Phoebedances

I want the underskirt and my veil to match for my costume that is in the works, and was thinking about using silk and dying it myself.

Should one use the 3 mm silk gauze, china silk - which is 5 mm, or something like silk Haboitai? How thin is the silk gauze? Does it fly well for a veil?

I've only made veils before with polyester chiffon and I've never used silk to make a dance skirt, so I'd appreciate any input on this. who knows, if it works out I could have a whole closet of matching dance sets.

Oh, and if anyone dyes their fabric, what type of dye do you use? I've been looking at Dharma Trading Company for supplies. Dharma Trading Co. Homepage

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)

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Aisha Azar

Dear Phoebe,
Silk, like other fabrics comes in different weights, textures, etc. Silk gauze can sometimes be a pretty stiff fabric and you might want to go for silk that is known as Thai or China unless you are sure of the texture of the gauze you are buying. I have this piece of silk gauze that I love the color, but it is too darn stiff to use as a veil.
When you get your silk, throw it in the washer with some laundry detergent and some vinegar to wash all of the sizing out of it. Then put it in the dryer
with no fabric softener sheets. Most silk does not shrink all that much, but some do, so you want to shrink it BEFORE you sew it.
Most silk LOVES dye and takes it up very well. Some people on this forum will probably puke when they read this, but I use Rit dye. It's cheap and in the long run works just as well as any of the expensive, mix yourself, just for silk dyes that I have tried. Put the fabric into the dye bath wet. Make sure to keep it moving around so the dye distributes evenly.
After you have dyed it, rinse it and then soak it in a cold water and vinegar bath for 20 minutes or so and put it through a short wash cycle, put in the the dryer and viola!!
Regards,
A'isha

Phoebedances

I don't know, I haven't had silk before in my costumes. But, I imagine you might be able to steam the wrinkles out.

I love, love the way it looks onstage, it just seems to have a life of it's own, silk!! Maybe that's worth the ironing. heehee..

and I like people joining my threads. -hugs all around-


Well, that's a good thing to know. I guess I thought Gauze would be very soft, it's handy to know not all gauze is like that!


oh, thank you for the tips, A'isha! I'm sure that will come in handy. I didn't know you could use just Rit dye. That might be cheaper certainly for my first time doing this. Hmmm...

Reen.Blom

*hugs back*

I am also simply mezmerized by the way silk moves! We are all talking natural silk here right? I think some ENORMOUS skirt +veil could ve awesome and a soul of any costume!!!

*Curious* you gonna tye dye it multiple colours or go for solid look? And does it come in white?(Is it bright white or just whiteISH) LOL

Dont forget to post pictures when it all done!!!

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Phoebedances

Oh, I don't think I'm brave enough to tackle tie dye just yet, plus I wanted a solid color to go with the Assuit costume I'm making. Black Assuit with red I think for the veil and the skirt.

And I'm not sure about the natural color. Maybe a softer white? A'isha could probably answer that better than me, cause I dunno.. heehee

Aisha Azar

Dear Ladies,
Natural silk is not white. I have had one piece of natural silk with actual hulls of some sort still in it!! It can be kind of beige or beigey grey or with more cream. I am not sure why. Maybe its the weather or what the mulberry worms eat or when they eat it???
Like cotton, white silk is bleached to be white.
Silk noile is my favorite fabric and I often make shirts or even pants out of it.
Regards
A'isha

Reen.Blom

Hmmmmm so wonder now if one would venture into "home-bleaching" LOL ( I am designing a wedding dress here... I always design one...LOL)

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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.

Aisha Azar

Dear Reen,
I have not tried home bleaching. I have tried color removers on fabric other than silk, often with less than good results. If you decide to home bleach some silk, please post your results! I am too chicken to try it!!
Regards,
A'isha