“MUSEUM METHOD” 2.Pick up 2 pieces of tissue and poke your hanger (the upper body part of the dress) so that it’s Step 9: Prepare the Garment bag. WEDDING GOWN PRESERVATION in the center about 6” from the top. Hang the shoulder seams are not strained over time by the Check the personalized label to be sure that tissue pieces on the hanger, so that 1 piece hangs weight of the skirt. the spelling and data are correct. To check it, Bridal Gown Preservation Kit Includes: in the front, and 1 piece in the back. hold it in front of a mirror or turn it backwards Cut 4 pieces of twill tape, 45” long. By hand, 1 100% cotton acid free cotton garment bag and hold it up to a window. 3.Pick up about 5 more pieces of tissue. Layer sew 2 pieces to the front and 2 pieces to the 1 “shoulder size” cotton padded hanger all six pieces on top of the other, poke a hole back bodice seam of your bodice skirt. Now Press the garment bag if needed. Trim the 120 sq. feet acid-free tissue through the very center and hang this tissue on carefully hang your dress on the hanger, pull the label so that 1/8” remains around border. 1 pair 100% cotton gloves top of the other tissue. twill tape straps over the shoulders of the hanger Drain your iron of any water. Heat it to 5 yards 100% cotton twill tape and tie. The hanger is now supporting more of the cotton setting, then place the label ink *Personalized label 4.One by one, scrunch the shorter tissue layers. (*Order at: www.heritagegown.com/shoppingcart/ the weight of the dress. side down at the top center of the front Step 5. Hang Your Dress pocket and press with your dry iron for 35 products/Bag-Label.html) Step 6: Fill in the Bodice and Sleeves Reinforce the weight of the dress if necessary. seconds. Do not remove the label backing Using remaining tissue, scrunch and insert them Always wear the cotton gloves (included in the paper yet. Removing the label backing paper Step 1: Wash Your Bag into your sleeves from the top of your dress. kit) while working on your dress to prevent the prematurely will ruin the label. It must be If your preservation bag has not been washed, Also fi ll in the bodice with scrunched tissue, oil from your hands soiling the dress or wash completely cool before you peel it off. wash and dry it by itself. This removes fi lling in the bust area well. If your sleeves are them thoroughly before you begin, periodically the sizing which rodents and insects are long, you will also need to crinkle some tissue Step 9: Cover the Dress with the Bag afterwards, and any time you are interrupted attracted to. Do not use any detergent. Press and insert it from the bottom of your sleeves. Now slip the garment bag over the dress, from your work. it well. It should shrink about 8%. Continue until the bodice and sleeves are fully lifting the train into the bottom of the bag. Step 2: Clean Your dress. If your dress has straps or sleeves and is not very stuffed. Tie the ties of the bag. Keep the cotton heavy, hang your dress on the hanger, tucking gloves in the front pocket. The back pocket Read reverse page for more information. When completed, it appears that a body is the scrunched tissue into the dress and continue is large enough for an 8 x 10 photograph and Whether hand cleaning it yourself, or dry- hanging from the hanger. cleaning, be sure that stains have been to step 7. a written story of your wedding day. You Step 7: Line the Train with Tissue may also wish to add other memorabilia in removed as well as possible. Strapless or spaghetti strap dresses: If you have a removable train, stitch a piece of the pockets. If your dress is strapless or has spaghetti straps, you Step 3. Hang the Hanger twill tape approximately 10” to the top of the will need to hand sew “straps” onto your dress to Your Gown Preservation Is Complete! Select a suitable place to work on your gown train, on the underside. Sew one edge of tape help support the weight. Cut 4 pieces of the twill preservation. Find a way to suspend your to each edge of the train top. Loop this over the Step 10: Proper Storage tape about 1/2 yard each. Fold over the edge of gown while you work on it. hanger so it hangs down the back of the dress. Hang your preserved gown in a dark closet. the tape about ½”, and hand stitch it securely to Never store it in an attic, garage or basement Ideas? You could remove some clothing the inside lining of the gown at the top edge of All dresses: Spread the train out, laying down where there may be severe temperature from your closet to free up space and then the bodice lining. Stitch 2 straps in the front, pieces of the remaining tissue side by side, changes, or bugs and rodents, etc. Be sure to hang the dress from the closet rod. Or you and 2 straps in the back. Next, hang your dress overlapping the edges until the train is covered. wear the cotton gloves any time you inspect could hammer a nail into the top of a door on the hanger with the tissue using the “hanger Cut the tissue as needed. Now carefully roll up the your dress. Wash between uses. casing, and hang the gown from it. Use your loops,” tucking the tissue inside the dress, train until it is rolled up even to the front of the dress. imagination to fi nd the best spot. and tie the twill tape “straps” onto the hanger. Questions? Call 866-268-4696 The goal in preserving textiles, is to eliminate as [email protected] Step 4. Hang the Tissue. Heavy Dresses: many creases and folds as possible because over 1.Unfold the tissue. If your dress is heavy, (made of a heavy fabric or time creases damage textiles and may become ©Heritage Garment Preservation - Benicia, CA with a very long train, etc.) reinforce the bodice permanent. All rights reserved.