ALL THINGS SILK

[Susan B.]

I am interested in silk quiltmaking, have acquired quite a stash and am interested on input on fabric, stabilizers, thread, batting, tips, where to get great silk, all things silk, oh and of course pics of finished projects!

[Susan B.]

Have you used the gallery search feature for quilts made with silk?

On my profile, you will see a donkey quilt that is made of decorator duponi silks. You must use a stabilizer, then the fabric works just like cotton. I used a knit stabilizer, which was recommended, but actually it was too thick. I originally was going to handquilt my quilt, but couldn't. There is a new stabilizer on the market made specifically for T-shirt quilts that is so soft and thin that you wouldn't know it's there except that your fabric will not ravel or stretch. Make sure it can be used with silk.

The only other things you would need to be concerned about is washing and ironing. Make sure your silks are colorfast and washable. Once stabilized, they should not wrinkle or require ironing.

I look forward to seeing your silk quilts.

[Susan B.]

Thanks for the great info, Nancy. It will be a while as I am restoring a crazy quilt for a friend, very unchartered waters. My idea is to first make a lap sized silk quilt, with some embellishment to use as a prayer quilt and then a silk paper pieced jacket.. I have such a huge stash of cotton that I am really trying to keep a lid on incoming stash and just buy silk, which because of the price makes me more selective. What size needle did you use on your donkey quilt in your machine and what kind of machine do you use, if you don't mind me asking?

[Susan B.]

What size needle did you use on your donkey quilt in your machine and what kind of machine do you use, if you don't mind me asking?

I don't mind at all. I have a 1970 Singer Futura and don't remember, for sure, what size needle I used. I'm sure it was either a size 11 or 14. However, the needle size you use should depend on the stabilizer you decide to use. If you find a very lightweight stabilizer, I think you should use a needle recommended for use with silk so that you do not leave large holes in your silk.

[Susan B.]

I've also used silk in a couple of my quilts and it's easy to work with and quilts beautifully. I use a light weight fusible stabilizer and also use wavy rotary blade when cutting the fabric. This helps reduce fraying. If you're quilting on dsm try using the smallest needle your thread will allow. I believe I used a Sharp 70/10 with silk thread.

[Anne B.]

I've never used silk in a quilt (yet!), but I did once attend a one-hour lecture on the subject.

The instructor said you absolutely have to wash the silk before you begin. This tightens the weave and reduces fraying. I don't think she said anything about stabilizers.

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

[Anne B.]

There's a lady in Austin, TX who beautifully dies silk and she told me to always wash silk with baby shampoo. She said your hair is protein and so is silk. It works quite well.