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RESTORATION, PRESERVATION & TEACHING SINCE 1983

Heirloom Restorations

Heirloom pieces are still appreciated as reminders from the past and they are sometimes in need of repair. Working with thread is my passion and a technique not often seen any more.

I am familiar with the patterns and techniques of old. And, providing I can match the thread or yarn to the original piece, I can stitch a seamless and invisible repair or create a missing piece to match an original design.

To repair a piece that has suffered damage means to fix it and make it usable again for further service. We learn to repair tears and holes in several creative ways. To restore an antique heirloom means to recreate the original pristine condition so no traces of any repairs are visible on your treasured piece.

Crochet Restorations

"Crochet restorations are my passion! I am familiar with the patterns and techniques of old, providing I can match the thread or yarn to the original piece."  ~ Rita

Irish Lace Restoration

Last summer I received a very special request to restore a large antique Irish lace tablecloth that was badly damaged. Several of the angel and warrior designs needed to be completely rebuilt and the background lace was broken and in shreds.

It took 3 months to restore the cloth to its original beauty and it is back at my customer’s estate in San Antonio TX, gracing his beautiful dining table. This is the largest restoration I worked so far and it was challenging but very rewarding!

Irish Lace BEFORE

Before

Before Irish Table Cloth

Before

Before Irish Table Cloth

Before

Irish Lace Restoration Table Cloth

After

Crocheted Curtain Panels

In the spring of 2017,  I received a package from New Mexico. Containing two curtain panels that had experienced a severe canine attack. The owner, James Jerrems,  wanted to have these restored to their original condition. His mother Helen, had crocheted the curtains for their home in the 1920’s.

I was able to restore the damage and make 2 of 3 curtains usable and beautiful again.

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Grandmother's Crocheted Table Cloth

Another package from New Mexico arrived with a table cover.  Made by Alana Dreitzer’s grandmother, Noe, in the 1930’s while she was living in Illinois.

I replaced the spider web sections and restored the cloth to it’s original beauty.

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Mid-Nineteenth Century Spreads

In early 2016, I restored a beautiful lot of 4 matching full size spreads. They needed some mending in the upper areas of where someone’s head or pillows rubbed the material for many years.

The most outstanding piece in this restoration job was a queen spread.  It had been cut into 6 large sections in order to use the “good ones” as doilies. I repaired the individual sections and then put the puzzle piece back together into the spread as it was meant to be.

The owner, Kathy Anderson, was extremely pleased to get her treasures back in good condition and now proudly displays all 5 pieces in her home.

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From the Estate of Kathy Belizzio restored for Granddaughter Lydia

September of 2015, I finished several projects that included the restoration of a hand-knotted tablecloth with linen inserts. The stitches on the three-dimensional lace design are done with a sharp sewing needle, much like a buttonhole stitch.

The linen center had several small holes which I covered with leaves and blossoms copying the designs in the lace section. This technique was originally done in Eastern Europe. The cloth will be passed down to a lucky granddaughter.

Rita Restoration
Tablecloth Restoration After

Filet Crochet Tablecloth

This beautiful filet crochet cloth was treated with bleach to remove spots. The bleach destroyed  several areas in the fabric. To restore damage like that, I have to remove more of the adjacent cotton fibers (making the holes larger). This is so I can get the stronger fibers to attach to the new material for repair. It was restored to its original condition.

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After3-JFiletCrochetTableCloth466x350
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