Silk Sari
Posted on Friday, November 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pmSewing silk ? I have lot's of silk/satin ?
sari's with beautiful beading and embroidery. My friend gave me these to use the fabric to make pillows and home decor but after looking at it, I have decided the fabric would make beautiful silk blouses,skirts and even really nice formal to semi formal dresses.
My question is about sewing silk and satin. I have some nice patterns but I have no experience with silk and satin.
Is there anything I need to know about cutting or sewing the silk together so it doesn't destroy the fabric in the seams?
Do I need a special thread ? bias tape? or can it just simple be sewn together?
just think I've seen silk garments shredded/coming apart at the seams before.
Silk is very prone to abrasion damage, but it's got the best resistance to breaking by pulling of any common fiber of comparable diameter. It's pretty cool stuff, but can be tough to work with.
1) Cut the fabric with paper. Yahoo won't let me clip in an old answer here, so I'll just refer
you to
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.crafts.textiles.sewing/browse_thread/thread/d1e361ee1526b3e5/c35055baddf1d02c?q=cut+paper+slippery+scissors+kay+group:*.sewing#c35055baddf1d02c
2) Underline silk with something heavier to make it look richer and "hang heavier". Well washed cotton flannel works well for a lot of things; so does a heavy polyester lining fabric.
3) Test all your candidate seam types before deciding what you want to do. I pink lots of plain seams on silk. If it's going to be something where the seam edges are exposed, I'll often hand overcast to prevent fraying, just because that's the second flattest method of preventing fraying. If you happen to have a serger, one of the easy ways to make a french seam is to do the first seaming with the rolled hem stitch on the serger, and the second by hand or with a sewing machine. If you're trying to keep the fluidity of the silk, then consider hand sewn french seams... or
machine sew the first seam, hand sew the second.
4) Thread. Silk thread is lovely to work with and quite expensive. My current favorite is Tire brand. But silk sews nicely with plain ol' polyester dressmaker thread like Gutermann. Your choice.
5) Needles: Microtex or sharps for wovens. Ballpoints for silk knits.
Garments that come apart at the seams may be doing so from several reasons:
a) the seams, being firmer, may have allowed that section of the fabric to abrade away.
b) some fabrics (taffeta being notorious for this) have problems with "seam slippage", where the
fabric disintegrates under the least little bit of stress. It's usually a combination of slick yarns and yarns of two different sizes in the fabric that starts this ball rolling. Underlining, french seams, flat felled seams and fusing the seam allowances may help. But it's not common.
http://www.amefird.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Minimizing-Seam-Slippage-2-12-10.pdf
Try not to be afraid of silk... it's wonderful stuff to work with IF you cut it accurately. If you don't, it's going to be trouble all the way. I try to get the beginners I teach over Fear of Silk fairly soon in their sewing journey -- I sneak silk suiting in with some lightweight silk habutai for lining as a cosmetic bag or jewelry roll project. After they're done, I tell them they've been sewing silk. >:-)
The one thing I would caution you about is that silk snags easily, so if you're going to pin, keep the pin holes in the seam allowance. And preferably use good silk pins, not the young nails known as quilting pins.
 |
 Knitting Sari Yarn Recycled Pure silk 10 Hanks Thread $31.99 Time Remaining: 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 Pure Silk Sari Yarn 1000 grams 10 skeins Crochet $31.99 Time Remaining: 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 Recycled Sari Silk Yarn Light Mix Dark Mix Colors $125.00 Time Remaining: 6h 49m Buy It Now for only: $125.00 |
 Sari Silk Fiber Carded 150 GRAMS Free Shipping $20.00 Time Remaining: 14h 48m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 1 Quality B Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $3.98 Time Remaining: 20h 7m |
 1 Quality D Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $4.23 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 20h 9m |
 1 Quality M Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $3.98 Time Remaining: 20h 11m |
 1 Quality N Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $3.98 Time Remaining: 20h 12m |
 1 Quality R Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $3.98 Time Remaining: 20h 13m |
 1 quality Recycled Sari Silk Fabric Yarn Woven 100 gm $3.98 Time Remaining: 20h 14m |
 1 Quality Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Crochet Yarn 100 gm $3.98 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 20h 14m |
 1 Quality Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Crochet Yarn 100 gm $3.98 Time Remaining: 20h 15m |
 1 Quality Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Crochet Yarn 100 gm $3.98 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 20h 20m |
 1 Quality T Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $3.98 Time Remaining: 20h 22m |
 1 Quality V Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $3.98 Time Remaining: 20h 33m |
 2500grm Recycled Pure Soft Sari Silk Kint Yarn Woven $99.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 37m |
 100grm Himalaya Recycled Soft Pure Sari Silk Yarn Knit $7.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 38m |
 1000grm Recycled Pure Soft Sari Silk Kint Yarn Woven $46.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 40m |
 2500grmHimalaya Recycled Soft Pure Sari Silk Yarn Knit $99.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 41m |
 100grm Himalaya Recycled Soft Pure Sari Silk Yarn Knit $7.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 42m |
 1000grmHimalaya Recycled Soft Pure Sari Silk Yarn Knit $46.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 44m |
 2500grm Recycled Pure Sari Silk Fabric Woven Knit Yarn $99.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 44m |
 100grm Himalaya Recycled Black Soft Sari Silk Yarn $7.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 44m |
 100grm Himalaya Recycled Indigo Soft Sari Silk Yarn $7.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 44m |
 100grm Himalaya Recycled Natural Soft Sari Silk Yarn $7.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 45m |
 100grm Himalaya Recycled Red Soft Sari Silk Yarn Knit $7.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 45m |
 100grm Himalaya Recycled Teal Soft Sari Silk Yarn $7.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 45m |
 1000grm Recycled Pure Sari Silk Fabric Woven Knit Yarn $46.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 46m |
 100grm Recycled Pure Sari Silk Fabric Woven Knit Yarn $7.98 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 46m |
 600 yds Fair Trade Recycled Sari Silk Yarn ACTUAL PIC Super Premium 136 oz 385g $17.75 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 10h 24m |
 10 Skeins 1st Quality Soft Recycled Sari Silk Yarn $20.01 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 32m |
 SUPERIOR QUALITY NEPALESE SILK SARI YARN KNITTING $13.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 45m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 |
 SUPERIOR QUALITY NEPALESE SILK SARI YARN KNITTING $13.95 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 49m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 |
 5 Skeins 1st Quality Soft Recycled Sari Silk Yarn $5.00 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 1h 1m |
 Recycled Pure Silk Sari Yarn 10 nos 1000 grams knit $31.99 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 Recycled Sari Silk Yarn Offer 10 skein lovely yarn $31.99 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 10 Skeins 1000 Grams Himalayan Recycled Sari Silk Yarn $20.01 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 13h 31m |
 New Sari Silk yarn 2 Balls 200 grams Ready to Knit $0.99 Time Remaining: 2d 17h 42m |
 Tweed Silk Spun from Sari Silk Fiber 1 Hank 50gms $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 17h 42m |
 1st Quality Soft Recycled Sari Silk Yarn By the Skein $3.95 Time Remaining: 3d 52m Buy It Now for only: $3.95 |
 New Sari Silk yarn 2 Hank 200 grams KNITTING YARN $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3d 2h 18m |
 New Sari Silk yarn 1 Hank 100 grams KNITTING YARN $4.25 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 2h 22m |
 Tweed Silk Spun from Sari Silk Fiber 1 Hank 50gms $0.99 Time Remaining: 3d 2h 22m |
 1 Quality Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Crochet Yarn 10000gm $199.98 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 33m Buy It Now for only: $199.98 |
 1 Quality Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Crochet Yarn 1000 gm $19.99 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 33m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 1 quality Recycled Sari Silk Fabric Yarn Woven 5000 Gm $99.99 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 33m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 |
 SARI SILK YARN MULTI COLOUR 2 x 100 grams+100G SARI SILK LOOM IN BALL $15.78 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3d 8h 32m |
 1 Quality B Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $2.98 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 50m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 1 Quality D Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $2.98 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 52m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 1 Quality M Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $2.98 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 53m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 1 Quality N Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $2.98 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 54m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 1 Quality T Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $2.98 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 54m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 1 Quality V Rercycled Soft Silk Sari Knit Yarn 100 gm $2.98 Time Remaining: 3d 22h 55m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 SHANTI Sari Silk Yarn Handspun 5 Hanks Easy to Knit $20.00 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 17m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 Sari Silk Ribbon Yarn 3 skeins Multi color 300 Grams $20.00 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 33m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 Recycled Yarn Sari Pure Silk Pattern 10 skeins $31.99 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 Sari Silk Skein Yarn Knitting yarn 10 nos Thread $31.99 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 Sari Skein Recycled Silk Yarn 10 Nos crochet yarn $31.99 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 Super Sale 10 skein Sari silk yarn Recycled pattern $31.99 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 15m Buy It Now for only: $36.99 |
 SHANTI Sari Silk Yarn Handspun 5 Balls Easy to Knit $20.00 Time Remaining: 4d 6h 44m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 450 yds Fair Trade Recycled Sari Silk Yarn ACTUAL PIC Super Premium 101 oz 285g $13.75 Time Remaining: 4d 10h 24m Buy It Now for only: $22.50 |
 SILKINDIAN Sari Silk Yarn 1 Hank 100 Gms BLACK COLOR $0.99 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 28m |
 SILKINDIAN Sari Silk Yarn 1 Hank 100 Gms BABY PINK $9.99 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 28m |
 SARI SILK NEPALESE 100MTS PINK $7.70 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 47m Buy It Now for only: $7.70 |
 SARI SILK NEPALESE 100MTS DEEP PINK $7.70 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 49m Buy It Now for only: $7.70 |
 1 KG SARI RECYCLED SILK YARN KNITTING CROCHET $28.99 Time Remaining: 4d 17h 35m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
 15 KG SARI RECYCLED SILK YARN KNITTING CROCHET YARN $43.99 Time Remaining: 4d 17h 35m Buy It Now for only: $52.99 |
 2 KG SARI RECYCLED SILK YARN KNITTING CROCHET THREAD $56.99 Time Remaining: 4d 17h 42m Buy It Now for only: $62.99 |
 Sari Silk Yarn Handspun Solid Red 2 Hanks Grab It $0.99 Time Remaining: 4d 18h 3m |
 Sari Silk Yarn Handspun Yellow 2 Hanks Grab It $0.99 Time Remaining: 4d 18h 3m |
 700g Himalaya Recycled PURE SARI Silk Yarn Knit $20.99 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 15m Buy It Now for only: $20.99 |
 900g Himalaya Recycled PURE SARI Silk Yarn Knit $23.99 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 15m Buy It Now for only: $23.99 |
 1000g Himalaya Recycled PURE SARI Silk Yarn Knit $22.88 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 15m Buy It Now for only: $22.88 |
 100g Himalaya Recycled PURE SARI Silk Yarn Knit $4.99 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 15m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 800g Himalaya Recycled PURE SARI Silk Yarn Knit $22.99 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 15m Buy It Now for only: $22.99 |
 3000g Himalaya Recycled PURE SARI Silk Yarn Knit $68.99 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 15m Buy It Now for only: $68.99 |
 500g Himalaya Recycled PURE SARI Silk Yarn Knit $14.99 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 15m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 1000g Himalaya Recycled PURE SARI Silk Yarn Knit $49.58 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 15m Buy It Now for only: $49.58 |
Can"t find what you are looking for? Check out these products from Amazon.