor of burning paper,leaves, or wood. The residue is a fine, feathery, gray ash.
• Hemp: Same as cotton
• Linen: Same as cotton
• Ramie : Same as cotton
• Rayon : Same as cotton
• Silk: Burns, but does not melt. It shrinks from the flame. It has the odor of charred meat. The residue is a black, hollow irregular bead that can be easily to a gritty black powder. It is self-extinguishing, i.e., it burns itself out.
• Wool, and other Protein Fibers: Burns, but does not melt. It shrinks from the flame. It has a strong odor of burning hair. The residue is a black, hollow irregular bead that can be easily crushed into a gritty black powder. It is self-extinguishing, i.e., it burns itself out.


Most manufactured fibers both burn and melt, they also tend to shrink away from the flame. Other identifying characteristics:
• Acetate: Has an odor similar to burning paper and vinegar. It´s residue is a hard, dark, solid bead.
• Acrylic: Has a fishy odor. The residue is a hard irregularly-shaped bead. It also gives off a black smoke when burned
• Nylon: Has an odor likened to celery. It´s residue is initially a hard, cream-colored bead that becomes darker.
• Olefin/Polyolefin: Has a chemical type odor. The residue id a hard, tan-colored bead. The flames creates black smoke.
• Polyester: Has a somewhat sweet chemical odor. The residue is initially a hard cream-colored bead that becomes darker. Flames gives off black smoke.
• Spandex: It burns and melts, but does not shrink from the flame. It has a chemical type odor. Its residue is a soft black ash

Don't forget to Visit our February Pattern Link Party!

Vintage Sewing Patterns

An InLinkz Link-up