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Scarf dilemma:suggestions please

Anonymous

I have 3 silk scarves- 2 are my grandmother’s who passed in 1960. The other is hand painted flowers on silk -a gift from a friend’s trip to Greece in 1984.
These scarves are disintegrating before my eyes even though they have been treated with loving care.
There is no way to stop it. Or is there? Can they be saved?
So- do I keep wearing them as they fall apart or do I just fold them and put them away never to be used or beauty shared ever again.
YLF Friends- any suggestions? Thank you

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21 replies

Latest reply was from

gryffin

Veteran

efbgen - I'm so very sorry. I do not know the answer to your question. But my first thought was could you frame them? Something like that would be beautiful and they might last longer. I'm hoping someone with more knowledge will chime in. Hugs, that's so upsetting. Such heirlooms!!

Anonymous

GRYFFIN- thank you for your understanding and support ( sorely needed) I actually gave that a thought as I did that with some of my grandmother‘s crochet pieces ( eagle, dog, home sweet home). but these have actual holes and would look like moths ate it. So it would look sad rather than a wonderful tribute piece. And I am already sad by the whole situation. But it really is a great idea for other scarves not too far gone

Windchime

Veteran

I don’t know what the answer to your question is, but I’ll be following this thread with interest. I have a pretty soft pink silk scarf from my grandma and don’t want it to suffer the same fate! I hope you can find a way to preserve your heirloom scarves.

Anonymous

Thanks WINDCHIME- one of them is pink roses maybe if yours is not too far gone you can put it under class.) 2 years ago as part of historical society I actually took a class in how to preserve historic textiles- clean carefully, roll in acid free paper put in muslin bag and store in moisture free, temperature controlled storage. Lol- not helpful. Let’s hope we get lots of ideas.

Style Fan

Veteran

I am so sorry efbgen. The scarves sound very special. I don't have any suggestions. I wish I did.

Anonymous

I am sorry about these special scarves. I have seen tiny glass pendants at bead shops designed to hold a small picture. I think they could also be used to hold a bit of silk, maybe a flower or pretty bit of a pattern.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Maybe you could knot them around beads to make a necklace or something? That way you’d enjoy the colors, at least.

Anonymous

JOY and JESSI- thank you both are great ideas. Will have to check for those glass pendants so that when they are total shreds the have a place as keepsakes and in mean time wrapping them with my beaded necklaces and chains are a novel way to cover up obvious wear and tear.
Thanks for the great suggestions.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Some museums specialise in the preservation of old textiles.It might be worth a bit of on line research and a phone call or two to see if any one could give you some advice.l m no expert but I think the general advice for home storage of special textiles is to wrap them in acid free paper and keep them away from sunlight.I hope that you manage to find some way of keeping these special things,good luck

Anonymous

I just want to say how sorry I am. I know the importance of mementos like this. The acid free paper sounds like a good option.

gryffin

Veteran

I found it!!! https://www.withoutatrace.com/reweaving/ I saw this service a long time ago. I'm sure there are others. I have no idea how much something like this costs. If they can't help they may no who can. Again calling large museums and asking who does their restoration like above. This would not be cheap but it's about heirlooms. There is no price if it's doable.
ETA: contact Hermes online and see if they have a suggestion

lyn67

Veteran

It's time to think creative- could you use some parts of them which still in good condition for a small patchwork and framing. Or include little parts of them in a locked pendant(or other jewelery), etc..

Anonymous

CARDIFF- thanks- that seems to be the advice they give on preservation sites and the class I took given by a historical society (the speaker was a textile preservationist from the smithsonian).
STERLING- thank you- yes- packed away forever in acid free paper seems to be the option for preservation but that rules out ever using or "seeing " it again
GRYFFIN- thank you for that site. I will have to check it out- if nothing comes of it for me I am sure members of my spinning and weaving group will love the info! The scarves are not Hermes so I dont know if they would talk to me. 2 other possibilities are making a trip into Madamn Paulettes in NYC who preserve clothing and I will be going to Montreal at the end of the month. They have a Textile Museum there- hoping I can pick someones brain.
LYN- you make #3 for framing and/or pendant
Thank you again for all your support and suggestions

SarahD8

Veteran

efbgen, I wanted to add my voice to the chorus of sympathy. I have a number of heirloom pieces (not scarves) that are important to me both emotionally and in terms of expressing my style.

My vote is to wear the scarves. It seems that either you could keep them packed away and they will still deteriorate, or you could wear them and they will deteriorate. I suspect that you will get more joy out of the latter. Once scarves are folded/tied about your neck or the handle of your bag, that hides a lot of imperfections.

I like the idea of making jewelry out of a bit of the scarf when it gets truly unwearable.

ETA: Or, if the scarves are similar or at least matchy-clashy you could take the good bits from each one and piece them together into a new scarf??

This is not quite the same, but I had a tablecloth that had been given to my grandparents as a wedding present. It was pretty worn and not really usable as a tablecloth. I cut it up and made dishtowels out of it. With use the dishtowels eventually became absolutely shredded and I sent them off for textile recycling. I'm very glad I took this route, I think it was the right thing to do.

Anonymous

Oh SARAH- you truly do understand the dilemma. Either way they disintegrate. Just a matter of do I save them or hasten their demise by using. Your suggestion of combining is unique and fabulous- not so much to piece it BUT grandma ‘s scarves are actually the close to the same size and weight. One in long stem roses while other is a mixed floral bouquet. If I take your suggest and hand stitch them back to back around rolled hems it might work at each reinforcing the other. I am so excited to see how they would work together. Thank you thank you.
I had one of her linen hankies with a crocheted edge that was fading fast. My daughter carried it on her wedding day- we dried her bouquet and I used hanky and ribbon from bouquet to make a sachet.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I would say preserve them as art in an airtight case. It really hurt me to read this. I'm all about legacy and preservation of artifacts

Anonymous

LEDONNA- it’s funny because I am the one that is usually rabid about caring for and securing historical documents and artifacts in groups I have volunteered for. But when it gets real personal the heart clouds the mind. Thanks for your vote.....and again happy birthday:-)

tulle

Veteran

Unfortunately, silk is one of the most fragile fabrics, and (because it is made of animal protein) also susceptible to moth damage. Folding scarves along different lines (thirds, quarters, diagonals, etc.) each time you put them away, or rolling in tissue instead of folding, may help. But if there are holes in the fabric already, I would agree with those who suggest simply wearing them, rolled or folded to obscure the damage, to enjoy their beauty before they disintegrate. You might also spread them out and photograph them. But don't blame yourself. Silk is hard to conserve.

Helena

Veteran

I was going to suggest framing ... Hope you find a way to preserve these treasures.

Sal

Veteran

Sorry to hear this. If framing is not going to work I would wear and enjoy them while you can - and get some photos if you wearing them. It's a bit like breaking the family crystal - sad but maybe better to use and love.

Anonymous

TULLE- what a great idea- I think I will photo them and put print in the family album next to her picture- thanks so much for the tip-it's great. And yes it is fragile- no matter how gentle I treated them, I think it is more age than anything. I am guilty of infrequent washing of them because they were in delicate shape when I got them from my aunt who inherited them from her mom, so I am sure "natural body sweat" may have contributed.
TG & SAL - Framing is still a possibility but more and more as I look at them I think Team love and wear is winning my heart. Especially since I can't keep them from disintegrating even under glass.
Thanks Friends!