I wanted to include these pictures of a hand washing extravaganza I had one rainy and dull Friday night a couple of weeks ago.
I will try to publish part II tomorrow...I need to steam some of these in order to get good photos, and I need to buy batteries!!
I know many of you are afraid to wash your silks, and some of us get really worried when we see color in the water...
So, I am including some pictures to help ease your fears, if you are on the fence about washing your silken treasures.
These scarves are slightly different in that they are made using fiber reactive dyes, and painted, rather then silkscreened...but the dyes are set using a steam process, and of course the material is generally the same.
The first pictures here are of a hand made silk mousseline scarf, which I painted myself years ago. I am also including a close up of the hem area. This is different from an Hermes carre, because when this scarf was painted, the hem had already been handrolled...consequently, a lot of color settled in the hem area.
OK, lets start!
I used LeBlanc silk wash, and a little white vineagar.
Here it is spread out a little. this was doing using wax and several stages of painting.
Close up of the hem area, where you can see some color concentrated... You can also see the the hem got a little flat when it was dry cleaned after painting. This is the only time I dry clean them, it is to remove any excess wax that remains after the process of ironing the silk between newsprint.. I put this away right after and only just got it out again after 15 years!! It really needed a wash!! Same for the other hand painted scarves I will show....
Now!! Into the water!! This scarf smelled musty....so I used warm water!
This is not for the weak of heart!!
The important thing here is to keep the water moving, and change it out if it gets really dark...eventually, you get this...
Next....a china silk scarf.....similar to twill....
I will try to publish part II tomorrow...I need to steam some of these in order to get good photos, and I need to buy batteries!!
I know many of you are afraid to wash your silks, and some of us get really worried when we see color in the water...
So, I am including some pictures to help ease your fears, if you are on the fence about washing your silken treasures.
These scarves are slightly different in that they are made using fiber reactive dyes, and painted, rather then silkscreened...but the dyes are set using a steam process, and of course the material is generally the same.
The first pictures here are of a hand made silk mousseline scarf, which I painted myself years ago. I am also including a close up of the hem area. This is different from an Hermes carre, because when this scarf was painted, the hem had already been handrolled...consequently, a lot of color settled in the hem area.
OK, lets start!
I used LeBlanc silk wash, and a little white vineagar.
Here it is spread out a little. this was doing using wax and several stages of painting.
Close up of the hem area, where you can see some color concentrated... You can also see the the hem got a little flat when it was dry cleaned after painting. This is the only time I dry clean them, it is to remove any excess wax that remains after the process of ironing the silk between newsprint.. I put this away right after and only just got it out again after 15 years!! It really needed a wash!! Same for the other hand painted scarves I will show....
Now!! Into the water!! This scarf smelled musty....so I used warm water!
This is not for the weak of heart!!
The important thing here is to keep the water moving, and change it out if it gets really dark...eventually, you get this...
Next....a china silk scarf.....similar to twill....
as long as you swish, change the water, and are careful!!
I have a dingy e-bay one too, and I sure have been putting that thing off. The mousseline 
you painted is stunning! BTW! I am glad you are getting back to it!
