Loved the little editing details in this video. It made me smile. This is a joke that I have with a basket weaver in NC, "Show me the wool!" 🤭 Yes, you have to yell it like in Jerry Maguire. Sometimes, you meet someone who matches your energy when discussing fiber and that needs to be celebrated. 🤓 The best thing about the fiber arts, is how we share it, at least I think so.
Thank you for this helpful video. I'm self taught (thank you youtube), so I really appreciate the help and guidance from those who know their stuff. Kind regards from Mold in North Wales UK. 🙋♂🙋♂
Thank you for this tutorial. I just got some silk charmeuse and want to make a fancy slip with trims. Can you cover trims and specialty stitches to use on your silk? I love your fabric guide. Sequin fabrics are a good idea too.
Ooh I just got some silk crepe de chine to make a slip under a sheer linen top I'm making for my mum's Christmas present. These tips are great, will need to take some deep breaths before I begin from the sounds of it. Would love to see a linen episode!
Super informative, thank you so much. I have a few technical questions about laundering. Why do we need to use a gentle detergent? What kind of damage would a regular liquid detergent do? Also, why no agitation? I usually wash blouses on a cold delicate cycle, in delicates bags. What kind of damage would that do to silk? Thank you for all your amazing work!
Regular detergents can potentially damage silk, as their higher pH levels strip silk of its natural proteins. You want to avoid agitation because it can stretch or distort the fabric and cause it to lose its shape permanently. Washing on the delicate cycle in bags should be fine, but if you're worried about it I would consider doing a test wash with a swatch first.
I don't have a specific recommendation but lots of online shops sell swatches, which is always a good approach to get an idea of the fabric's hand, weight, and overall quality before buying.
Thanks Hayley! I have a silk/wool blend that I'm about to make a Phen shirt with, so really helpful ! Can I ask why silk organza is recommended as a press cloth if there's an issue with heat ? I've had one for years and it hasn't been adversely affected by heat.
A silk organza press cloth can be used for general pressing because it has a high melting point and can be used at any iron temperature. The fabric is sheer, so you can see through it to place the iron exactly where you need it, and organza's fine texture eliminates weave texture transfer to the fashion fabric.
Wonderful and helpful video! I just bought some beautiful turquoise dupioni silk to sew a dress for a wedding. But I have never sewn with it before. Do I pre-wash it?
It is a good idea pre-wash in order to remove any sizing and to preshrink the fabric. However, be aware that washing may soften its crisp texture and change its sheen; alternatively, you can dry clean it to maintain its original qualities.
Great video! 💗 Please if you can explain better for me ... I don't really understand the preparation before using the stabilizing spray. Is it meant i have to wash the fabric thoroughly first to get rid of any sprays the fabric seller may have used or ... ? And I assume that after I sew the fabric I will have to wash it before wearing it, is that right? Thank you so much or anyone else! ❣
If you use spray stabilizer, you will need to wash it out before you wear the garment. Because some silks respond better to hand washing than others, it is a good idea to hand wash a test piece and make sure it holds up well to washing. Pre-washing your fabric can pre-shrink it as well, so it is always a good idea to do that before you cut any of your pieces out. Hope that helps!
This is really helpful, thanks! Do you have any tips for colour leakage from silk? I have some red crepe de chine that keeps leaking colour for multiple washes, thanks!
Color catchers are a great tip. You might trying washing on cold as well, but you may want to err on the side of caution and separate your colors when you wash in case the silk still bleeds.
