VintageGriffin.com

Crepeline is a silk organdy that has a loose weave that is used extensively in textile conservation. For textiles that are in tatters, the pieces are laid on top of a sheet of crepeline and the textile is sewn onto the top. I've also seen it used in the Metropolitain Museum of Art in New York on Louis XVI silk embroidered chairs. The embroidery was so fine and the 18th-century silk so fragile that the entire fabric portions of the chairs (seats and backs) were covered in this gossamer stuff that wasn't even immediately noticeable up close. It's fantastic stuff, heaven sent, and just the thing for tattering samplers and silk tafetta skirts.

It's not so much for the repair-and-wear crowd. This is really for those who are serious about their textile and garment collections, and are concerned about passing them on, intact, to the next custodian. See the example at right for a historic textile document that was in need of stabilization. Thanks to crepeline (and the dedicated folks at the Canadian Conservation Institute), this Kanehsatake flag has been preserved (final results seen at top). It's not easily found outside of archival circles, but is is easily obtained from Talas on the Web for (on average, lower cost if bought in bulk) about $25 a yard. Available in black, brown or natural.


Where can I find this?

http://talasonline.com/
http://www.preservation.gc.ca/gallery/flag_e.asp