Thread: where do you buy silk?

what do you ladies think of this:
Buy JACQUARD Silk Color Kit | Online Discount Art Supply Store

Depends on what you wanna do, I'd say. If you wanna do silk painting, that seems the right choice - like what people do on neck scarves. If you wanna dye, it seems like a bad choice. I wouldn't have much use for that kit. Rather, I keep a collection of acid (for silk) and fiber-reactive dyes and soda ash (cotton), Syntrapol, salt (for dyeing cotton) and vinegar (for silk) in the house. You never know when you need to change color.

Originally Posted by steffib

Depends on what you wanna do, I'd say. If you wanna do silk painting, that seems the right choice - like what people do on neck scarves. If you wanna dye, it seems like a bad choice. I wouldn't have much use for that kit. Rather, I keep a collection of acid (for silk) and fiber-reactive dyes and soda ash (cotton), Syntrapol, salt (for dyeing cotton) and vinegar (for silk) in the house. You never know when you need to change color.

vinegar changes the color of silk? I was thinking about experimenting with silk painting. I want to dye too.
does anyone know if you can dye with acid dyes and then paint on top of that? I was trying to do my research!

Check out the tutorials on Dharma Trading Co. Homepage, that will answer most of your questions. Vinegar is required to make the acid (sic) dyes work.

i suppose, but it doesn't really tell you if you can mix the acid dyes to create new colors or not.

Originally Posted by jenlindseys

i suppose, but it doesn't really tell you if you can mix the acid dyes to create new colors or not.

Oh, yeah. I do that all the time.

Has anybody ever used Silk Crepe de Chine or Satin Silk Organza, I think they are 16 mm? Would they be too heavy for a circle skirt?

I have been thinking of making my own skirt since I just can't find what I am looking for in the right color.

Originally Posted by kateryna

Has anybody ever used Silk Crepe de Chine or Satin Silk Organza, I think they are 16 mm? Would they be too heavy for a circle skirt?

I have been thinking of making my own skirt since I just can't find what I am looking for in the right color.

I would say no to both, and not because of the 16mm weight. 16mm is fine if the fabric is satin or charmeuse.

Organza is stiff. I would say no, unless you are going for some specific vintage look. It will stand out on its own accord, not fall slinkily around you. (is slinkily a word??)

Crepe de Chine is very very matte, and it makes some dyes (that look brilliant and jewel-toned on shiny silks) look very matte or even muted. It is very elegant and understated but not what I'd choose for a costume. But that's just me.

Just one note of warning about Dharma's prehemmed rectangles: I had one batch that were hemmed with poly thread instead of silk. My veils came out with white stitches around the edges! Also, I've had a number of veils from them with fairly obvious flaws in the weave. I like them because they save me time -- I'd rather dye than hem any day -- but this is making me grumpy.

One thing I finally learned (after a herniated disk in my neck made lots of sewing impossible), is that rectangular silk veils do not need any kind of hem.

The selvage edges should look perfect without any hemming. If you make a tiny snip across the selvage and then tear across the width, and then carefully pull out the few fibers that pull loose, the unhemmed edge will stabilize with just a tiny fringe and should not continue to unravel and will not be noticeable.

I iron my veils dry after dying, which helps steam set the edges even more.

Sedonia

Originally Posted by tigerb

Just one note of warning about Dharma's prehemmed rectangles: I had one batch that were hemmed with poly thread instead of silk. My veils came out with white stitches around the edges! Also, I've had a number of veils from them with fairly obvious flaws in the weave. I like them because they save me time -- I'd rather dye than hem any day -- but this is making me grumpy.

oh no! I'd rather hem than dye any day but maybe that's because I've never dyed and it makes me nervous to try!

Originally Posted by ssipes

The selvage edges should look perfect without any hemming. If you make a tiny snip across the selvage and then tear across the width, and then carefully pull out the few fibers that pull loose, the unhemmed edge will stabilize with just a tiny fringe and should not continue to unravel and will not be noticeable.

you could also use fray block....which is cheap and easy...

another question-
does someone have a ratio of red/yellow mix of the jacquard acid dyes for making a true vibrant orange? It might save me some time =)

Originally Posted by jenlindseys

you could also use fray block....which is cheap and easy...

But that would stiffen the end and affect the way the veil floats and swirls. You don't need it. Really.

Regarding color mixing.

What I do is tear somes silk into little squares, maybe 4X4 inches to use as test squares before dying your actual yardage.

You are going to have to experiment to get a feel for how the dyes work, know how to mix your colors, and how long to simmer your fabric.

If you want really vibrant colors, you probably need to use a vat or pot of very hot water. I have a big pot I use on my stovetop and keep it on low heat, below the boiling point. I have never been satisfied using the washing machine when I'm after the the most vivid and brilliant colors. You can also dip, sprinkle drizzle, etc. the dyes onto damp fabric and then microwave them for a minute or so to steam set the dyes. Just try different stuff is my suggestion.

If you already have yellow and red, just guessing, I'd start with 3/4 yellow 1/4 red. If you don't want to do lots of experimenting, just buy the color you want.

If you want to get scientific about it, measure your dyes out with measuring spoons, dye your test squares, blot them dry and blow dry or iron, then pin a paper tag to the on which you've written something like: 1/4 t sun yellow, 1/4 t crimson, 2 c water, simmer 10 min. Then keep those in a drawer. I used to do that with Procion dyes, which are much less predictable than the acid dyes. I still do it if I'm custom matching someone's costume or trying out new colors, etc.

Sedonia

thanks ssipes! Maybe I should just get the colors I want....at least for the first time of dying. I was going to do it all in the washing machine, but I guess it sounds like maybe I should go for stove top.
I wanted to dye the 5mm silk and some silk gauze to make a double layer circle skirt. If I do them in the same batch on the stove (will total around 6 yards)-
is that too much fabric to do?
will they turn out the same color?
should I start with just plain silk before I get fancy with the silk gauze?
I'm making the purchase this weekend or next week...no questions asked. I'm trying to decide where I want to buy my dyes because it seems there are other places (from dharmatrading) that have cheaper shipping.

Originally Posted by ssipes

One thing I finally learned (after a herniated disk in my neck made lots of sewing impossible), is that rectangular silk veils do not need any kind of hem.

The selvage edges should look perfect without any hemming. If you make a tiny snip across the selvage and then tear across the width, and then carefully pull out the few fibers that pull loose, the unhemmed edge will stabilize with just a tiny fringe and should not continue to unravel and will not be noticeable.

I think this entirely depends on your silk.

I had a bolt of silk that had very very nice selvages, but not hemming the cut ends was a disaster. I made a veil for myself, and as I danced with it it continued to fray. I also iron my veils dry after their final rinse.

I also had yards of 8mm silk that had the UGLIEST selvage you ever saw in your life. It had stray fringy threads, big pierced holes, and (if you can believe it) it varied in width so there was this weird uneven stripe along the edge. I hemmed those long edges despite the backache I got.

On the other hand I did have some 5mm that was perfectly nice and gave me no problems at all. Of course, that was the small batch that only produced a couple four-yard veils....

Originally Posted by tigerb

I also had yards of 8mm silk that had the UGLIEST selvage you ever saw in your life. It had stray fringy threads, big pierced holes, and (if you can believe it) it varied in width so there was this weird uneven stripe along the edge. I hemmed those long edges despite the backache I got.

Yes, I got some of this from Dharma once and sent it back, because no way in hades was I going to hem all 4 fricken sides of a veil. They told me that these rough selvages were the result of newer and more efficient ways of weaving the silk. I haven't gotten any of this from Exotic Silks so far.

So far I haven't come across any silk that won't stabilize with tearing and picking, so long as the tiny snip made through the selvage is parallel with the fibers. I can imagine that if the silk were woven loosely that could happen though.

Originally Posted by jenlindseys

thanks ssipes! Maybe I should just get the colors I want....at least for the first time of dying. I was going to do it all in the washing machine, but I guess it sounds like maybe I should go for stove top.
I wanted to dye the 5mm silk and some silk gauze to make a double layer circle skirt. If I do them in the same batch on the stove (will total around 6 yards)-
is that too much fabric to do?
will they turn out the same color?
should I start with just plain silk before I get fancy with the silk gauze?
I'm making the purchase this weekend or next week...no questions asked. I'm trying to decide where I want to buy my dyes because it seems there are other places (from dharmatrading) that have cheaper shipping.

I don't have alot of time right now; I'll try to post more later.

But for your first time, I would avoid the silk gauze. It is hard to handle wet. Once you get it spread back out and ironed its okay, but even then making it into a circle skirt is going to be hard because it's hard to cut, and it will warp on the bias even worse than other fabrics, so it will have to be hung longer before the final reshaping and hemming.

Originally Posted by ssipes

I don't have alot of time right now; I'll try to post more later.

But for your first time, I would avoid the silk gauze. It is hard to handle wet. Once you get it spread back out and ironed its okay, but even then making it into a circle skirt is going to be hard because it's hard to cut, and it will warp on the bias even worse than other fabrics, so it will have to be hung longer before the final reshaping and hemming.

so you mean for the first time making a skirt? I've made many skirts, just not dyed the silk. does dying make this worse?
just curious! I was going to play around with it, but it is not necessary. I just thought it'd be fun. haha..
sorry I will wait for your post later!
thanks again.