Can silk be used to make quilts?
02-21-2011, 06:46 PM
#11
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jaciqltznok-Where would you get French Fuse? What is it? The silk thread isn't a problem, I know of a couple places to get it, but have never heard of the French Fuse.
What kind of batting would you use?
What kind of batting would you use?
02-21-2011, 06:59 PM
#12
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Certainly you can use silk! Did you ever see an old crazy quilt? They had everything you could imagine in them for "fancy" fabrics, cigarette silks, velvets, brocades, taffetas, neckties, satins, wedding laces, etc. etc. The silk won't wear in a quilt that gets a lot of use, but they are surely gorgeous to be used as wall quilts, or for decorating. Unless your silk is very thin you wouldn't need to stabilize it.
02-21-2011, 07:13 PM
#14
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Silk is a natural fiber so it can be washed but many of the light weight solid color silk fabrics will water spot if you are not careful to get the fabric evenly wet and are also in need of being treated as delicate. Hence the need for hand washing.
The heavier silks used as suiting or as drapery fabric are not as difficult to care for and are very easy to work with.
The heavier silks used as suiting or as drapery fabric are not as difficult to care for and are very easy to work with.
02-21-2011, 08:47 PM
#15
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I don't know about all types of silk, especially embroidered silk, but I have washed plain silk with good results. Shampoo is the soap of choice for silk and, of course, hand washing. For thin silk, it's a good idea to iron while it is still damp; not sure about thicker silks.
If you Google silk fabrics, you should be able to find some authoritative information on washing.
I think the "no wash" fear comes from clothing made out of silk that has not been pre-washed. In that case, they say to not wash for fear the silk will shrink.
Silk makes gorgeous quilts. The only thing is I would use something other than silk for the backing so it does not slip and slide all over the place.
If you Google silk fabrics, you should be able to find some authoritative information on washing.
I think the "no wash" fear comes from clothing made out of silk that has not been pre-washed. In that case, they say to not wash for fear the silk will shrink.
Silk makes gorgeous quilts. The only thing is I would use something other than silk for the backing so it does not slip and slide all over the place.
02-21-2011, 08:54 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by pocoellie
I am so glad that you started this topic. A Japanese friend of mine gave me 4 100% silk kimonos, and told me to do whatever I wanted to with them. Two of them were wedding kimonos, absolutely beautiful. I have taken 1 of the others apart, and was going to post the very same topic.
I think that it needs a little stabilizer, but don't know what kind, because all of the fusible stabilizers that I know of, you use with a hot iron which you can't use on silk. So what would you stabilize it with?
I think that it needs a little stabilizer, but don't know what kind, because all of the fusible stabilizers that I know of, you use with a hot iron which you can't use on silk. So what would you stabilize it with?
02-21-2011, 08:57 PM
#17
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There is a wonderful silk quilt in the Shelburn Vt museum of small flying geese. There is a pattern.
Would think you need to think about the weight of the silk and try to keep it all about the same weight. You shold be able to make many patterns. Just have to repsect the nature of the fabric.
Would think you need to think about the weight of the silk and try to keep it all about the same weight. You shold be able to make many patterns. Just have to repsect the nature of the fabric.
02-21-2011, 09:03 PM
#18
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The fabrics in "old" crazy quilts were sewn onto another piece of fabric as opposed to being pieced.
I am also glad that you started this topic because I have recently received a lot of silk fabrics and am wanting to make quilts from it.
I look forward to the replies you receive.
I am also glad that you started this topic because I have recently received a lot of silk fabrics and am wanting to make quilts from it.
I look forward to the replies you receive.
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