Things to Consider Before Crocheting Edging on Vintage Fabric

In Crocheted Edging for Handkerchiefs, I discussed how you can crochet edging around handkerchiefs. These make great gifts or you can keep them as part of your own treasured linen collection.

I've received a few questions along the same lines regarding crocheting on pieces of old fabric so I decided to answer those questions in a hub.

Crocheting on old or new fabric isn't too different, but there are special considerations to take into account.

Generally speaking, you can crochet on old fabric just as you would a new piece of fabric. But there are some questions you should ask yourself before you begin.

• Is the fabric yellow from age.
• If so, do you plan on whitening it with bleach or simply trying to clean it as best as you can?
• Has it become threadbare or thinner with age?
• Does it have odor from being in a smoker's home or being stored improperly?
• How has the fabric been stored? Does it have crease marks that have become deeply embedded?

Discoloration of the fabric might not be a problem for you if the entire piece is the same, but if there are blotches of discoloration, you might want to consider bleach or dye. Odor and creases may or may not come out.  Thinning is a different problem altogether and you might want to reconsider adding edging to the fabric in that case.

If you want your vintage fabric to last, you need to take proper care of it. I mentioned bleach and dye earlier, but I would advise against using harsh chemicals on old pieces.  Tea staining and natural vegetable dyes are options if you believe the fabric can handle that.  Here are some basics of vintage linen care:

• Hand wash in cold water without soap first.
• Do not wring out but gently squeeze and roll in a thick towel to remove moisture.
  
• Lay flat to dry. Do not put in the dryer.
• Steam iron (optional and be careful as this may damage the fabric).
  
• Alternatively, you may want to steam clean or have it professionally cleaned by someone who handles vintage pieces.

If you want to use soap, make sure it's gentle such as baby shampoo and use very little. Oxi-Clean removes stains and odor but needs to be activated in very hot water. Make sure to let is cool or cool it down with cold or lukewarm water before you put your fabric in. If you really want to use bleach and you're certain it won't harm the fabric, use a very small amount mixed with water first and repeat if necessary.

Steam cleaning and ironing may remove crease marks or damage the piece. If this is something you have no emotional attachment to, then you can test a small area first. If it's you're grandmother's heirloom linens, then use caution.

Disclaimer: You need to be the judge as to whether any of these things will harm your fabric. If you're in doubt about cleaning the piece because of age or condition, then you may want to consult a professional conservationist or your library for books on proper care of heirloom textiles.

As I stated earlier, you can still crochet on vintage fabric, especially if its in really good condition. In my crocheted handkerchief article (linked below) I explain how to poke holes in the fabric with your crochet needle or use a spoke-stitched (also called hemstitch, see pic above) hankie.

My personal preference with older fabric would be to crochet the edging first and then hand sew it on the piece. This helps somewhat in preventing more breakdown of the fabric. With sewing, you're still poking holes in the fabric, but not in as drastic a way as using a crochet needle.

Each piece of vintage fabric will be different. You'll have to decide whether you will speed up deterioration of the piece or whether you want to go ahead and add beautiful edging to make the fabric really stand out. Happy crocheting!

PJDeneen ©2010 http://hubpages.com/hub/Crocheting-Edgings-on-Old-Fabric

Reference:

Hyde, Brenda. Do-it-Yourself: Cleaning Vintage Fabric. Old Fashioned Living. Accessed 2010.