Wearables
Sculpture
Storage:
- Garments -Use padded hangers and white garment bags, fasten all closures and do not crowd your piece.
- Hats, Neckwear, Jewelry and Miscellaneous items roll in white tissue paper and or store in light colored cloth bags.
- I have yet to encounter moths in our dry Saskatchewan climate, however for my sister living in BC this is a real issue. Avoid storing your wearable’s in darkness as that can encourage moths. Avoid direct sunlight to avoid any potential fading. Sari silks especially can fade in prolonged sunlight.
- A natural and effective way to repel moths is to make herbal sachets with thyme and lavender.
Considerations:
- Merino wool does not generally attract dust as Its considered a low-static material.
- I have pieces that are older than 7 years that I have provided zero care for. I should also mention I am also not known for my housekeeping skills!
- If you feel the need to freshen up a piece I would recommend using compresses air to blow off any potential dust particles.
- There really is no need to wash a sculpture piece, in fact I strongly advise against it.
- Wall hangings should not be hung in direct sunlight. A high quality warm white LED lighting are preferred as they emit virtually no UV or infrared, which is the primary cause of dye fading and fibre weakening.
Washing:
Merino wool is highly odor – resistant and is often described as having natural antimicrobial properties. If washing is necessary I follow these simple steps.
- Wash in cool water, using small amount of PH neutral soap such as: Tru Earth, Woolite or Eucalan soap.
- Hand wash with the least amount of agitation as possible.
- Rinse in cool clear water. If using Eucalan soap you can skip this step. Its also noteworthy that Eucalan soap can be purchased in a Lavender scent.
- Drain the water squeeze ( never wring) out as much moisture as possible before lifting the garment out of the water bath.
- Remove additional water by gently roll the wearable in a towel.
- Lay flat to air dry. Never dry your item near a direct heat source. If for some reason you have areas that you have stretched out ( yes Jaqueline you can not carry a fist full of keys in your pocket.. geeze..) gently take a clean piece of bubble wrap and gently rub over the area or underside to bring back into shape. If the area is still baggy you can spray hot water over the area and continue gently rubbing, then blot off some of the excess moisture.
- Cords will need to be stretched and then rolled against or in between clean bubble wrap. In some cases cords may need to be shaped and pinned around a cylinder object till dry.
- Creases can form during drying. You can minimize the creases by adjusting the shoulders, arms and sides a few times during the drying stage. When the garment is almost dry you can iron or steam the piece if desired to remove creases For the final stages of drying place garments on padded hanger or dress form to reshape and finish drying. Hand tapping over the shoulder and bust areas will help to give a fitted finish.
- Sculptural wearables such as hats, jewelry and purses do have some felt memory and are easier to wash than say a long coat. To shape hats, jewelry and purses you can lightly stuff them to help with maintaining their shape. Items in this category can take up to three days to dry.