Re: [h-cost] Out of Office
I will be out of the office at the LDI show from October 21st through October 27th. I will be checking email periodically. If you need to reach me about the exams at LDI please call my cell phone at 646-732-0176. ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
[h-cost] cleaning question
On the cloth of gold thread, Bess mentioned cloth of silver. I have a small piece (about 1 yard square), but it is tarnished where it was exposed to the air when folded. Any ideas on how to remove the tarnish from the silver without harming the silk? Sharon C. ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] cleaning question
I'm wearing two hats here. 1. I've dabbled in silversmithing 2. I'm working on a degree in textiles. One way to clean oxidization off of silver jewelry is to soak it in a solution called pickle, usually a weak acid, usually heated. Some people use vinegar. Protein fibers are damaged by basic solutions, but are slightly strengthened by weak acids. Vinegar is frequently used to set acid dyes (used with protein fibers), usually in a hot dyebath. If you make a vinegar-water solution and heat it up, keeping it below a simmer, and immerse and soak your cloth of silver in it, that *should* do the trick. It won't be instantaneous, it may take half an hour or more. Emma On the cloth of gold thread, Bess mentioned cloth of silver. I have a small piece (about 1 yard square), but it is tarnished where it was exposed to the air when folded. Any ideas on how to remove the tarnish from the silver without harming the silk? Sharon C. ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] cleaning question
Baking soda? I've used baking soda paste (half baking soda, half water) to get tarnish off of silver jewelry. I don't know how silk reacts to baking soda, though. - Original Message From: Sharon Collier [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Historical Costume [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 6:33:22 PM Subject: [h-cost] cleaning question On the cloth of gold thread, Bess mentioned cloth of silver. I have a small piece (about 1 yard square), but it is tarnished where it was exposed to the air when folded. Any ideas on how to remove the tarnish from the silver without harming the silk? Sharon C. ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] cleaning question
Thanks, I didn't know that about basic harming protein fibers. Aren't most detergents/soaps basic? -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 7:00 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] cleaning question I'm wearing two hats here. 1. I've dabbled in silversmithing 2. I'm working on a degree in textiles. One way to clean oxidization off of silver jewelry is to soak it in a solution called pickle, usually a weak acid, usually heated. Some people use vinegar. Protein fibers are damaged by basic solutions, but are slightly strengthened by weak acids. Vinegar is frequently used to set acid dyes (used with protein fibers), usually in a hot dyebath. If you make a vinegar-water solution and heat it up, keeping it below a simmer, and immerse and soak your cloth of silver in it, that *should* do the trick. It won't be instantaneous, it may take half an hour or more. Emma On the cloth of gold thread, Bess mentioned cloth of silver. I have a small piece (about 1 yard square), but it is tarnished where it was exposed to the air when folded. Any ideas on how to remove the tarnish from the silver without harming the silk? Sharon C. ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] cleaning question
Yup. But a mild base isn't going to do a huge amount of damage. I wouldn't worry about it, honestly. If your silk is so fragile that soap is going to break it down significantly, you probably shouldn't be washing it, anyway. I have heard something about saris being given a final vinegar rinse to counteract the soap after being washed, it has never been clear to me whether that was to strengthen the fiber or to re-set the dye. If you're feeling paranoid, tear-free shampoos tend to be neutral or nearly neutral pH. Emma Quoting Sharon Collier [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Thanks, I didn't know that about basic harming protein fibers. Aren't most detergents/soaps basic? ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] cleaning question
This, by the way, is why you should never, never bleach silk. A small vial of bleach is a handy way to distinguish silk from synthetic fibers, though. Silk (or wool) will dissolve completely. Emma Quoting Sharon Collier [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Thanks, I didn't know that about basic harming protein fibers. Aren't most detergents/soaps basic? ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] cleaning question
Most soaps aren't terribly basic, not like a mineral base--NaOH (lye, caustic, etc.) or CaOH (active ingredient in Nair c) around pH 14. I have dry skin, and Ivory is too basic for me to use at pH 9.5, because it's not superfatted, but that's not a protein reaction. ;) Detergents can be acidic or basic, depending on what is to be cleaned out of what. Both soaps detergents are surfactants. Ann in CT --- On Wed, 10/22/08, Sharon Collier [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks, I didn't know that about basic harming protein fibers. Aren't most detergents/soaps basic? -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [h-cost] cleaning question I'm wearing two hats here. 1. I've dabbled in silversmithing 2. I'm working on a degree in textiles. One way to clean oxidization off of silver jewelry is to soak it in a solution called pickle, usually a weak acid, usually heated. Some people use vinegar. Protein fibers are damaged by basic solutions, but are slightly strengthened by weak acids. Vinegar is frequently used to set acid dyes (used with protein fibers), usually in a hot dyebath. If you make a vinegar-water solution and heat it up, keeping it below a simmer, and immerse and soak your cloth of silver in it, that *should* do the trick. It won't be instantaneous, it may take half an hour or more. Emma On the cloth of gold thread, Bess mentioned cloth of silver. I have a small piece (about 1 yard square), but it is tarnished where it was exposed to the air when folded. Any ideas on how to remove the tarnish from the silver without harming the silk? Sharon C. ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
[h-cost] Hat question 19th century
Hi everyone, a friend is interested in the 'bonnet' on this page http://www.hatsupply.com/dressup_hats.htm (about half way down black and white photos) For Regency era wear to my eye it doesn't look like the right shape, but I can't claim to be much of a Regency era expert and there was a lot of variation between the 1790s and 1820s. What do you think? Elizabeth ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
