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From: AndreaSews
Date: 09-12-2006, 04:41 PM (1 of 18)
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More on pressing please. When pressing silk, do you use steam? The silk setting on my (admittedly cheapo) iron is one of the coolest temperatures, and my iron doesn't make steam until you get a few notches hotter than that. I'm working with a silk dupioni, and I don't want to blow it!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Sancin
Date: 09-12-2006, 06:07 PM (2 of 18)
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This is a hard one, Andrea. With steam or without steam, I find the cooler temperature recommended rfor silk really doesn't press any silk all that well. I purchased a teflon (or some such thing) cover for my iron last year, it hooks on with straps. I got it at a quilting show. It says it is guaranteed not to melt or burn anything at any temperature and it seems to work, except that it is somewhat soft and the front tip has a tendency to bend. I would hate to advise you to use a higher temp on your dupioni, but maybe you could try a higher temp with a press cloth on a scrap of fabric. In thinking about it I wonder if the 'thingy' that I bought is silicone. The stores seem to be swamped these days with all sorts of silicone devices for dealing with heat in the kitchen. Perhaps someone else knows. *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-12-2006, 06:39 PM (3 of 18)
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I'd press with a cloth, NO steam...might make marks.(sometimes the dye in silk is fragile and water will make marks).
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-12-2006, 06:46 PM (4 of 18)
Every iron is different, take a scrap and test, test, test. That is what I always do, with interfacing too. According to Sandra Betzina, steam causes water spots with this fabric.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 09-12-2006, 07:52 PM (5 of 18)
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All useful comments. Thanks. Now I recall Susan Khalje saying to use white silk organza as a press cloth, b/c it's sheer enough to make your work visible, but will shield from the heat somewhat. I just can't find the stuff, or when I do it's in a wacky fashion color and costs dearly. Well, on the bright side, the dupioni does seem to crease well, just in a finger press test (no iron), so maybe I'll fair well enough pressing seams open with a light iron. I'll let you know how it goes next week.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 09-12-2006, 09:33 PM (6 of 18)
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I always read not to steam dupioni because it will lose its crispness.
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495 
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From: Sancin
Date: 09-13-2006, 12:54 AM (7 of 18)
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Does silk lose its crispness forever? I can't recall what kind of silk I was sewing on an number of years ago but I found the crispness returned when cooled. I haven't sewn on dupioni silk but have some white silk shantung from a wedding dress that was crisp and lost it's crispness when washed - as I recall I pressed it with a medium iron and I loved the softness better than the crisp. I haven't made anything out of it yet.
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 09-13-2006, 03:36 PM (8 of 18)
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I think that it has something to do with whatever is on the thread that the silkworm produces. If you steam it or wash it it will lose the crispness and some of the sheen, I believe forever. If you want a softer drape that's up to you. You can test a sample to see if you like it.
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-13-2006, 06:22 PM (9 of 18)
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I've heard some say the crispness comes back, I dunno. I seldom work with silk. Any other responses?
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: bridesmom
Date: 09-14-2006, 01:25 AM (10 of 18)
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Would a teflon sheet work? I got one for when I sew with water proof fabrics so it doesn't melt everything and have used it for other stuff when I remember where I put it!!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: kmccrea
Date: 09-15-2006, 01:34 AM (11 of 18)
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You can press silk with steam and without leaving water marks. What you need to do is have a press cloth between your silk and the iron. I, too, have a teflon shoe on my iron (love it), but will make sure my white cotton batiste press cloth is over the silk. Let the silk cool completely before moving it from the board. Yes silk dupionni does return to its original crispness and sheen when cool. If the color is not very brilliant, like red, you can hand wash your garment in cool water with a mild shampoo. Treat it like you would your own hair. Silk is a beautiful fabric and not really delicate or fussy. Dry cleaning may cause less dye running in the more brilliantly colored fabrics, but is not truly necessary in preserving silk's wonderful properties. I wrote an article about silk on my website. I'm not sure if I moved it to the blog or if it's still in the tip of the week. Hope this helps, Katherine Katherine McCrea
Designer At Large |
User: kmccrea
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 173 
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From: Sancin
Date: 09-15-2006, 02:53 AM (12 of 18)
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Try this site - if you can't find an answer you can ask http://www.anjooriansilks.com/forum/forum.asp? *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 09-15-2006, 08:18 AM (13 of 18)
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I was only going by what I had read on the internet. I've only done one thing with dupioni and it was a smocked piece which didn't need pressing.
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-15-2006, 02:19 PM (14 of 18)
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I love dupioni, how did it turn out when you smocked with it? I think it is so elegant looking. I saw some in our local fabric store that was a copper colour. I loved it.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 09-15-2006, 06:40 PM (15 of 18)
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It smocked pretty easily. You have to make sure you pleat it the right way (which of course I forget if it's with the nubbies or against them!) I pleated two pieces, one each way. One came out nice and one was horrible. Here's my piece: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/GreenDragonDesigns/Smocking/Sampler.jpg photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495
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From: IsabelleB
Date: 02-14-2007, 03:08 PM (16 of 18)
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Wow, isn't that some gorgeous smocking!! How creative.
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture |
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006 Total posts: 265 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 02-14-2007, 03:17 PM (17 of 18)
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Thanks, Isabelle! I can't take credit for the creativity...the pattern was from an Australian Smocking and Embroidery magazine. It's funny that you just posted about it...my mom just got done matting it for me! Now I need to get a frame. I think I may give it to my neighbors as a present (they just got married) photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495
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From: IsabelleB
Date: 02-14-2007, 03:29 PM (18 of 18)
That will be a fantastic present for newly-weds - wow, they are fortunate to have you as a neighbour!  I was researching the boards for information about silk dupioni, which led me to your smocked piece
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture |
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006 Total posts: 265 |
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