Silk Wholecloth - Does it Matter What Silk?
12-26-2012, 07:58 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Haverhill, MA
Posts: 498
I have some dupioni silk that I am going to be making a throw out of, with embroidered blocks. My mother has taken loads of classes from the Martha Pullen school, and does alot of the heirloom sewing (with silks and fine linens/cottons) She recommended the following for me:
1. If you want to wash the finished garment after it is complete, you must wash it prior to cutting. So if you want to dry clean, then dry clean the yardage. If you want to wash in washer, then wash the yardage prior. She recommended the "hand wash" option on your machine, with gentle soap. Probably baby soap would be good, they do sell fine heirloom quality soaps as well.
2. Dry till it is slightly damp, not fully dry but not dripping.
3. Iron gently, on back side with cool iron
4. Add a lightweight iron on woven interfacing to the back of the yardage BEFORE you cut. this will keep the fraying in check after cutting.
I helped wash/dry/press and cut some silk batiste that she used to make a dress for my niece. We followed the above recommendations *(except the interfacing, cause we lined with cotton batiste) and it worked out perfectly.
1. If you want to wash the finished garment after it is complete, you must wash it prior to cutting. So if you want to dry clean, then dry clean the yardage. If you want to wash in washer, then wash the yardage prior. She recommended the "hand wash" option on your machine, with gentle soap. Probably baby soap would be good, they do sell fine heirloom quality soaps as well.
2. Dry till it is slightly damp, not fully dry but not dripping.
3. Iron gently, on back side with cool iron
4. Add a lightweight iron on woven interfacing to the back of the yardage BEFORE you cut. this will keep the fraying in check after cutting.
I helped wash/dry/press and cut some silk batiste that she used to make a dress for my niece. We followed the above recommendations *(except the interfacing, cause we lined with cotton batiste) and it worked out perfectly.
12-26-2012, 08:56 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
I want to attempt a silk whole cloth quilt - does it matter what silk I use...aside from price? Can anyone tell me some pro's or cons of the different kinds...and silk versus cotton sateen? Can I mark silk as I normally would with a water eraseable marker? Can I get it WET at all???
Thanks!
Thanks!
12-27-2012, 06:44 AM
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I have some silk 'panels' that my Dad sent home from Japan in the '40's. There were about 20 of them on a roll (which I have cut apart). My understanding was that it was a factor sample roll. I love to make something out of them,they are to beautiful to not be enjoyed. I'm not sure they would make a very nice quilt as they are not soft and silky feeling but rather kind of grainy and rough. Anyone have any thoughts?
12-28-2012, 03:08 PM
#14
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 1,384
UPDATE - I think I may have found the perfect silk. Have any of you heard of Radience fabric by Robert Kaufman? It's something like 55% silk and 45% cotton or something like that...almost half and half. Seems like something that might work well for what I'm doing!
12-28-2012, 03:19 PM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
UPDATE - I think I may have found the perfect silk. Have any of you heard of Radience fabric by Robert Kaufman? It's something like 55% silk and 45% cotton or something like that...almost half and half. Seems like something that might work well for what I'm doing!
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