Silk is mesmerizing, luscious, shining, beautiful. For weavers, silk yarn comes in a wide variety of forms, and the resulting woven textiles can range from a tissue-fine fabric you can read through to tough, heavy fabrics suitable for wall hangings, rugs, and coats.
A protein fiber whose amino acid composition is close to that of the human skin, silk can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp. Because it breathes, silk is comfortable to wear next to the skin in both summer and winter.
However, silk has a reputation for being tricky to work with. The fine threads can be slippery and fiddly to weave with, and silk requires special care during wet-finishing and subsequent washing. We're here to walk you through the complete process of silk weaving in this free eBook, Guide to Weaving with Silk!
What's Inside this Silk Weaving eBook?
The Ancient Secrets of Silk Production, and Why They Matter to Weavers
The Discerning Weaver's Guide to Silk by Michael Cook Silk can be an investment, so it’s good to be an educated buyer when shopping for silk yarn. Silk yarn can be divided into two main categories: reeled silk and spun silk. Then there's silk noil, which can be woven into lovely fabric if you know how to use it. You'll also learn about silk gum and raw silk.
This detailed article shows you the difference between the various types of silk and suggests which types of silk weaving yarn to look out for. You'll be a discerning silk weaver in no time!
Everything You Should Know About Silk Weaving and Caring For Your Silk Handwovens
Weaving and Caring for Silk by Susan Du Bois Don't weave silk until you know how to care for it! Although you may be accustomed to buying silk clothing labeled “Dry Clean Only,” you can actually wet-finish and wash silk. After all, silk has been in use for more than five thousand years and the modern-day dry-cleaning process didn’t begin until the mid-eighteenth century! Washing silk requires a bit of care but is not difficult. Learn how it should be treated in this guide.
Start to Weave Silk with this Free Pattern!
Ombre Silk Shawl by Susan E Horton This silk shawl works up beautifully on a rigid-heddle loom. The use of direct warping eliminates the need for a warping board, cross, and all the other time-consuming aspects of traditional warping. It's simple to warp, simpler to weave, and allows you to use a silk boucle thread if you so desire. Often, weavers are afraid to use boucle in the warp, but you can do it with a rigid heddle. Don't miss Susan's tips for finishing the boucle ends so they don't fray!
Many weavers dream of weaving with silk, but are scared away by the idea that silk is expensive, tricky to weave, and difficult to care for. Silk can be expensive (though some is quite affordable!), but there's nothing to be afraid of, as long as you follow this guide to choosing, weaving, and caring for silk. And it's a wonderful, strong fiber to weave!