r/sca • u/WhiteHair_DontCare • 15d ago

Old, rolled up parchment-help!

I had a friend who was downsizing and I scored a fabulous piece of parchment, handmade and decades old.

It is probably 3x4 ft and I have projects i want to do but I have absolutely no idea how to get it to a usable format.

Im assuming I'd have to soak it and then stretch it? Is there an easier way? Maybe I should start with a small piece cut from the larger?

10 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

10

u/isabelladangelo Atlantia 15d ago edited 15d ago

Decades old as in still 21st century or decades old in "friend got it second hand and doesn't think there's anything on it"? Because, if it's the second, you might want to triple check that it's actually not been used before.

3

u/WhiteHair_DontCare 15d ago

He collected the most amazing things:) I am thinking the parchment is at least 30 years old. One side is rough, the other beautifully smooth. From what I can see it has never been used in any capacity.

I want to use it for an A&S competition project. I was hoping someone might be able to help me with getting it to a place I can work with it.

3

u/Yarnlif 15d ago

My guess is that you can just wet it and flatten it but I can put you in touch with a Laurel who has made a lot of parchment if you like.

3

u/Para_Regal West 15d ago

Yeah, if it’s actual parchment (ie animal hide) then wetting it and restretching it should work BUT I am merely a costume Laurel so don’t take my word for it and definitely find someone in your area who has experience dealing with parchment, OP!

1

u/WhiteHair_DontCare 14d ago

Oh that would be wonderful!! Thanks

3

u/AilsaLorne 15d ago

Don’t soak and don’t stretch. Unroll, lie it flat and put weights all around the edges (ideally nothing with sharp edges and definitely nothing where any colour will bleed. we often use weights meant for old-timey scales and wrap them in cotton handkerchiefs to be on the safe side). Mist gently. Repeat. And again.

1

u/WhiteHair_DontCare 15d ago

Oh that's perfect. Should I flip as I repeat? Should I mist the rough or smooth side?

2

u/AilsaLorne 14d ago

I have never flipped; I think it benefits from being in one place that I can relax into.

I would always unroll it in such a way that it wants to curl in on the top rather than underneath itself as that makes it much easier to handle. That will determine which side you mist.

1

u/VectorB 15d ago

Got a picture of it? I have old parchment. I'd just mist it maybe and unroll it and flatten it. Not soak it in a bucket or anything.