Thread: Assiut repairs?

I have a couple pieces of vintage Assiut with minor damage, small holes, etc. How do you repair Assiut?

I have one piece I cut a piece out of in the center of the shawl to make a tunic years ago. The opening has stretched tremendously. ..cr.: Don't know if there's a fix for that, but just cautioning folks that assiut stretches when you cut it.

Originally Posted by dunyah

I have a couple pieces of vintage Assiut with minor damage, small holes, etc. How do you repair Assiut?

I have one piece I cut a piece out of in the center of the shawl to make a tunic years ago. The opening has stretched tremendously. ..cr.: Don't know if there's a fix for that, but just cautioning folks that assiut stretches when you cut it.

Don't know how much I can help with vintage assuit, but I have done assuit hole repair by appliquing a tiny piece taken from an assuit scrap over the hole. For the hole you cut to make a tunic, you could try making bias tape binding from some complimentary fabric. Or try using clear stay tape sewn on the inside edge to keep it from stretching any farther.

Souzan

Holes..upholstery thread and a magnifying glass to recreate the net. I did the same tunic thing to a while assuit shawl that had a big hole in the center anyway, and I bound the cut edge with a metallic silver ribbon. A "natural" tunic I have uses cotton bias tape at the neckline

Originally Posted by dunyah

I have a couple pieces of vintage Assiut with minor damage, small holes, etc. How do you repair Assiut?

I have one piece I cut a piece out of in the center of the shawl to make a tunic years ago. The opening has stretched tremendously. ..cr.: Don't know if there's a fix for that, but just cautioning folks that assiut stretches when you cut it.

I don't know about a fix but there is a prevention. I cut a diamond shaped hole out of a piece of assuit and stabilized it by sewing folded silk fabric all around it like bias tape. It has been stable for years. I also sewed some of the same stuff along the "shoulders" so that region wouldn't stretch.

Originally Posted by ssipes

I don't know about a fix but there is a prevention. I cut a diamond shaped hole out of a piece of assuit and stabilized it by sewing folded silk fabric all around it like bias tape. It has been stable for years. I also sewed some of the same stuff along the "shoulders" so that region wouldn't stretch.

Wish I had done that! I obviously didn't have a knowledgeable seamstress advising me!

The problem with holes in old assuit is that they are often forming in areas where the cotton netting is dry rotted and very fragile. So you can darn the hole together but it will just start ripping out again. I would probably get some lightweight power net in a matching color and stitch it on like a patch on the side used as the inside.

Also, can I say that sometimes the most "preserving" way to treat old assuit is to make into a garment by cuting it up and attaching it to some kind of fabric backing in such a way that the backing takes all the stress and the assuit just floats on top.

IMHO this is much better than conventional suggestions of how to use it as costuming without cutting it, that involve draping, tucking, pinning, tying, etc. I remember on the MED list there was an idea being circulated that the best way to use antique assuit as a panel skirt was to run it between your legs and over and out of some other garment (like harem pants). First of all, pokey metal strips near the lady bits even with underwear inbetween, ah, no. Second of all, acidic crotch sweat and the friction of dancing with it that way, ah, not a way to "preserve" the assuit.

run it between your legs and over and out of some other garment (like harem pants)

OWWWW. Now - I have done that...but on the outside of the harems. And used a piece of elastic as the "belt" to hold them up. I would only do this with a good sturdy assuit shawl, not a fragile one.

Originally Posted by anala

run it between your legs and over and out of some other garment (like harem pants)

OWWWW. Now - I have done that...but on the outside of the harems. And used a piece of elastic as the "belt" to hold them up. I would only do this with a good sturdy assuit shawl, not a fragile one.

A better idea, but even doing this, you're still going to expose it to sweat and friction, which are going to degrade even a sturdy piece. The better option is cut it and make a skirt if you want a skirt.

I'm a big advocate of cutting and dying and using and enjoying antique assuit.

And I'm supposed to be grading exams now...

AAAAAAAHHhhhhhhhhhh..........

I take another approach...judicious use unless it's a rag! Then cut away! I am about to make 4 or 5 bras with some I have sitting around.

If you stabilize it on stretch illusion, make sure the stretch is in the same direction as the stretch in the assiut. I used stretcch illusion under a fragile tunic for years and it held up wonderfully.

I fixed a few small holes on another piece by using cotton thread and running it through the metal pieces with a beading needle. But it's important that the assiut thread is not shattering or you'll just make a bigger hole.

I'm suddenly interested in this thread after buying a piece of assuit at the local Xmas street fair yesterday.....complete with small hole.

So Zohra - what is stretch illusion?

And Sedonia - I'm thinking of doing something radical with the assuit, otherwise it's going to languish in my cupboard. do you have any pics on internet of your dyed assuit. I have found a Bhuz thread about dying assuit....but the thought is still scary!!

Originally Posted by Rosemarie

I'm suddenly interested in this thread after buying a piece of assuit at the local Xmas street fair yesterday.....complete with small hole.

So Zohra - what is stretch illusion?

And Sedonia - I'm thinking of doing something radical with the assuit, otherwise it's going to languish in my cupboard. do you have any pics on internet of your dyed assuit. I have found a Bhuz thread about dying assuit....but the thought is still scary!!

Stay tuned...I have a couple of Ozma-inspired costuming pictoral documentaries I've been meaning to produce...

I can remember seeing up-close Leila Haddad's assuit dress which had been made by Madame Abla, I think, from antique assuit. The holes in the assuit were patched from behind with net gauze (like wedding veil netting), in the matching colour.

Thanks everyone for the tips. Keep 'em coming, can't wait to see the tutorial, Sedonia.

Re: dyeing the assiut, I've done that with procion dye (cold water dye) and it was fine. I would like to repair the holes before attempting that but would the net used for repairs take the dye?

Stretch illusion is just like tulle only stretchy. It has a very fine weave and is soft. I love using it under vintage assuit. Plus, if you get a little hole while performing, it shows as sheer black rather than my pale skin shining through.

Oh yes, I think I've seen it....not realising what it was.
Does is come in nude/skin colour too?

Yes, it does come in nude. Cool stuff! ..g.:

Originally Posted by ZohraMostafa

Yes, it does come in nude. Cool stuff! ..g.:

Do you khow if it is made of nylon. Nylon takes dye.