• Evaluation of the Self-Couching Stitch Tear Mending Method

    Participant Informatin Sheet and Online Consent

    Revised June 2026

    Thank you for taking part in this survey.

    Project Title

    This survey forms part of a dissertation research, titled Evaluating Knotless Stitching Protocols in Thread-to-Thread Mending: Adaptation of Textile Conservation Techniques to Torn Linen Canvas Paintings. Conducted by Ray Lon Or, a Year 2 student on the MA Conservation of Fine Art (Easel Painting) at Northumbria University. Please read theinformation below before deciding whether to participate. You may ask questions beforesubmitting the survey by contacting the researcher.

    Purpose of the study

    This study investigates a knotless stitching protocol for thread-to-thread mending and examines the use of different suturing materials in the repair of tears in canvas paintings. It seeks evaluative feedback from conservators and conservation students on the handling, perceived effectiveness, limitations, and practical applicability of the Self-Couching Stitch Tear-Mending Method, which was developed as part of this research.

    What will participation involve?

    Before completing the questionnaire, you will be asked to practise the Self-Couching StitchTear-Mending Method using the demonstration provided here: here. Youwill then complete an online survey about your experience of carrying out the method.

    Questions concern handling, ease of use, perceived effectiveness, practical applicability,limitations, and suggestions for improvement. Some questions may ask about yourprofessional background or experience. You may decline to answer any optional question. Youmay also be invited to upload photographs or videos of the test repair. Uploading media isoptional; please do not include your face, name, workplace details, labels, accession numbers, or other identifiable information unless you have separately agreed that it may be collected and used.

    Personal Data

    You may skip any optional question, including your name and email address, but the researcherwill not be able to link a response to you. This survery include professional role, duration of professional work experience, materials, method, free-text comments, and optional photographs of test repairs. However, anonymity cannot be guaranteed if you identify yourself in a free-text answer or upload identifiable media. Please answer the questions based on your own hands-on experience of carrying out the method. There are no right or wrong answers. If you choose to upload images or videos, please ensure they do not include identifiable personal information unless you are happy to share it for research purposes. The survey will not ask for health, political, religious, racial or ethnic, sexual-orientation, or other special-category information.

    Participation is entirely voluntary. You may decide not to participate or stop completing thes urvey at any time without giving a reason and without negative consequences.

    Possible benefits and disadvantages 

    There may be no direct personal benefit. Your feedback may contribute to research intoalternative tear-mending approaches and help identify areas for further development. The main disadvantages are the time required and possible minor frustration or physicalfatigue while practising a detailed manual technique. The method should only be carried outusing the materials and substrate specified in the demonstration and in a safe workingenvironment. You may stop practising or leave the survey at any time. No significantpsychological distress is anticipated.

    Confidentiality and anonymity

    Survey responses will be treated confidentially and reported in anonymised form whereverpossible. Your responses will be used for academic research only. The researcher will not request your name unless it is necessary for a separatelystated purpose. Please do not include identifiable information in free-text answers or uploadedmedia.

    Data protection and storage

    Northumbria University is the data controller for this study. Data will be stored securely on Microsoft OneDrive, accessible only to the researcher and supervisor. Data will not be shared with external organisations. Survey-platform data may be stored or processed by Jotform.  Data will be retained for 6 months. Findings may be included in the dissertation, academic presentations, or publications. Any reported results will be anonymised.

    Any personal data and other information provided by participants will be used only for the purposes of this dissertation project. Participation in this study is voluntary, and consent is given on the condition that the researcher processes personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, including the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

    Information about how participant data will be processed, stored, and protected is available in Northumbria University’s Research Participant Privacy Notice: Research Participant Privacy Notice.

    Participant rights and complaints

    You have rights to withdraw at any time , and concerning your personal data, including requesting access to your personaldata, requesting correction of inaccurate data in appropriate circumstances, and objecting toautomated decision-making. No automated decision-making is used in this study. If you aredissatisfied with how your data are processed, you may contact Northumbria University’s DataProtection Officer, Duncan James, at dp.officer@northumbria.ac.uk , and you may complain to theUK Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk .

    If you have any questions about this study, please contact: lon.or@northumbria.ac.uk.


    Estimated survey completion time: 10–12 minutes.

  • CONSENT FORM

    Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences

    Project Title: Investigating alternative treatment approaches to thread-to-thread bonding using micro-suturing on linen canvas paintings.

    Researcher: Ray Lon Or
    Supervisor: Nicola Grimaldi

  • Please tick each box to confirm that:*
  • Consent to participate*
  • Primary area of practice or study*
  • How many years of professional work experience do you have in conservation practice?*
  • What thread did you use to carry out the Self-Couching Stitch Tear Mending Method?*
  • Image field 76
  • What needle type did you use?*
  • What type of damage was mended in the test area? (You may refer to the types of damages explained below)*

  • Types of damage:

    • Cuts: A sharp interruption of canvas continuity characterised by clean edges. 
    • Tears: A canvas breakage featuring noticeably worn, weakened and frayed edges. This damage occurs when a physical impact strikes a support that remains relatively flexible. The impact deforms the weave, breaking threads irregularly. 

    • Lacerations: An extended and complex lesion. These damages are usually long, featuring multiple side branches and extensive deformations within the weave. 

    • Losses: The actual absence of material within the support. These range from small damages, resulting from canvas degradation around tack holes, to large sections of the original support that require infilling with an insert. 
  • How old is your painting?*
  • What type of tool(s) were used for this method? (Please select all that apply.)*

  • Documentation upload

  • Upload a File
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  • Upload a File
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  • If you uploaded files, are you happy for them to be used as research documentation in the dissertation, with identifying details removed where possible?*

  • Handling and usability

  • Please rate the following statements using the 1 - 5 scale below.

    1: Strongly disagree / very difficult

    2: Disagree / Difficult

    3: Neither agree nor disagree / Neutral

    4: Agree / Easy

    5: Strongly agree / very easy

  • *
    Rows

  • Perceived treatment outcome

  • Please rate the following statements using the scale below.

    1: Strongly disagree / very difficult

    2: Disagree / Difficult

    3: Neither agree nor disagree / Neutral

    4: Agree / Easy

    5: Strongly agree / very easy

  • *
    Rows

  • Risk and reversibility

  • Please rate the following statements using the 1 - 5 scale below.

    1: Strongly disagree / very difficult

    2: Disagree / Difficult

    3: Neither agree nor disagree / Neutral

    4: Agree / Easy

    5: Strongly agree / very easy

  • *
    Rows

  • Comparison with conventional methods

  • Compared with conventional thread-by-thread adhesive mending methods, what do you consider to be the strengths of the Self-Couching Stitch Tear Mending Method? (Please select all that apply.)
  • Compared with conventional thread-by-thread adhesive mending methods, what do you consider to be the limitations of the Self-Couching Stitch Tear Mending Method? (Please select all that apply.)
  • Compared with conventional thread-by-thread adhesive mending methods, how would you rate this method in terms of applicability?*
  • Compared with conventional thread-by-thread adhesive mending methods, how would you rate this method in terms of efficiency?*
  • Would you consider this method as a possible treatment option for a real painting in the future?*
  • Would you recommend this method to another conservator or conservation student after training?*

  • Application suitability

  • In which tear conditions/ what type of tear do you think this method is most suitable?*
  • In which tear conditions do you think this method is least suitable?*

  • Open feedback

  • Thank you for your participation. Please click Submit below.

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