by Megan Mary Creamer, first year student, MPhil Textile Conservation. One of the most exciting ways to learn about the strength and stretch of textiles is to do mechanical (tensile) testing.. Recently at the CTC, Dr Margaret Smith, taught a theoretical and practical class to first year students on tensile testing of fabric and fibre samples.… Continue reading
by Karen Thompson, University Teacher. Summer is a very busy time for the MPhil Textile Conservation students. Whilst many students are enjoying a long vacation, ours are engaged in writing dissertations or work placements. A key component of the first year of the programme is to undertake a work placement in a museum or other heritage… Continue reading
By Keira Miller. First year student, MPhil Textile Conservation. As a new MPhil student here at the Centre for Textile Conservation, it feels as if we have been exposed to new techniques and concepts on an almost daily basis. In a relatively short amount of time we have been introduced to conservation stitching, humidification options… Continue reading
by Harriet Perkins, Second Year MPhil Textile Conservation student and Sarah Foskett, University Teacher. Every year, the second year students give presentations about the work placements they undertake in the summer. The presentations are a super opportunity for the students to share their experiences with staff, Textile Conservation Foundation (TCF) trustees and other students, including, of… Continue reading
By Frances Lennard, Senior Lecturer in Textile Conservation. We are delighted that a graduate of the MPhil Textile Conservation has been shortlisted for the prestigious Pilgrim Trust Student Conservator of the Year Award, one of the categories of the 2015 Icon Conservation Awards. Charlotte Gamper’s dissertation research on the conservation of viscose rayon is one of… Continue reading
by Hannah Sutherland, First year student, MPhil Textile Conservation. Textile conservation treatments are always a culmination of many steps. Which steps we choose to take, and the order in which they are completed, varies depending on the object, the type of damage and the needs of the client. The first semester of the MPhil Textile Conservation… Continue reading
by Hannah Vickers, 1st year student, MPhil Textile Conservation. At first glance, textile conservation can appear to be a profession purely focused on the tangible aspects of objects. But, as I have discovered, an important part of the profession is the understanding of an object’s meaning and significance. During our first semester here at the… Continue reading
by Fiona Wain, 2nd year student, MPhil Textile Conservation. As part of our Professional Development course in the 2nd year we work on our public engagement skills by giving talks to different groups in the community. This year talks were delivered to two 3rd year art classes at Eastwood High School, Newton Mearns, and one… Continue reading
by Annika Amundson and Hannah Vickers, 1st year students, MPhil Textile Conservation. A fundamental aspect of textile conservation is to understand the techniques and technology behind the objects we conserve. While conservators don’t need to be experts in every technique encountered, a working knowledge of what holds the threads together certainly helps. As part of… Continue reading
by Freya Gabbutt, First year student, MPhil Textile Conservation. In preparation for our Introduction to Dyeing at the end of the first semester of first year I experimented with dyeing my hair. Apart from a transformation in colour and the propensity of dye to stain every surface it touches, I have decided they have little in… Continue reading
