Antique Cotton

Antique Cotton
Restoring Antique Tatting?

I have recently come across some Lovely Antique tatted doilies. I'm assuming they are cotton, but they quite yellowed, have a stain here and there, and obviously starched. Any suggestions the best way to make them more "new"ish. Thanks.
imadrian: thanks. i'll give it a go. not sure if i'm supposed to respond to your answer, but I did. =) (btw...it was not me who put the thumbsdown on your answer, i appreciate you trying to help)

I've got some, too, from my great grandmother. I use them during the Christmas holidays, so they often get stained. Assuming you don't know what the stains are, try the following, in order. This is important! I'm going from mild treatments to heavier duty stuff!

Stain treatment for tatted doilies.....
Pretreat stain with Spray & Wash or similar pretreatment. Follow manufacturer's instructions. Wash on warm, delicate cycle or hand wash thoroughly.

If that doesn't work, soak in OxyClean for 1/2 hour, then wash as described above. Oxy Clean is a peroxide based bleach that doesn't tend to take color out if used according to manufacturer's instructions.

If THAT doesn't work, bring out the big guns. I'm assuming the doilies are white, like mine. Bleach the suckers, but make sure you rinse them well if you've used the Oxy Clean. Peroxide and Chlorine bleaches tend to cancel each other out.

Whichever method works, invest in some Scotch Guard and spray the doilies to avoid set-in stains. Scotch Guard is also cool because I've noticed it helps re-inforce the the fibers of the doilies. Also, if the doilies are made of Pure Cotton, be very, very careful. Cotton, unlike linen, can be extremely fragile. If you're not sure how strong the fibers are, the best thing you can do is contact your local museum and speak with someone there. In my experience, museums, especially smaller ones, are more than happy to help with preservation.

ANTIQUE-HAND CROCHETED ECRU COTTON LACE TRIM INSERTION $7.99

Vtg ANTIQUE Embroidered COTTON Net Lace COLLAR Jabot $9.95

Vtg ANTIQUE Embroidered COTTON Lace COLLAR + CUFFS $9.95

Antique beige cotton lace trim.(2 pieces) $9.99

Antique Vintage Floral FRENCH Cotton FABRIC Pink ROSES $89.99

Antique Cotton Hand Crochet 68"x90" Bedspread/Coverlet $29.99

Antique Vintage Weaving 100% Pure Cotton Sari Saree $9.99

ANTIQUE WHITE COTTON EYELET TRIM BORDER EDGING-4 YDS $14.95

Vintage Antique EMBROIDERED MUSLIN COTTON Queen Sheet $19.98

Antique Cotton Fabric Doll Clothes Quilt Dress 20+ yrds $10.50

ANTIQUE OLD WHITTEMORE PATENT COTTON CARDING COMBS $9.99

Rare Antique Brown Calico Old Americana cotton fabric $57.00

ANTIQUE EDWARDIAN COTTON INSERTION LACE 3X35 DOLLS HAT $0.99

ANTIQUE NET LACE ROSE & DOT 3X27 COTTON TULLE TRIM DOLL $5.50

ANTIQUE VINTAGE COTTON NARROW LACE 5 YARDS+ NARROW TRIM $2.75

Beautiful Linen/Cotton Antique Hand Made Doilie $12.00

Antique Victorian bonnet from cotton for dolls /France $9.99

Antique Victorian bonnet from cotton for dolls /France $9.99

Antique Victorian bonnet from cotton for dolls /France $9.99

Antique Victorian bonnet from cotton for dolls /France $12.99

Use Linseed Oil for a Silky Finish on Antique Furniture

In Europe in the Age of Oak, from the beginning of the 16th century to the middle of the 17th century, furniture finishes were limited to vegetable oils and waxes.

People were probably more concerned with preserving the wood than with enhancing its appearance.

Until revived in recent years by some leading furniture makers, the use of linseed oil alone was forsaken - save for a few diehards - in favor of commercially prepared penetrating tung oils.

Although the tung oils work into the wood, sealing and hardening the surface and leaving a more natural look than a brushed-on finish, nothing produces a sheen as incomparably silky as a coat or two of linseed oil, properly applied.

This finish is particularly suited to hard, close-grained wood. If heated and used on a warm day, the oil penetrates deep into the wood, drawing out color and indistinct surface configurations that may have faded or been bleached out.

But not all woods can stand such a revival, for linseed oil can permanently change the mellow look that aged wood may have taken so long to achieve.

The rich, golden brown of antique cherry can become an insignificant red.

Curly maple, though, thrives on this finish and can produce superb amber tones to contrast with the dark, slightly raised tiger stripes.

Linseed oil is also well suited to most stripped bent wood of all shapes and sizes, and on rockers - provided the wood is sound - the finish never seems to fail.

If you decide to try this finish, set a glass container of the oil in a pan of hot water and heat it to a comfortable 110 degrees Fahrenheit, which also thins it for effective penetration.

Apply it with a piece of cotton toweling lightly wetted with the oil and then rubbed over the surfaces. Use comfortable but vigorous pressure to maintain surface warmth.

Continue until the wood will absorb no more and its surfaces remain wet. Dry it, again, vigorously, with a coarse cloth like denim or canvas, and leave the work for a day or two.

If there is surface sweating in that time, rub away the beads of oil with the coarse cloth.

If the piece is too sticky and stubborn to respond to this treatment, use the applicator pad again, but dampen it with paint thinner.

Next, rub in another coat, but apply the oil sparingly and keep it warm.

When you can rub your palm over the surfaces without picking up any oil, the wood is ready for the final step, polishing with a paste wax. Use white wax for light-colored woods and brown wax for darker ones.

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Filed under: Antiquities

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