Pattern Cleaning & Repair, Part 2

Part 2 - Archival Repair Methods

(For Part 1, which covers paper cleaning, please click here.)

Oh dear!  What do you do when that perfect, rare pattern you just found has a big, horrible tear?

Is all hope lost?  I'm here to tell you that hope is NOT lost, and many patterns can be repaired to nearly as good as new.  (Even really ratty ones!)

What should you use?

I recommend Filmoplast P professional archival tape.

This pattern can be repaired!!

**Please practice on junk patterns first and get the hang of it before you go sticking tape on that $200 pattern! **

Okay, now that I've got that out of the way... moving on!

This tape is amazing!  It won't ever turn brittle, turn yellow, crack, or become hard.  You can even IRON it (on a lower setting) if you use it to repair a torn pattern piece.  It is really a miracle product and I would never, EVER use anything else!  Also, please, NEVER EVER use regular Scotch Tape, it will RUIN YOUR PATTERN.  I cannot stress that enough!!

Let me show you a little about how to repair patterns the archival way!

First, there are a couple of products besides the Filmoplast P that you should have on hand.  I recommend keeping a variety of sizes and shapes of tweezers around for putting small pieces of paper back in place.  

Bone Folder and tweezers shown on the right.

I also recommend something called a BONE FOLDER which will help you to rub the tape and stick it down really well, as well as crease or uncrease things with more precision than you can with your fingers.  It is basically like a little stick with a round end and a pointy end.  While you can use any old plastic or metal pointy thing (such as your favorite point-turner), I strongly suggest you use a folder made of bone or Teflon as it is less likely to stretch or damage delicate paper fibers.

Plus, the folder also makes a great point-turner for sewing! :)  I keep one in my craft box and one in my sewing box, too.  You'll find more uses for them than you can imagine.  They're inexpensive and very handy.

OH, and make sure your HANDS ARE CLEAN.  Fingerprints can show up on the tape or the tape can pull the dirt off your hands, and the last thing you want is dirty fingerprints on your new repaired pattern. 

Adjust difficult tears with a good pair of tweezers, keep several kinds on hand.

When working on old paper, try to repair on the back if at all possible.  Sometimes, it's impossible and you must put tape on the front of an envelope.  But if you can, keep your repairs to the back side.  

First, carefully examine the tear and see if you can tell which parts of the paper need to be "on top" and which parts need to be on the bottom.  Place them back as well as you can, and use tweezers, toothpicks, or even straight pins to get stuff going the right way if necessary.  How precise you are is up to you, we aren't repairing the Constitution of The United States here, it's not an exact science. So, in my opinion anyway, a good repair is better than no repair at all when it comes to these vintage patterns.

Rub the tape with the bone folder to help it show less, and also to adhere the tape to the paper better.

After you have everything lined up the best you can, place the Filmoplast, and "burnish" with your bone folder.  Sometimes the tape will almost entirely disappear!  Sometimes, it will still show.  It depends on the type of paper.  Shiny pattern envelopes are much more difficult to repair than matte ones.  Pattern tissue accepts Filmoplast very well and it almost always disappears completely and then I can't tell where I even made the repair!

Welp, that's unfortunate. :(

This unfortunate pattern envelope was torn when I was getting it out of the drawer.  Let's repair it together!

Tape the smaller tears first and move onto the big ones later.  You can tear or cut  Filmoplast to any size you want.

First, I repaired the small tears in the detatched piece.  Like I said above, tape on the back if you possibly can.  After that was all repaired, I moved on to the next part.

Always tape on the back unless you really have no other option.

Then, I put tape on the back facing up.  This part can be a little tricky.  You can do it in sections which is usually a little easier.  I did it this way to have more clarity in showing you how it works.

Better already!

CAREFULLY line up the pieces and stick down!  Rub with your bone folder, and your pattern is repaired!

Much better!

How about that?  Almost as good as new!

A few more notes..

Envelope with Split Side or Top: if you have an envelope with a split side, you can just fold the Filmoplast about in half around the edge of the envelope, and burnish well with the bone folder.  Sometimes it shows, and sometimes it doesn't, but either way it's better than having pieces falling out of the envelope.  I can add pictures of this process if anyone would find it helpful.

Envelope with Unglued Side: If you have an envelope that has come unglued, I generally just repair it with an acid-free glue stick that is marked as being photo safe or archival.  You can get those at your favorite craft store.

I recommend Gaylord Archival and Hollinger Metal Edge for purchasing your archival repair supplies.

Just a note:  I have used other, cheaper brands of archival repair tape and have found it unsatisfactory.  I can only comfortably recommend FILMOPLAST.  Filmoplast P is not cheap, but it goes a very long way (there is a lot in a package), and is the best product on the market, in my novice opinion.  

Stay tuned for Part 3, where I'll give a few tips about getting yucky smells out of old patterns.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments, and I'll try to help you the best I can. :)

Also, be sure to visit all the wonderful shops of the Pattern Patter Team!

Prepping Patterns: Stickers and Tape Residue

The hunt for old patterns can take us anywhere, from musty garages, old homes, thrift shops to estate sales. Not everyone loves patterns as much as we do and some don't survive the years so well. Here's part two of advice gathered from members of the team on removing those stickers and what to do with marks on the front. 

Removing Stickers & Tape

Erika from ErikawithaK says

"I usually don't remove tape. No matter what, it usually leaves residue and the best way that I know to remove the residue (goo gone or hairspray) isn't paper friendly. If the tape is totally dried out, then I can usually pick it off easily but otherwise, I leave it to avoid doing more damage. Fortunately, most of the places that I get patterns from don't use stickers. There is either nothing or black marker, which there is really nothing you can do about, except maybe black it out more to cover what I paid. "

sydcam123 from sydcam123 says

"I use a hair dryer on low heat for stickers. They usually peel right off. "

"If I touch a warm iron to most stickers they will lift easily. Masking tape lifts well too. Scotch tape will melt and if it's cellophane tape it is probably so old and brittle that it will fall right off. A hair dryer on the scotch tape works fairly well. Some patterns I get have the flaps taped down and you have to remove it to get to the pattern. Heat works the best. For the tape residue that is left behind I take a piece of paper towel and place it over the residue and touch the iron to it. The residue sticks to the paper towel and I replace the piece of paper towel and repeat until it is gone or mostly gone. "

VogueVixens from VogueVixens says

We steam stickers to remove them using a kettle, then use Glue gone to remove the remaining stickiness(Value Village stickers are the worst). At first it causes the envelope to change colour, but the colour goes away after it dries. Then gently iron envelope.between fabric or pieces of paper.
Have not removed tape except for the old dry pieces that fall off.
We leave original price stickers from the fabric stores on, as said above, they add charm. 

Mary Anne from BunnysLuck says

"My best tip re: stickers: Beg, plead, snivel, and cry to the thrift store manager to NOT put stickers on the envelopes! Or put them somewhere that doesn't impact the integrity of the envelope. I was motivated to do this because one particular thrift store in my area delights in putting the sticker precisely over the face of one of the models on the envelope, so that if you are not extra careful in removing it, the face gets blotched. The manager said he would fix it, and lo and behold, he DID! No more blotchy faces!"

Dealing with Sharpies and Markers

Janet from VintagePatternsCo1 says

Don't get many stickers but referring to an earlier comment on sharpie prices and 'coloring' over them. I 'color' in my sharpie price but stick a small white label over the colored in area. The labels are bought in a small size so I don't have to cut them. I mention the sticker in the listing. Since so many sharpie prices are on the white background of the graphic...it makes the fix not so obvious. I mention the sharpie and sticker in the description.

Nicolette from HouseonCherryHill says

 I discovered this simply wonderful tool at the hardware store... it's a big block of spony sponge-type thing that is used to clean soot off bricks, found in the paint section of Menards. I use it to clean off books and other paper products that are grimy and dirty. Simply magic! You can also use PlayDoh (which was originally designed to remove stains from walpaper!) but I prefer the brick cleaner. :-)

Emily from EmSewCrazy says

I erase the pencil marks and nicely scribble out the prices written in pen. The names and notes of the original pattern owner I leave alone although I will blur out names and addresses on the photos I upload. 

Summary

To remove stickers

• Gently Iron
• Use a Hairdryer
• Steam Kettle

To remove/hide marks

• Black it out
• Cover with label
• Erase with various utensils.

I hope this helps speed you on your pattern listing journey. Remember if they aren't listed they can't sell! If you have any great methods not listed please share in the comments below!

Prepping Patterns: Smells

The hunt for old patterns can take us anywhere, from musty garages, old homes, thrift shops to estate sales. Not everyone loves patterns as much as we do and some don't survive the years so well. Here's some advice gathered from members of the team on removing smells.

Nance from nancesnostalgia says

One thing that works for me; About a teaspoon of dried lavender herb per zip lock bag, leave closed up for a couple of weeks and test. Make sure that all the lavender is cleaned up prior to shipping as they closely resemble "mice gifts" and that could be traumatic to the customer! They are reusable too. 

Mary Beth from retromonkeys says

"I have a jar of activated charcoal for fish tank filters. I put the open jar and the stinky items in a plastic bin and seal it. I leave it for 2 weeks or so. It doesn't get rid of all of the smell but makes it tolerable."

Denise from Denisecraft says

"For patterns, I use the arm and hammer baking soda for kitty litter boxes. It works great albeit, it does make a powdery mess. Soaks up all that smell in a few days and then you just dump the white powder. I know other people use straight baking soda but I kinda like the fresh scent from this stuff. It is cheap, about 1.25 a box. A box can last a long time depending on how much you dump."

Rosie from SewBohemian says

"Silica gel works too, in those little packets or you can buy a can of it at hobby shops. Put the gel into little cheesecloth bags, tuck the bagged gel around your books, then box the books up or tub them (leave the top off) and let them sit for a couple weeks before removing. Good link here about mold and mildew and books : www.ehow.com/how_4764584_eliminate-mold-mildew-books.html"

Anne-Marie from neverwares says 

"I take a 1/4 sheet of white tissue and fold it into a flat envelope shape [sort of pattern sized] add a table spoon or so of baking soda, tape closed. Shake genlty till flat and store between patterns, pages, whatever to remove musty smell. Like the charcoal etc. put everything in a box and forget about for awhile. Then let air out. Please keep in mind that not everyone can take scents that are used to mask the musty smell. Febreeze makes me sneeze violently. Also the "nice" scents can wear off and leave the mustyness still there."

Revvie1 from Revvie1 says

"I've found Damp-Rid works quicker and better than baking soda."

Cindi from CaliforniaSunset says

"For stinky smells, I use unscented cat litter (the cheap Johnny Cat stuff). It has worked for books as well as for patterns. Just use it like you would with the baking soda trick. "

MaddieModPatterns from MaddieModPatterns says

"I use dryer sheets, the scented ones. I close everything up for several days, then take out the sheets and let the patterns air out (this is done out in the storage shed). When the process is finished, the patterns have a fresh laundry smell, but it's perfumey and not for everyone. I actually can't be in the same room with the whole dryer sheet thing for more than a few minutes without getting headaches but it's the best method I've found yet."

PeoplePackages from PeoplePackages says

"In warmer weather I take my smelly patterns to let them sit in the sun too."

In Summary

1. Put stinky patterns in separate container.

2. Sprinkle one of the following substances around the patterns.

• Baking Soda (favorite)
• Activated Charcoal
• Silica Gel 
• Dryer sheets
• Lavender
• Damp Rid
• Kitty Litter
• Febreeze

3. Seal in container, ziplock bag, box, shed, whatever; for a long time. When you take them out they should be good to go.

BUT....

4. If all else fails, use the sun. Joan from PatternsNew2U says' "On those really stinky patterns I would suggest waiting till Summer, laying them out on a patio table in the direct sunlight. My hubby is a fisheraman and he likes herring oil to put on his bait. He put the container in his back pocket. The smell would not come out no matter what I tried. I hung them on a hanger outside the sun for a day and the smell was gone. If the baking soda doesn't work try the sun." 

The KEY to remember is to let your buyer know in the listing if the pattern smells at all whether it's stinky or smells like your grandmother's perfume. So get out there and get to work detoxing all those patterns! The sooner they smell good the sooner they can be enjoyed and used by everyone!