The production process used in making of your antique print does not alter in any significant way care that it needs. Whether it be a lithograph, copperplate engraving, mezzotint, or other process, basics of caring for print remain essentially same. Broadly speaking, there are four major aspects of good conservation that average collector should be aware of. These four key areas are: handling, repairs, framing, and storage. If you follow some simple rules in all these areas, your prized possessions should retain their good condition and value.

Handling damage is at top of list for a very good reason. In my opinion, as a dealer in antique prints, more problems are caused by careless handling than any other single problem. Great care must be exercised when handling an antique print, because paper itself is so fragile. You only need to accidentally tap edge of an antique print against a sharp corner, such as edge of a desk, to cause serious chipping. If print has little or no margin, an event like this can be catastrophic to image area. Pervasive as it is, handling damage is an aspect of conservation that can easily be solved by common sense. First, do not work with your prints unless you have time and space to do so. Handle them when things are quiet, not when your toddler needs attention. Second, make sure you have space to put them down safely, such as a large table. Third, wear thin cotton gloves, available from framing supply stores. And finally, nless you are dealing with large numbers of very inexpensive prints, it is always a good idea to have each one stored loosely (not “encapsulated”) in a mylar sleeve. Mylar is a crystal-clear, polyester film, and it is very easy to find on internet. Beware of imitations, and specify Mylar, because Mylar does not interact chemically with print.

Before you run out and buy your crocheting supplies decide what you want to crochet first. According to item you choose, you will need different size needles and yarn weight. All this information is with patterns and you will see just how easy it is to achieve your goal of crocheting your first work of art.