Preservation and maintenance of your embroidery
In order to maximize the life of embroidered art, basic care must be taken. It should be kept clean and dry. People will wish to touch it but please don't allow that. Fingertips leave behind small amounts of oil that darken, becoming more visible with time. Air conditioning is not essential (since many embroideries were created before it was invented) but is very helpful to combat moisture that might lead to mold. I dust mine with a clean feather duster once a month or so. (Feather dusters can be washed when necessary with dish liquid.) Make sure pest control is up to date and do not display the fabric in direct sunlight which can cause fading. According to The Textile Museum, "it's best to rotate your exhibition of textiles: put one on display for four months or so, then store it carefully while others are on view."
It might seem as though embroideries should be kept under glass but, as I understand it, glass is not desirable if it is at all likely that the frame will be dropped and broken because broken glass can cut the fibers. I have seen cotton floss and silk kept well under glass but if it's completely sealed, front and back, mold and mildew can form. Plexiglas is preferable. However, in either case, one precaution that can be taken is to raise the glass with a spacer between it and the fabric within the frame.
The Textile Museum is a wonderful repository for information about embroideries and all types of textiles, ancient to modern. Access them at http://www.museum.gwu.edu Look up "Learning Resources", then click on "Care for Textiles". Better yet, visit them in person at their location in Washington, D. C.'s George Washington University.
It might seem as though embroideries should be kept under glass but, as I understand it, glass is not desirable if it is at all likely that the frame will be dropped and broken because broken glass can cut the fibers. I have seen cotton floss and silk kept well under glass but if it's completely sealed, front and back, mold and mildew can form. Plexiglas is preferable. However, in either case, one precaution that can be taken is to raise the glass with a spacer between it and the fabric within the frame.
The Textile Museum is a wonderful repository for information about embroideries and all types of textiles, ancient to modern. Access them at http://www.museum.gwu.edu Look up "Learning Resources", then click on "Care for Textiles". Better yet, visit them in person at their location in Washington, D. C.'s George Washington University.