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Member since 4/19/10
Posts: 294
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Posted on: 9/10/11 11:16 AM ET
Does anyone have any useful tips for working with chiffon (and very thin silks in general)? I love wearing the stuff, but working with it makes me tear my hair out! (Cutting ... sewing ...hemming ...)
  
Member since 4/1/08
Posts: 16107
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Posted on: 9/10/11 11:32 AM ET
In reply to patternaddict
You're in luck. Check this thread:

Beginner's Forum > finishing seams on chiffon fabric

The last post was on 9/4/11 and it was started by rmusic1. Lena Merrin included her trick with gelatin that will make your day. Three cheers for Lena!


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Each fallen petal reveals a life pollinated by a colony
and nurtured by The Master Gardener.
  
Member since 4/19/10
Posts: 294
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Posted on: 9/10/11 12:43 PM ET
Thanks for the tip. I checked the thread and it looks intriguing. Just a bit concerned about using it with dry-clean only fabrics.
  
Member since 7/23/07
Posts: 7276
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Posted on: 9/10/11 2:44 PM ET
Silk is actually incredibly tough. I buy all silk underwear here NAYY that I have had for years. They get washed on delicate in the machine (love the front loader for this - much gentler) and the odd time end up in the dryer by mistake and most are going strong in spite of intensive use over their lives. Remember people wore and washed silk for a looooong time before dry cleaning was invented. When in doubt, do a swatch test.
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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
  
Member since 4/19/10
Posts: 294
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Posted on: 9/10/11 3:06 PM ET
Yes, I've had good luck washing some silk fabrics. I've had others fall completely to pieces in the washer. Let's just say that I'm cautious.

(Remember, back before there was dry-cleaning people tended to just not wash their clothing -- especially the outer garments. And if you could afford silk, you could also afford the elaborate embroidery and beading and lace and all else that made the garment even less washable -- esp. back when washing meant scrubbing on a washboard and boiling on the stove!)
  
Member since 7/23/07
Posts: 7276
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Posted on: 9/10/11 4:15 PM ET
In reply to patternaddict
So true. I remember our grade 8 home ec teacher telling us that perspiration rots silk and so does anti perspirant. It did not inspire us to sew with it! But not much silk was around back then as China was closed and we had all the new "miracle' fabrics. I sewed a LOT of polyester in the 70's!
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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
  
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