Sewing with Silk: Stabilizing Silk
Stabilizing silk is a key step in working with this slithery fabric. Expert Katrina Walker introduces some key tools for making every kind of silk easy to work with, in this episode of the Sewing with Silk video series.
Temporary stabilizers are applied to the fabric to make it easier to cut, sew, and press. The product is then washed out. Liquid or spray stabilizers are useful, especially for working with fine, drapey fabrics such as chiffon or pile fabrics such as velvet.
You can dissolve water-soluble stabilizer film intended for machine embroidery and apply it to a slippery or unstable fabric. There are also products especially for stabilizing fabrics.
The key takeaway is that you can use these stabilizers only on silk fabrics you intend to wash afterward.
How to stabilize those silk projects you want to dry clean?
If you plan to dry-clean a project, you can try fusible interfacing or underlining with silk organza. In some cases, you may need to stabilize just the areas where you'll be sewing--so just a strip of organza selvage along a seamline might be adequate. For cutting, you can pin slippery or unstable silks to tissue paper, and cut through the fabric and paper at the same time. Bear in mind that you can use these liquid stabilizers on fabrics such as charmeuse, georgette, and chiffon, to make cutting and construction easier, then wash the product out and dry clean from then on.
Carol Fresia, Editor, Threads magazine