Filling Antique Pillow - Cotton or Polyester Batting?

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FramerKat

FramerKat

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Posts
460
Loc
Sunny South Florida
I have a dilemma...well not quite a dilemma but an issue to resolve. I have an antique pillow cover in my shop right now that I need to fill a bit for the framing. It is a very valuable piece that I need to treat with the utmost care, so the filling must be archival. My logic is this...I have polyester batting in the shop now that I could use, but I am usure of its archival stability. I could also purchase cotton batting because I know that pure cotton fibers are archival. I wonder if cotton would "settle" over time though, where I think the polyester would be more resistant to this.

Any ideas appreciated! Thanx!
 
I assume, Hugh (Preservator), that you are speaking from knowledge and experience on this matter considering your user name. Does this mean that the polyester fiber is inert and will not outgas or degrade?

By the way, I have an interest in conservation/preservation...do you have recommendations as far as training goes? Just curious...not much available here in South Florida as far as this technology goes.
 
Polyester is one of the most stable synthetic fibers and has served preservation well for decades in sheet form as Mylar or Melinex. Textile
conservators prefer pure polyester batting, also called needle punch polyester, since it is made without adhesive. Preservation supply sellers
should have some form of this product available. The best opportunity
for classes in Florida will come, year after next, when the PPFA convention
will return to Orlando, with great offerings by many skilled insturctors.


Hugh
 
Maybe i heard wrong, but I think we were told at our meeting that the PPFA convention is going to be in Vegas for the next couple years and then its going to Anaheim...
 
It will be in LV, this next year 2008, and after that, you information is probably more correct, mine was based on past history.



Hugh
 
Thanx for your input Preservator et.al! I'll have to see what I can find as far as that "needle punch polyester."

I hope they have an event in Orlando, but if not, I think I may be able to sneak away to Vegas...it wouldn't be fun at all, but I think I could manage.
 
FramerKat said:
I hope they have an event in Orlando, but if not, I think I may be able to sneak away to Vegas...it wouldn't be fun at all, but I think I could manage.
Click to expand...

Gotta say, WCAF in Vegas this year was a lot of work (I took 10 classes in 3 days!), but definately a lot of fun! Best part? Meeting the Grumblers I already "knew"!
 
Ha ha. I read through the first several comments before looking to see when this
was started. It was the comments about the WCAF moving around that got me
to looking at dates. I hope someone comes along to answer your question. :smiley:
 
My gut reaction would be that bamboo would be like other plant-based items, and contain some lignin. That is pure speculation, and well worth every penny you paid for it.
 
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