Thread: charmeuse silk for veils?

Too heavy or workable? I love the way it looks for just about everything, but I am wondering if it handles well as a veil-perhaps as a half circle rather than rectangular veil? Thanks for any opinions!
Nikki

If you confined yourself to "cape like" technique and didn't expect it to float, you'd be good. But keep in mind it looks different on the two sides, usually, not interchangeable like habotai. Not to mention that it might make you darn tired to work with, due to the weight.

NO, NO, NO, for veils!!!

I haven't tried it for a veil myself...but I've made a lot of garments with it.

It will SHOCK you!!!

If you try to 'treat' it, it will stain with oily marks (read laundry thread).

I love Charmeuse, but it will really work up the static electricity!
I'd get shocked just putting two pieces together, to sew!

I'm not familiar with Charmeuse - what is it (always looking for new veil fabrics)?

Originally Posted by gothique

NO, NO, NO, for veils!!!

I haven't tried it for a veil myself...but I've made a lot of garments with it.

It will SHOCK you!!!

If you try to 'treat' it, it will stain with oily marks (read laundry thread).

I love Charmeuse, but it will really work up the static electricity!
I'd get shocked just putting two pieces together, to sew!

??? It doesn't stain any worse than other silks, & I have actually found the heavier silks to be LESS static-y than the lighter silks. I just use the heavier weight habotai most of the time, but charmeuse does work. there is a different technique for heavier fabrics that you just have to get used to, but if you are ordering a solid color, it's not that expensive to experiment with. I'm not over fond of circle veils, personally, but some folks find them easier to work with. up to you.

to see different types of silk, all ready for dying
Silk Fabrics - Yardage & Bolts
charmeuse is basically a crepe-backed satin (so one side shiny, one side matte)

Originally Posted by zorba

I'm not familiar with Charmeuse - what is it (always looking for new veil fabrics)?

Charmeuse refers to the weave -- you might see poly charmeuse as well as silk charmeuse. It's woven so it's super slick and shiny on one side and dull and a little textured on the other. For silk I usually have seen it in 12mm and heavier. (Like, a formal wedding gown might be 19mm.) It makes incredibly beautiful skirts, particularly in a bias cut.

A 12mm veil would be about twice as heavy as a sheer veil, so much more like whipping a tablecloth around. I've seen it danced with as a long cloak, but it was clear that if you want it up over your head you would have to really give it a powerful pull!

I did have somebody ask me about 12mm charmeuse dyed yardage for a costume once, but after I quoted her $20/yard, she was less enthusiastic.

Originally Posted by tigerb

Charmeuse refers to the weave -- you might see poly charmeuse as well as silk charmeuse. It's woven so it's super slick and shiny on one side and dull and a little textured on the other. For silk I usually have seen it in 12mm and heavier. (Like, a formal wedding gown might be 19mm.) It makes incredibly beautiful skirts, particularly in a bias cut.

A 12mm veil would be about twice as heavy as a sheer veil, so much more like whipping a tablecloth around. I've seen it danced with as a long cloak, but it was clear that if you want it up over your head you would have to really give it a powerful pull!

I did have somebody ask me about 12mm charmeuse dyed yardage for a costume once, but after I quoted her $20/yard, she was less enthusiastic.

good greif, anything hand dyed is going to be more expensive! what did she expect?

I use 10mm habotai & really like it, & my metallic veils are actually a little heavier. Like I said before, it does take different technique, but it can be lovely.

Originally Posted by Lara L

good greif, anything hand dyed is going to be more expensive! what did she expect?

I use 10mm habotai & really like it, & my metallic veils are actually a little heavier. Like I said before, it does take different technique, but it can be lovely.

I'd love to see some video of the veilwork with the 10mm, if you have any. I'd like to see how you approach it.

I used to offer a deal of $110 for 3.5 yards of 10mm silk dyed with a 3 yard veil of 5mm weight. I think she had some vague idea that the charmeuse couldn't be much more than that!

Originally Posted by tigerb

I'd love to see some video of the veilwork with the 10mm, if you have any. I'd like to see how you approach it.

I used to offer a deal of $110 for 3.5 yards of 10mm silk dyed with a 3 yard veil of 5mm weight. I think she had some vague idea that the charmeuse couldn't be much more than that!

I'll make a note to let you know if I ever do get it recorded...
At least I own a camera now (kind of behind the times, here)

even your deal would put it at $17/yard average for a lighter weight fabric- & goodness knows prices for *everything* are going up right now. I'm glad I stocked up on my powdered dyes before shipping went up again- I haven't ordered liquid dyes for ages.

Originally Posted by tigerb

Charmeuse refers to the weave -- you might see poly charmeuse as well as silk charmeuse. It's woven so it's super slick and shiny on one side and dull and a little textured on the other. For silk I usually have seen it in 12mm and heavier. (Like, a formal wedding gown might be 19mm.) It makes incredibly beautiful skirts, particularly in a bias cut.

A 12mm veil would be about twice as heavy as a sheer veil, so much more like whipping a tablecloth around. I've seen it danced with as a long cloak, but it was clear that if you want it up over your head you would have to really give it a powerful pull!

I did have somebody ask me about 12mm charmeuse dyed yardage for a costume once, but after I quoted her $20/yard, she was less enthusiastic.

Thanx for the education. Sounds like something I'd just as soon avoid - I like 5 and 6 mm veils, and have some lighter than that!

Heavy silk makes lovely sounds when used as a veil. I used one that was a half circle, but made of 12 or so pie-shapes and then french seamed into the half circle. Dreamy... Very heavy, very noisy-no float, but still very possible to keep moving. I recommend it, but just for a different veil.

Originally Posted by Lara L

??? It doesn't stain any worse than other silks, & I have actually found the heavier silks to be LESS static-y than the lighter silks. I just use the heavier weight habotai most of the time, but charmeuse does work. there is a different technique for heavier fabrics that you just have to get used to, but if you are ordering a solid color, it's not that expensive to experiment with. I'm not over fond of circle veils, personally, but some folks find them easier to work with. up to you.

No, it doesn't stain worse.
But I've read where bhuzzers try to get rid of the static, fabric softner will cause 'oil' marks.

Again, I never used Charmuese for a veil.
I never tried it, because of my experience sewing with it, due to my experience sewing with it, I didn't want to get shocked.
Charmuese is gorgeous though...I guess it'd be with the little shocks...l;,

I've never tried the lighter silk either, good too know the lighter ones are more static.

I do know that veil 'technique' is different with heavier fabrics...you need to be quicker, and a bit 'snappier' (I also love the sound).

BTW: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICAMICA!!!

:-)

Originally Posted by gothique

No, it doesn't stain worse.
But I've read where bhuzzers try to get rid of the static, fabric softner will cause 'oil' marks.

Again, I never used Charmuese for a veil.
I never tried it, because of my experience sewing with it, due to my experience sewing with it, I didn't want to get shocked.
Charmuese is gorgeous though...I guess it'd be with the little shocks...l;,

I've never tried the lighter silk either, good too know the lighter ones are more static.

I do know that veil 'technique' is different with heavier fabrics...you need to be quicker, and a bit 'snappier' (I also love the sound).

BTW: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICAMICA!!!

:-)

yeah, sewing silk is such a pain- there is so much more rubbing going on as you pass it through the machine, or even just trying to cut & tack it- I know the scary static charge of which you speak. ..l;,

Originally Posted by Lara L

yeah, sewing silk is such a pain- there is so much more rubbing going on as you pass it through the machine, or even just trying to cut & tack it- I know the scary static charge of which you speak. ..l;,

I usually run my dyed silk through a (very gentle) washing machine cycle with a commercial softener, Dharma's Milsoft. I wonder if using that helps reduce the static found in sewing? Because I made a 18th century ball gown for a costume out of my hand-dyed charmeuse and I don't recall having a static problem with it. (It still wanted to slide away though!)

Originally Posted by Lara L

I'll make a note to let you know if I ever do get it recorded...
At least I own a camera now (kind of behind the times, here)

even your deal would put it at $17/yard average for a lighter weight fabric- & goodness knows prices for *everything* are going up right now. I'm glad I stocked up on my powdered dyes before shipping went up again- I haven't ordered liquid dyes for ages.

Oh man, I know what you mean. I wanted to order some SuperClear thickener from Dharma and the shipping would have doubled its price! So I bought it locally... and of course it was almost as expensive. ..c::

And the charmeuse shopper wanted (IIRC) enough dyed silk for three circle skirts. That has to be... what... something like 12 yards of fabric? No wonder she got cold feet. Yes, it's probably cheaper to buy dyed silk from me than from a high-class silk house... but it's certainly not cheaper than going to JoAnn and buying crepe-backed poly satin.

Thanks for all the opinions-I was out this weekend (for my birthday-the big 30-thanks gothique!!) so I'm just catching up. I was shopping for veil silk last week and they had some gorgeous gold charmeuse-maybe I'll try it out anyways and use it for something else if it doesn't work out =) Thanks!
Nikki

Last season when I was making and dyeing panels for silk charmeuse skirts , I was playing around with a 54 inch wide by 3 yard long piece and loved it..

It is heavier, and won't float and ripple down when you drop your hands, but for spinning, it rides the air very nice ..as a framing type of veil or 'drape' ..again very nice

I love love love dyeing charmeuse and I love the look of it..but would probably only recommend dancing with one if you are seeking something totally different than habotai and like to experiment with veil fabrics.

And yes the cost of making a charmeuse veil would be expensive.

I did not try a rectangle cut..I like the curved edge of a single veil in that weight but that's just opinion. I'm having some Little Wings sized veils made to experiment with and if they do well, will offer them in fall

this page only has the large wings description..Little Wings are 2.5 yards by 45 inches wide. I danced with a pair a few years ago and loved them

Half circle silk veils

Originally Posted by jesennia

I did not try a rectangle cut..I like the curved edge of a single veil in that weight but that's just opinion. I'm having some Little Wings sized veils made to experiment with and if they do well, will offer them in fall

Half circle silk veils

Oh, Jess- I can't wait to see what you come up with!

The only thing I don't like about heavy rectangular veils is the noise- nice & swooshy sound with a half circle turns into loose sail caught into the wind- make sure there are no on stage mic.s!

& Tiger, I have found that freshly dyed silks aren't as static-y too- most of my projects are easier to sew before dying tho. man what an addiction. I might have to go pull out the equipment this afternoon...