Updated May 16, 2023.
With our remodeling project done, we are now proceeding with a major house reorganization. The process is greatly helped by all the organizing supplies available in shops.
In my email, I got a question from Mert, who asked:
Over 30 years ago, my mother needlepointed a Christmas tree skirt, Christmas stockings, and many ornaments. We have been storing them in plastic boxes for at least the past 30 years. This year, getting them out, it suddenly occurred to me that this might not be the best way to store them. I have searched for the proper way to store needlepoint and I have not been able to find an answer. Would you please advise me on the best way to preserve these for future generations?
Since I have lots of needlepoint for Christmas, I have tried different things. I felt uncomfortable storing my needlepoint ornaments and stockings in plastic or in cardboard boxes, so for many years, I have stored them in cotton pillowcases. I kept these on the shelves in my garage but not in anything. These days the pillowcases live in plastic boxes.
When we were moved, I needed to find permanent storage for a collection of vintage clothing we have. I was worried about storing them in plastic, so I did some research. This is what museums do to store textiles.
Wrap the items in acid-free tissue paper. Kreinik sells it, as do several online merchants. It keeps the textiles from coming in contact with the acids in wood and regular paper. Then put the wrapped items into plastic boxes. These don’t need to be any particular kind, but they need to have tops and no holes. This keeps bugs out.
That’s it. So the paper protects the items while the plastic bin keeps the bugs out. And keep them mostly away from light. Light, acid (paper), and bugs are the main enemies of textiles. So this method protects them from all three.
I was surprised, but it does make sense to me. Recently, over a decade later, the clothing is still there, safe and sound in the boxes.
If you want to do some more research, I’d look for items about storing vintage textiles, especially wool. Needlepoint is essentially a textile, so the advice for them will work for needlepoint.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
I am thinking if they were safely stored in the plastic containers for 30 years…why change now???lol Just my thoughts. Dianntha
My question is how to store framed needlework pieces, mostly embroidery, cross stitch, and petit point. I have completed many over the last 30+ years and some are quite intricate using various threads,seed beads, etc. I want to avoid anything that would cause indentations in the linen fabrics or potentially harm the threads. Desperately looking for ideas. Help??
Linda
Linda —
Thanks for asking this question, the answer will be a blog post on Wednesday.
Keep Stitching,
Janet
I was looking for the answer to this question because my mother (now deceased) has several needlepoint pictures she and my grandmother did. I read your answer but further research led me to this link to the Smithsonian. The advise against storage in airtight containers
https://www.si.edu/encyclopedia_si/nmah/antqtext.htm
Could you please give me the location of your information on how to store needlepoint, not finished. Do I take them off the stretch bars, roll them, lie flat, airtight container or not. I found two carpet beetles recently and are worried about my needlepoint.
Finished needlepoint goes off the stretcher bars and is generally stored flat. If insects can be a problem, store them in airtight boxes.
Keep stitching,
Janet