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Silk Organza for interfacing Why silk?
solveg   Beginner MN USA Member since 2/16/12 Posts: 366	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/30/12 12:23 PM I see very cheap nylon organza in many different colors, but I know you guys are very clear when you specify SILK organza for interfacing, which is harder to find. Why? Especially since I've read in other threads that the stiffness comes from some type of plant residue and can be washed off, while the nylon organza stays stiff after washing?
heathergwo Advanced Beginner CA USA Member since 11/14/11 Posts: 766	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/30/12 12:32 PM If you hold a sample of SILK organza in your hands vs. a cheap POLY organza, you will immediately feel the difference. The silk is much easier to work with, has more shape, smooths easier and is just plain so much better to work with that it is definitely worth the difference in price. I took a class on bound buttonholes and it told us to bring silk organza. Well, JA didn't carry any, so I bought the cheap stuff to go to the class. The instructor ended up giving me some scraps of her silk because mine was so terrible it just wouldn't work the right way to complete the class. You can get decent prices online... it makes a great interfacing or interlining for certain projects. ------ Brother Innovis 1250D Singer Curvy 8763 Brother 1034D Janome 385.19606 Brother 2340CV
solveg   Beginner MN USA Member since 2/16/12 Posts: 366	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/30/12 12:40 PM Ah. Thanks. I'm following everyone's advice, but I just wanted to know why. Especially when I found out it probably wasn't washable.
Sue Anfang   Advanced ON CANADA Member since 4/8/02 Posts: 844	Login to reply to this post In reply to solveg << 1 member likes this. Date: 8/30/12 12:55 PM you can wash silk no problem. ------ http://sewstashsew.wordpress.com/ Sue who used to be Sue Wilson
marymary86 Intermediate GA USA Member since 7/20/08 Posts: 2196	Login to reply to this post In reply to Sue Anfang << Like this post Date: 8/30/12 1:29 PM Heather nailed it. But seriously - order an 1/8 yard of poly and then get some silk. Sew up some samples. You won't order more poly if there's any way you can afford silk. ------ Mary http://checkmatesystem.com
solveg   Beginner MN USA Member since 2/16/12 Posts: 366	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/30/12 1:29 PM (edit: response to Sue. MaryMary sneaked in there--and yes, I'm sticking with silk. Just was curious.) Well, that's what I was curious about. In this other thread the second post reads: Snitched from the back cover of Threads magazine, Nov. 2005, #121: "The crispness of silk organza is due to the natural gum left on fibers during processing; in man-made polyester, the stiffness is engineered." Which sounds like something that can be washed out and you might not even notice once it's sewn in. But now I understand that it's the actual stitching part that makes silk so critical. -- Edited on 8/30/12 1:30 PM -- -- Edited on 8/30/12 1:31 PM --
marymary86 Intermediate GA USA Member since 7/20/08 Posts: 2196	Login to reply to this post In reply to solveg << Like this post Date: 8/30/12 1:39 PM Take my comments with a grain of salt (I've never used silk organza for underlining - I'm familiar with it from my heirloom sewing days where it was often used as ribbon for a baby's bonnet for example.) If you were underlining an entire garment (let's think of a skirt for example) would you want that "engineered" stiffness or would you want the body that would come from the silk? I'm dying to take the Susan Khajle couture class (and I hope I spelled her last name correctly - I'm too lazy to look right now.) To me, it seems like the initial stiffness of the silk would be divine during construction and then the skirt would get even more fabulous after it's hand washed or dry cleaned. Again - I don't know for sure but that's just how it seems to me from the little experience I have. ------ Mary http://checkmatesystem.com
Nikki   Advanced MD USA Member since 4/8/02 Posts: 2425	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/30/12 2:03 PM Degumming silk is something of a chore - it needs to be simmered in a bath with some chemical agents. The organza may degum over time and multiple washings, but there is usually not a huge change in the hand after it is washed a few times. Usually items that are underlined with silk organza aren't tossed into the washing machine on a weekly basis either... If you want to underline entire garments, I do recommend buying a small bolt of organza still on the tube - it stores nicely that way and you can often get a bulk discount (look for sellers like Thai Silks or Dharma Trading). ------ mmmmm woooool
Elona   Advanced CA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7401	Login to reply to this post In reply to solveg << Like this post Date: 8/30/12 2:08 PM Quote: Snitched from the back cover of Threads magazine, Nov. 2005, #121: "The crispness of silk organza is due to the natural gum left on fibers during processing; in man-made polyester, the stiffness is engineered." Which sounds like something that can be washed out and you might not even notice once it's sewn in. But now I understand that it's the actual stitching part that makes silk so critical. It's true: Washing does remove some of the stiffness from silk organza--not all, because sericin gum is mostly a protein, and it takes strong chemicals and heat to denature it. (If anyone is interested in how to de-gum silk yarn, here is a link to that.) That characteristic crispness will be fully maintained only by dry cleaning. Personally, I use silk organza for small, very specific things like bound buttonholes or welt pockets, rather than as an interfacing or underlining (I wash almost everything I make). This fabric is so user friendly and shape-able for functions like these that you wouldn't believe a side-by-side comparison with most synthetics. -- Edited on 8/30/12 2:12 PM --
Debbie Lancaster   Intermediate CA USA Member since 9/18/02 Posts: 1661	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/30/12 2:50 PM I once used silk organza for interfacing a stand-up collar on a silk crepe dress (one of those "it seemed like a good idea at the time" moments), and it became limp after just a few runs through the washing machine. So, no, I wouldn't use it where stiffness is needed and the garment would be washed. ------ Debbie

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