How to Create Handpainted Silk Scarfs

Materials:

14" x 72" silk chiffon scarf
Lumiere fabric paints
Dye-na-flow silk dyes
squeeze bottles and metal tips
water
wood frame (to stretch silk)
Synthropol
hair conditioner
3-prong silk tacks
paper
iron and ironing board
assorted natural hair bristle brushes

Steps:

1. Wash the silk scarf by hand in cold water to remove any gums or impurities that will interfere with the dyes. Wash with Synthropol and allow the silk to air-dry.

3. Fill empty squeeze bottles with fabric paint for each desired color. Attach a small metal tip to each plastic squeeze bottle to draw fine lines.

4. Draw the calla lily flower motif directly onto the silk with white fabric paint (figure B).

5. Draw leaves onto the silk with green metallic fabric paint (figure C). Let the silk dry completely.

Dyes

6. Mix the dye colors according to manufacturer's directions.

7. Test the colors on paper first. The effect on paper is almost identical to the effect on silk.

8. Brush a little water around the stamen of each flower to attain a watercolor effect (figure D). The fabric paint will act like a resist on the silk; keeping colors confined within the areas that were drawn with fabric paint.

9. Next, paint the claret color dye on areas that were brushed on with water and allow the dye to bleed into those areas.

11. Paint the leaves in a similar fashion with a deep green dye, using the water to create a lighter area in the middle of each leaf (figure F).

12. Paint the background a deep violet dye (figure G). With a bigger brush, use the dye full strength in some areas and water it down in others. This creates the wonderful variations.

13. Let the silk dry completely.

14. Set the dyes by ironing the silk (figure H).

15. Hand wash the silk in cold water using hair conditioner to soften the silk.

16. Hang the silk to dry. Then press again.

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