Treatment of losses in knitted fabrics: an investigation of the current state of practice

Across conservation disciplines, specialised techniques are employed to conserve areas of loss as a means of providing stabilisation and visual reintegration. Identifying a paucity of literature regarding treatment options for losses in knitted textiles specifically, this research utilised an industry survey of conservation professionals to record the embedded experiential knowledge of participants and provide a tentative mapping of the current state of practice. A final dataset of 22 survey responses was analysed using qualitative thematic analysis to collate and identify knowledge regarding techniques, materials and decision-making processes. The survey results reflected findings from a review of existing conservation literature, with structural infilling and patch support being the predominant interventive techniques employed by survey participants. This article highlights the necessity of considering knitted fabrics conservation as a distinct avenue of research and the need for openness in the consideration of conservation treatment options for knitted fabrics, particularly in the adaption of traditional mending techniques.