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Conversational Threads

LOOKING FOR SILK FABRIC

JUNKO | Posted in Fabric and Trim on

HI!  MY NAME IS JUNKO IDA AND I live in British Columbia, Canada.  I have a passion for sewing SILK pieces together to create a larger piece.  I particularly love a Japanese print and in a medium weight.  I also love bright colors and small prints and need variety, not quantity.  I am looking for a supplier of SILK but am having difficulty.   Could you please help?  Thanks a lot!

Replies

  1. sanpancho | | #1

    Dear Ida,
    Try http://www.ichiroya.com -They have new listings daily of
    wonderful Japanese silks.
    sanpancho

    1. JUNKO | | #5

      Hello sanpancho!  Thank you so much.  I love the site and will check it further.  How do you know about this site and have you purchased any fabrics from it?  I am new to buying on-line so I don't even know how to.  I enjoyed the site very much.  Please tell me what your passion is in FABRIC or ART or whatever.

      Thank you so much!  Look forward to hearing from you.

      Junko Ida in British Columbia, Canada

      1. sanpancho | | #7

        Hi Ida,
        Glad to hear that the site was useful to you-
        I think it's a wonderful site too and I check it on
        a regular basis. They list new items daily
        and I often find inspiration looking at the incredible
        fabrics. No, I haven't ordered anything from from
        them yet- It seems the piece I want is always sold!
        You might be able to find more sites of interest
        to you by searching under' Japanese fabric' or used
        or 'used kimonos'. Good luck. sanpancho

      2. Barbaran8 | | #8

        try http://www.ahkimono.com, or drive down to Puyallup, Washington this weekend for the Sewing expo, and look there stuff over in person. another place to mail order silk from is http://www.thaisilk.com.

        1. JeanetteR | | #9

          A really good supplier is http://www.hansson-silks.co.uk  they do mail order and have a fabulous range.  Jeanette

          1. JUNKO | | #10

            Thanks Jeanette!  I will browse the web site.  Do you sew with silk? I have a passion for sewing beautiful silk fabric.  I love working with it because it is beautiful, feels lovely and looks fabulous.  Thank you very much for your reply.  Junko Ida in British Columbia, Canada

          2. JeanetteR | | #11

            Dear Ida,

            Glad to be of help. I found it though Google searches and a lot of pointers from the Threads discussion I started when I was searching for silk damask for the background fabric to embroider onfor an Elizabethan Sweetbag.  It was on the cover of a old issue of Inspirations, an Australian publication.

            Jeanette

             

             

            Edited 3/10/2005 7:57 am ET by Jeanette

  2. FitnessNut | | #2

    Ida, where are you located? I would imagine that there would be a great variety of silks available in Vancouver, particularly in the garment district.

  3. robbi | | #3

    Ida,

     

    Please tell me what sewing machine and model you use for sewing your silk fabric.  I am looking for a sewing machine to use for hemming silk for scarves, nightgowns, and similar projects with that weight fabric.  The few mechanical sewing machines I have tried pucker the material and I do not know what sewing machines are available and not too costly. I live in Connecticut on the coast.   Thanks.  Roberta

    1. JUNKO | | #4

      Hi Robbi!  Thanks for your interest in Sewing with Silk fabrics.  I agree with you on all the problems sewing with silk.  Myself, I have had no success on a regular sewing machine.  For my project, I sew silk pieces together using a BERNINA SERGER.  My friend has a  Bernina regular sewing machine and it is not that easy.  I think one must have a very expensive industrial sewing machine to sew silk properly.  It is so difficult isn't it.  My sewing is not practical it is artistic and I will be happy to share my style with you.  I am still problem solving.  If you want, I could send you a sample of my work and then we can communicate further so send me your mailing address.  I am happy to talk about sewing with silk.  Look forward to your reply.

      JUNKO (first name) Ms. Junko Ida

      IDA (last name)

      PO BOX 174

      I live in New Denver, British Columbia Canada V0G 1S0

      1. robbi | | #6

        Ida,

        I would appreciate seeing a sample of your silk sewing.  Please send it to me at:  R. Willenkin, 255 Neck Road, Madison, CT 06443 USA

        I understand a serger is a very hard machine to learn to use.  Did you find it to be so?  Is it very expensive?  What type of thread do you use with silk?  Does your serger have 4 spools, or what?  What size needle does it have?  Can you do a blind hem stitch, zigzag, or overcast on your serger?  Have you tried using the sheerer silk material; the type for silk slips, nightgowns, gowns, scarfs? 

        I appreciate all the help you can give me since I do not know where to start looking or how to machine sew on silk.  It is such a beautiful material and the Italians, Swiss, Chinese, and East Indians silk screen such beautiful patterns/colors.  It is truly an art form which I think is largely unappreciated in America.  Thanks again.

        Robbi

        1. JUNKO | | #12

          Hi Robbi!  I will send you a sample and photo of my silk pieces.  I use a variety of pieces and sew them together to create a larger piece.  Thank you for your interest and address.  I will send you the picture of the Bernina Serger that I  use.  It is not difficult but it takes a little time to get the hang of it.  It was $3000 Canadian which is very expensive.  I will keep in touch with you.  Thanks for your interest and I agree with you on the most beautiful fabric ever for feel and color.

          1. MarshaK | | #13

            Hi Ida,

            A good Canadian source for Silk fabrics is G&S Dye out in Ontario. Web site is http://www.gsdye.com I don't know if you like to dye your own fabric, this is primarily what they have, undyed silk fabric, scarves, etc. and dyes. They also have a nice line of Chinese brocade and a great Annual sale in August, some items are up to 40% off.

            MarshaK.

          2. bcool | | #14

            I have just started dying and painting on fabrics and appreciate your lead on the un-dyed silks.  It's becoming a passion for me!  Do you dye fabrics?    bcool

          3. MarshaK | | #15

            Hi, yes I do dye fabrics, and ribbons and yarns, almost anything that can be dyed. Then there is foiling on the fabric and stencilling and stamping, list goes on. Since you are in the States, Thai Silks is a great source for silk fabric, their service is great. I've ordered from them several times since January and received my order quickly. You can order sample swatches which is good for determining the weight of the silk. Their assortment of scarves is one of the better ones that I seen.

            MarshaK.

    2. mimi | | #17

      Robbi:  I have just finished the silk charmeuse layer of my daughters wedding dress and am starting on the silk chiffon layers. I have had no problem using a Schmetz needle # 9on both silks.  The puckering may be caused by burrs on your needle (from running over pins, maybe?) and should clear up when you put a new needle in.  Make sure you are using a sharp needle and not a ball point needle.

      My machine is not new, either.  It is a Kenmore mechanical, about 15 years old.  Still works great!

      Some great books for reference:   Linnen and Cotton:  Classic sewing techniques for great results  and Bridal Couture:  Fine sewing techniques for Wedding Gowns and Evening Wear, both by Susan Khalje.  All the little secrets you need for sewing with silk and other high end fabrics are in here!

    3. User avater
      jamama | | #19

      You must look at Bernina machines. They are one of the very best for sewing fine silks and all other weight fabrics with no tension problems. It is worth the extra money you will spend if you are serious about your work. In other words in sewing machines, you get what you pay for. so spend a bit more for good quality. I use a Juki overlock as well to do rolled hems on fine silks and neat serging. 

      1. JeanetteR | | #20

        Ida,

        To answer your question more fully, I started sewing for myself at 12 (including 2 wedding dresses ;)   ).  These days I tend to black-belt shopping instead of sewing as I have five y/o twins, and am a plus size, but doing WW.  I read a long time ago that the Queen always has natural fibres for her clothes, and that's what I do too.  It's Autumn here, so all my long sleeve linen shirts are out and getting use.

        Nothing beats silk though for sheer hand, flowand sheen, and I love sewing with it both for garments, wedding dresses and for background fabrics for my 'stumpwork' embroidery.  Hey, I just got a second for my clock at the Royal Easter Show!!

        I hope that site was of use.  They are a simply marvellous supplier, and of the best quality.

        Jeanette

  4. juliamae | | #16

    You might look up Waechter's Silk Shop in Asheville NC http://www.waechters.com/. Joyce Yarling, the owner, recently ordered a supply of my original girl's jumper dress pattern. Today I looked to see whether she has it posted yet. She has not done that yet, but I did see some beautiful silks, etc, fabrics. They have been in business for ~3/4 of a century, must be doing something right.

  5. User avater
    jamama | | #18

    try Thai Silks out of Los Altos, Ca. They are on-line too and will send samples. I order from them and have had great sucess.

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