Write your post here.Painted Silk Scarves

 

 

    For the last month or so I have been working hard (okay, having great fun) learning to paint with dyes on scarves.  I saw beautiful painted silk scarves while I was in Alexandria, VA.  I love silk and thought they would be great for bandanna scarf stoma covers.  So I set out to learn how to make them, practicing on thin, soft cotton.  Well, I really think that when God gives us desire and ambition he really should give us a speck of talent….which he definitely forgot to do for me!  But the fabric store is doing well with all the practice fabric I am wasting. :-)

    I have gotten a lot of books, dyes, paints, stretchers and other supplies and have been experimenting.  You can not use dye to paint like with regular fabric paints because it “bleeds” and runs all over the fabric which is part of the beauty of it.  That is great when you want a tie-dyed effect but not if you want a flower or other designs.

   I have tried all sorts of things including embroidery with and without the painting; so I am not limiting it to just dyeing.  And not just silk.  I have found that a polyester works even better and  my favorite is the soft cotton I was able to get.  It washes nicely, is very soft and does not have static like silk sometimes does.  I am also trying to come up with a design that does not tie in the back.

   I am hoping that some of you will give me ideas for the scarves and ways to close them other than the Velcro that I use when requested.  Also I could make them like the “ascot” stoma covers which are gathered on a band at the top.  That is folded over so it doesn’t show which makes it look like an ascot scarf.  It closes with Velcro in the back.

    Okay, everyone;  I will be waiting to hear from you…..even if you don’t have any ideas and just want to comment. And even if your comment is for me to give the whole thing up!! :-(