Best way to preserve crochet baptism gown?

[karinbelle]

My dear mother crocheted a baptism gown for my DD. What would be the best way to preserve it?

How should we clean it (Grandma can't help it - she smokes)? I thought I'd soak it in Woolite, then air-dry.

It is so beautiful.

 

[NikiM20]

Karin is it white? My grandmother always wrapped our christening gowns in blue tissue paper then sealed them in a bag. When I had DD Christened, It was snow white and that was 20 yrs later

 

[karinbelle]

Yes, it's white. I'll change my signature page so you guys can see it. Should I go on the hunt for acid-free paper?

 

[tngramma]

That is so beautiful! When my first DGD was born she weighed 1 lb. 9 oz. A dear friend from church crocheted her a cute outfit using a doll pattern. We now have it vacuum sealed but I still worry about it. It will be interesting to see the advice you get.

 

[bookgirl]

I was told to keep items like that in a white cotton pillow case then inside my cedar chest. Plastic is bad and so is cardbord, I don't know about the blue tissue,,,it may have been a special paper for clothes. But yes acid free paper is a must.

 

[tink2dw]

Framed under glass, but not touching the glass, placed on a archival acid free backing and arranged to show off it's beauty. A framing store should be able to help you with all the right materials!!

 

[Grandmax3]

If it has yellowed, rinse the gown in water and lemon juice and then lay it out in partial shade. The sun and lemon juice will turn it white then rinse in clear water and lay flat to dry. Works every time I have done this. It also does not destroy the fibers of the gown.

 

[WendyisDarling]

Framed under glass, but not touching the glass, placed on a archival acid free backing and arranged to show off it's beauty. A framing store should be able to help you with all the right materials!!

A dear friend did this, too. It was really beautiful framed.

 

[XYSRUS]

All of my kids have worn gowns we have from the 20's. After each kid we do an heirloom preservation. Clean gown, acid free tissue, boxed. Be careful and look around town for a professional archivist. Don't let some dry cleaners do it. They say they know what they're doing, but they don't. Also ask your local museum if they can recommend anyone.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I still have mine that my grandmother made for me 26 years ago it has been kepted in a cedar chest as mentioned above. Mine wasn't a pure white so I don't know about that.

 

[LadyShiva]

You could use any mild soap (Woolite is fine, so is mild, plain dishwashing soap--no anti-bacterial or scented stuff), then wrap it in unbleached muslin. Try not to let the fabric touch itself; stuff the sleeves with either acid-free tissue paper or the unbleached muslin. Store it in a dry area that does not have moisture or temperature changes (as in, don't put it in the attic or the basement, but instead in a cedar chest in your bedroom). You should be able to find unbleached muslin at fabric stores. It'll be tan colored with flecks.

If you do get it framed, use UV protectant glass, and place acid-free tissue paper between the cloth layers of the skirt.

Make sure to take a picture of the dress, too, either framed or before you store it in the muslin. Save it with your other documentation for insurance purposes.

Hope that helps!
Brandie

 

[karinbelle]

Thank you all so much. Our family baptism gowns have all disappeared through the years. I will follow your advise. I want to make sure this one makes it through to my grandchildren.