Talk to me about working with silk please?

[JoanHickson]

I purchased a silk pillowcase and want to make a couple for the dc.

Where could I source decent silk at a reasonable price?

I also have concerns about working with silk. What is on the do and don't list?

I want to create one pillowcase with a zip rather than envelope style at dc request. How much allowance should I make?

Get some bridal pins for pinning it, normal ones will possibly mark it.

I read somewhere (can't remember where to link, sorry) that if you sandwich silk between paper (so paper/silk/paper) before cutting, it behaves like paper so should cut nicely. I haven't tried it out but it seems a good idea.

Make sure scissors are super sharp so they don't snag it!

No idea where to buy - I tend towards dressing up costumes so lots and lots of shiny, cheap as chips satin and floaty fabrics.

Almost forgot, don't forget silk may fray so a French seam may be your best bet for sewing it (loads and loads of youtube videos out there).

& If it was me, I'd stick to 1.5cm seam allowances but others may say different - I was always taught 1.5cm.

Hth, have fun

Oh yes thank you, that helps a lot.

Working with a paper layer between the silk layers while sewing helps as well, but the paper can be a bit tricky to remove. If your machine will do it, stick the pins in at right angles and sew over them. Not all machines will do it, mine is a Riccar and is brilliant at it. Gives the material less cnace to slip and slide. If that does not work, hand tack with tacking thread, then take the pins out. Still stick them in at right angles

Dutch I wonder if tissue paper rather than paper paper would work maybe. Then there wouldn't be the bulk of normal paper left at the seam line if you had difficulties removing it.

Might try it on a scrap of satin tomorrow while I have it out.

That sounds like a good idea.

I have no silk yet to test with, as I don't want to over pay.

Yes, it actually was tissue paper, paper paper would be too thick to sew with. Even so it was a bit hard to remove and I found that 90 degree angle pins or tacking was better. Using bridal pins is a good idea though, I have not tried that and it did mark a bit.

Where did you get your silk?

I have some silk lining material I've been using up in the girls Elsa dresses - I've lost my bridal pins & had to use normal ones and it marked quite badly.

Thankfully only in seam allowances, but still marked

I'd try and only pin in seam allowances too to try and avoid marking.

For a potentially cheap way to get a load of silk, especially for a practice run, how about looking in a charity shop for an old ball gown that you can buy and take apart? I've just done this, and washed the pieces on a silk/wool cycle, and I think I have enough to make a couple of new garments!

That sounds inventive. What new garments did you create?

I doubt the dc would use a pillowcase made from someone else's old dress.

You can get very light weight iron stabilisers that reduce the fraying and stop it splitting under the pressure of corners. I would use silk pins as they are very fine (probably what others call bridal pins but that isn't what mine say on the box) but be careful -don't buy the cheapest as they probably aren't as fine as you think or at least don't have the super sharp point you need. Look for 0.5mm.

Make your seam allowances generous - I used silk to make a quilted bowl. Quilters normally used 0.25inch seams. Mine were over 0.5inches and that was dodgy in places.

Sorry, forgot to say The Silk Route have all sorts of types of silk and I think, are quite reasonably priced.

This is very helpful advice, thanks.

It may end up costing me more in equipment than buying ready made.

It is always good to learn new skills.

Lace pins are another option.

You'll be stood in front of the pins looking like after this

I haven't made anything with it yet JoanHickson! I've washed the pieces in the machine on 30 with delicate detergent and it has come out fine. I think I have enough for a skirt (well, definitely) and possibly a jacket, but I would like to get a contrast lining fabric instead of using the navy polyester it had.