Thread: NEED HELP ASAP! Silk and Polyester living together?

I'm having a costuming emergency and need to draw on the bhuz collective hive mind.

Short story: I have a costume with a mermaid style skirt, the top is beaded velvet, the bottom was 2 layers of synthetic chiffon (presumably polyester). I didn't like the outer chiffon so I removed it and made custom-dyed circular panels out of 10mm silk habotai.

The silk seemed a little thin so I decided to back it with the original chiffon underskirt. I just basted it all together and I think I've created a monster. It is full of static and the silk won't flow.

I'm thinking that silk habotai and polyester chiffon is a hopeless combination and I will have to remove the chiffon underskirt. Can anyone confirm this?

Gah! I do NOT have time for this!!

who's online?

I don't see any reason for them not to play at least decently well together. Have you tried giving each layer a good rub down with a dryer sheet?

Velvet and silk together create static REALLY badly. I don't know about your lining, but this could be contributing to your problem.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Velvet and silk together create static REALLY badly. I don't know about your lining, but this could be contributing to your problem.

I haven't sewn it to the velvet belt section yet. It will only be hanging from the edge of the velvet band, so I'm not so worried about that. I have put velvet and silk together this way without problems before. I do know that a velvet top and silk veil don't mix well, but I don't think I"ll have that problem.

Meanwhile I have doused the silk/chiffon assemblage with static guard and it isn't helping.

bump?

Tell me you experiences of layering a silk circle skirt over a synthetic chiffon circle skirt.

I have to admit that I have a hard time imagining exactly how that looks.

Given that chiffon is not super-slippery, that could be the problem. Silk and silk essence work well together, I foound out: No static, no gripping, just swoosheroo. So, I suspect it is not the fact that it is polyester, but rather the weave.

Originally Posted by steffib

I have to admit that I have a hard time imagining exactly how that looks.

Given that chiffon is not super-slippery, that could be the problem. Silk and silk essence work well together, I foound out: No static, no gripping, just swoosheroo. So, I suspect it is not the fact that it is polyester, but rather the weave.

Good point. I think the chiffon has to go. It was just for opacity but the top part of the skirt will keep anything too naughty from showing.

Chiffon and silk are just a bad combo. Super static! I have worked with velvet and silk before and to me it is far more forgiving than chiffon and silk. Not sure how to make that work. I think static guard is not enough...you have my sympathies!! LOL

I wear combos of silk and poly circle skirts all the time. Haven't really had a problem before. But I also choose different size circles so that they don't layer exactly with one another. ie: silk top skirt is 1.5 circles, poly chiffon under skirt is .75 circles. Or even 1. This seems to stop them from binding.

The other thing is possibly using static guard. . .

{{{{HUGS}}}