Making silk veils - Page 2

adiemus · 07-18-2008, 09:22 PM

You don't need to bleach plain silk before you dye it, it'll take up the colour beautifully anyway. I use 'procion' dyes which are mainly for wool and silk, but yes any old dye will do the trick. Tie-dying is easy peasy... just remember your colours will blend, so remember your colour wheel - yellow + blue = green, red + yellow = orange and so on - and if you don't want to do actual tie-dying, think about dip-dying where you just dip the whole thing in first (to lay the base colour), then let it dry. Then dip half in another blending colour (eg yellow first, then add red = orange) then let that dry, then dip the final quarter in (red again would be great! = nearly red) - and voila! beautiful colours!

I'm going to have a go once I've bought the dyes - I have blue and I'm going to add red to make wonderful blue to red to purple!
Hem it first to make the job really easy at the end, btw. And as A'isha has said, wash it first without fabric softener and use some vinegar or similar to get rid of the size they put into it. A lot of silk will soften as it is washed too, because it's the size that makes it stay uncreased.
Silk is incredibly hardy and durable - I've washed my silk scarves in the washing machine with knickers and bra's and they come out great.
I used to make heaps of scarves many years ago, but they were head and neck scarves not veils - but the principles are the same!

Phoebedances · 07-19-2008, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

Thai Silks is a good source for reasonably priced silk. You can find them online, and they offer dyed as well as undyed silk.

I wash my silk in synthropol before and after I dye it. I like to hand paint my silk and prefer to use silk dye for this since it gives me some color mixing options that packaged commercial dye does not.

Be daring, Phoebe. Tie dye is a piece of cake. I have also experimented with hanging a piece of wet silk outside and spraying it with dye or flicking drops of dye off a toothbrush and have gotten some cool results. The there is the adventure of learning to use dye resists like gutta, then there is salt dye- don't get me started or I'll go on until you all fall over backwards.

Well, this set needs to be solid -- just the way I'm seeing it in my head, but I really want a tie-dye set, too. With all those choices in how to put the dye on it sounds like a good hobby for my frustrated artist side.

I"ll try to be brave soon!

Phoebedances · 07-19-2008, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiemus

You don't need to bleach plain silk before you dye it, it'll take up the colour beautifully anyway. I use 'procion' dyes which are mainly for wool and silk, but yes any old dye will do the trick. Tie-dying is easy peasy... just remember your colours will blend, so remember your colour wheel - yellow + blue = green, red + yellow = orange and so on - and if you don't want to do actual tie-dying, think about dip-dying where you just dip the whole thing in first (to lay the base colour), then let it dry. Then dip half in another blending colour (eg yellow first, then add red = orange) then let that dry, then dip the final quarter in (red again would be great! = nearly red) - and voila! beautiful colours!

I'm going to have a go once I've bought the dyes - I have blue and I'm going to add red to make wonderful blue to red to purple!
Hem it first to make the job really easy at the end, btw. And as A'isha has said, wash it first without fabric softener and use some vinegar or similar to get rid of the size they put into it. A lot of silk will soften as it is washed too, because it's the size that makes it stay uncreased.
Silk is incredibly hardy and durable - I've washed my silk scarves in the washing machine with knickers and bra's and they come out great.
I used to make heaps of scarves many years ago, but they were head and neck scarves not veils - but the principles are the same!

Oh, the red/blue to purple one sounds like it would be gorgeous. I'd love to see a picture of that when you get it done! The tips on dying are wonderful. Makes me feel like it isn't so hard after all.

I'll post pictures when I get done.

adiemus · 07-19-2008, 05:03 AM

Will do!

Reen.Blom · 07-19-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiemus

You don't need to bleach plain silk before you dye it, it'll take up the colour beautifully anyway.

Suppose it is better to buy the pre-bleached ones if you want snow-white colour... LOL

Marya · 07-19-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reen.Blom

Will not silk crinkle too much? Do you silk costume piece owners spend all your free time ironing your garments? I looove the look of silk, but is it too much of a hassle to manage?

(Sorry Phoebe I have no advice, just wanted to join in your thread...LOL)

I use silk a lot! Different weights have different veil behaviors. mm stands for momme which is a measure of thread weight in silk. the higher the number the heavier the fabric. I have silk veils in a number of different weights but have not used silk gauze for a veil. I personally prefer the heavier weights for veils because they sound wonderful and I have more control over them. the lighter weight veils seem to have a life of their own. However I have seen videos of people using very lightweight veils (can't tell if they are silk or not) that looked wonderful.

I have used silk gauze for other things though and have not found it to be stiff at all. Aisha you will have to show me what you have because I am curious.

I have purchased undyed silk from Dharma and procion dyes (despite what Aisha says I don't think you get colors as brilliant with Rit as you do with procion dyes. Dharma provides good product and service.

I have also purchased silk from Thai Silks and they have been good quality with good service.

Watch out for stuff labeled China Silk, frequently it is fake and not silk at all. Do you know about the burn test? (neither Thai silks or Dharma have ever mislabeled their fabric) silk burns with out a hard bead. synthetics with melt more than burn and have a hard bead left at the end.

I also have not had any particular problem with wrinkles. I have a dance skirt with a synthetic ruffle that wrinkles way worse than any silk skirt I have.

Have fun. I love working with silk and love wearing it.

Marya

Phoebedances · 07-19-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marya

I use silk a lot! Different weights have different veil behaviors. mm stands for momme which is a measure of thread weight in silk. the higher the number the heavier the fabric. I have silk veils in a number of different weights but have not used silk gauze for a veil. I personally prefer the heavier weights for veils because they sound wonderful and I have more control over them. the lighter weight veils seem to have a life of their own. However I have seen videos of people using very lightweight veils (can't tell if they are silk or not) that looked wonderful.

I have used silk gauze for other things though and have not found it to be stiff at all. Aisha you will have to show me what you have because I am curious.

I have purchased undyed silk from Dharma and procion dyes (despite what Aisha says I don't think you get colors as brilliant with Rit as you do with procion dyes. Dharma provides good product and service.

I have also purchased silk from Thai Silks and they have been good quality with good service.

Watch out for stuff labeled China Silk, frequently it is fake and not silk at all. Do you know about the burn test? (neither Thai silks or Dharma have ever mislabeled their fabric) silk burns with out a hard bead. synthetics with melt more than burn and have a hard bead left at the end.

I also have not had any particular problem with wrinkles. I have a dance skirt with a synthetic ruffle that wrinkles way worse than any silk skirt I have.

Have fun. I love working with silk and love wearing it.

Marya

Thank you for hopping into the thread too.

It is very cool to see about different experiences with dyeing silk and what you said about the burn test will come in handy. I think I remember reading about that long ago, but had forgotten all about it.

I wonder if most of the sheer veils on stage are poly chiffon?

Phoebe

Aisha Azar · 07-19-2008, 02:51 PM

Dear Marya,
Remind me and I will show it to you the next time you are up.
Love, A.

PriscillaAdum · 07-19-2008, 06:11 PM

Yes Yes! Tell us more Shanazel! How do you hand paint your veils? Do you mean with a brush? What kind of dyes do you use so that the design won't run down the fabric? What do you do with the salt? I've heard of and have always been intruiged by the "salt" technique but I've never been able to figure out what the salt is for? I'd love to hear more about your silks!
I've got some gutta resist lying around somewhere but have never been brave enough to use it. In hippie times we used to use crayolas as resists when we tye dyed. I'm thinking a white crayola might work well on white silk. hmmm.
I buy everything from Dharma and have always liked their variety of products, reasonable prices and their speedy service. I use their Procion Fiber Reactive dyes, which are very simple to mix, they go a long way, and they have great colors. I stick to simple patterns like clouds, geometric tye dye designs, gradients and rainbows. I've been itching to try something new and more complex though.
Here's a couple of my veils. I don't know who these girls are...but I DO know that those are my veils.

Janeth y yo - tribe.net

Regards
Priscilla

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

Thai Silks is a good source for reasonably priced silk. You can find them online, and they offer dyed as well as undyed silk.

I wash my silk in synthropol before and after I dye it. I like to hand paint my silk and prefer to use silk dye for this since it gives me some color mixing options that packaged commercial dye does not.

Be daring, Phoebe. Tie dye is a piece of cake. I have also experimented with hanging a piece of wet silk outside and spraying it with dye or flicking drops of dye off a toothbrush and have gotten some cool results. The there is the adventure of learning to use dye resists like gutta, then there is salt dye- don't get me started or I'll go on until you all fall over backwards.

Reen.Blom · 07-19-2008, 07:55 PM

Ladies it all sounds awesome! Marya what wheight in mm you use for veils and skirts? Suppose skirts should be heavier for better 'swooosh' LOL

Shanazel, please come back and talk more, I love it!

Aisha, dear, you MUST show off some pictures! Pleeeaaaase???

Priscilla the veils are awesome!

07-18-2008, 09:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 977	You don't need to bleach plain silk before you dye it, it'll take up the colour beautifully anyway. I use 'procion' dyes which are mainly for wool and silk, but yes any old dye will do the trick. Tie-dying is easy peasy... just remember your colours will blend, so remember your colour wheel - yellow + blue = green, red + yellow = orange and so on - and if you don't want to do actual tie-dying, think about dip-dying where you just dip the whole thing in first (to lay the base colour), then let it dry. Then dip half in another blending colour (eg yellow first, then add red = orange) then let that dry, then dip the final quarter in (red again would be great! = nearly red) - and voila! beautiful colours! I'm going to have a go once I've bought the dyes - I have blue and I'm going to add red to make wonderful blue to red to purple! Hem it first to make the job really easy at the end, btw. And as A'isha has said, wash it first without fabric softener and use some vinegar or similar to get rid of the size they put into it. A lot of silk will soften as it is washed too, because it's the size that makes it stay uncreased. Silk is incredibly hardy and durable - I've washed my silk scarves in the washing machine with knickers and bra's and they come out great. I used to make heaps of scarves many years ago, but they were head and neck scarves not veils - but the principles are the same! __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

07-19-2008, 05:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 977	Will do! __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

07-19-2008, 02:51 PM	#18 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,463	Crispy Slk gauze Dear Marya, Remind me and I will show it to you the next time you are up. Love, A.

07-19-2008, 07:55 PM	#20 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Posts: 2,262	Ladies it all sounds awesome! Marya what wheight in mm you use for veils and skirts? Suppose skirts should be heavier for better 'swooosh' LOL Shanazel, please come back and talk more, I love it! Aisha, dear, you MUST show off some pictures! Pleeeaaaase??? Priscilla the veils are awesome! __________________ Join WORLD BELLY DANCE DAY! www.worldbellydanceday.com