In the fall of 2016, I was able to attend a multi-session workshop with conservator

Carolyn Tomkiewicz detailing the Winfried-Heiber thread by thread tear-mending process. After being introduced to the working method, I repaired tears in a cotton duck canvas.

 

Fibers were first cleaned of remaining paint flakes and relaxed with slight moisture. Next, modern cotton fibers of a similar thickness were attached to the short remaining weft threads with a mixture of sturgeon glue and wheat starch paste adhesive. The longer warp fibers were re-woven and secured in place using the newly attached fibers. Finally, re-tensioning threads were used to bridge the tear, and a thin polyester fabric was adhered with Beva film adhesive to support the repair.