Questions about using silk

Mmmm, lovely, silk!

You don't say what type of silk (and they do vary)

Don't leave any/much time between cutting and sewing. Any silk I have used frays awfully.

If I were you I would use a very simple pattern, eg simple squares of whatever size, using the colour and texture of the fabric to take the larger share of beauty-creating. You might like to use a wider seam - with simple squares the seam allowance can be increased without any problem. It is sometimes difficult to tell right side from wrong side. If you have pieces with a selvage on, and you can see where the impressions of the fixing pins are, the wrong side is where the indentations are proud of the surface.

If you can afford it, use silk thread. It will spoil you for any other thread mind you! Quilting with silk thread is an absolute delight - as is satin stitching. Oh, it is wonderful stuff.

If you use cotton thread, especially for the piecing, use a 50 wt rather than a 40. Aurifil would be fine.

The washing and ironing depends on the type I'm afraid. Silk is not actually delicate - one of the strongest threads in nature. What you must *not* do is use an ordinary washing product which contains any enzyme, because that will eat away at the fabric and can destroy it entirely. So, use a product which states that it is non-enzyme. I assume non-biological means that, but I should check with the manufacturers anyway. I have only used silk for wall hanging and so the washing has not been a problem.

I don't know about using a tumble-drier as I have never washed a completed wallhanging!

Iron damp, preferably with a dry iron. Try to avoid getting water drips onto the fabric. These can be permanent, even once dried.

Should look and feel very lovely! . In message , Sarah Dixon writes

Wash gentle, cold or lukewarm with either woolwash or a soap that is mildly low PH balanced (slightly acid). A good shampoo will work if you are washing by hand or if your washer can handle the suds. Iron cool, the same temperature you would use for synthetics, no steam, press on the wrong side, a press cloth would not go amiss.

My usual preference is like to like. In other words silk thread for silk fabric, cotton for cotton etc. However sometimes that is just not possible and then I will fall back on silk for all animal derived fibers and flax for all plant derived fibers. Not knowing what the availability of such is wherever you are, I will also throw in that rayon is quite suitable for silk (not rayon embroidery thread though, too fragile), or in a pinch nylon.

Do seal raw edges prior to washing. Use enclosed seams when possible while sewing, serging or a line of stitching near the raw edge, or a chemical fray blocker of some variety. I have never met a silk fabric that was not prone to fraying. Silk will shrink, though not nearly to the extent of most other natural fibers. It will usually bleed quite copiously though. Most of the dyed silk available commercially has been seriously overdyed, thus making prewashing nearly mandatory. If you have access to any of the numerous products available to either catch the dye particles or keep them in suspension in the washing water, do use them. Otherwise I would recomend several washings, with a strong vinegar rinse at least once (in order to set any of the excess dye that will set). Useing vinegar in the rinse water from time to time will also extend the life of the silk IME.

NightMist

Please don't put it in a tumble dryer. I use silk in wall hangings. If the piece is too small or difficult to sew, I glue it down and then stitch over the edges. It's gorgeous and blissful and really, really slippery. Stay basic in shape, make your seam widths a bit bigger, Fray-Block is your friend, don't use polyester thread, don't use regular laundry soap. Do remind yourself the whole while you're stitching that "I'm sewing silk, the most luxurious and amazing fiber

-- revered by emperors and kings."

Oh yeah, from time to time stop sewing, spread out your work and just enjoy the way light plays off the threads, the feel of it under your hand. Lucky you!

Sunny