Hi, I want to make silk underwear but I’m not quite sure wat kind of silk to buy. I’ll probably get it by mail order to I need to be sure I know what I’m ordering first.
I know crepe de chine would be good, and dupion would not be OK. Georgette is not what I want either, and I don’t think pongee is right. However I think Habutai is the stuff you get to do silk painting on – that doesn’t seem quite right either, but maybe it is at the right weight.
Can someone suggest types of silk that would be appropriate please? Cheers, Brenn
Replies
I think charmeuse would be a great choice. The weight of charmeuse is right; it's lightweight, but with enough strength for the project. Charmeuse is wonderful to wear...so soft against the skin.
If you'll be wanting to wash your lingerie, pretreat the charmeuse by hand-washing it in cool water with a drop of baby shampoo. Then rinse it several times and lay it flat to dry. You'll be able to wash your finished garments in the same manner.
Shannon
Charmeuse You will LOVE it
Charmeuse is a great place to start!!!
Don't neglect batiste du soie (silk batiste), broadcloth, or muslin. I have also had great luck using very fine 'China silk" my favorite store (High Fashion Fabrics in Houston) sells as a lining. [They keep telling me it's just lining fabric, and act all shocked when I tell them that I sleep in it, but they are never too shocked to keep selling it to me. h-m-m-m.]
Also, silk jersey is a wonderful soft, snuggly knit for cuddling. Being warm and comfy is always sexy.
There are some great internet sources for silk fabrics. The next-to-back page of Threads lists many.
You are going to be so happy with yourself once you figure this all out!
I totally agree with those who suggested charmeuse for lingerie and you're correct that crepe de chine would work as well. China silk is also nice - it may also be called habutai and can be available in several weights. See if you can get your hands on a sample. Trust your sense of touch to let you know what you'd like to wear next to your skin. Think soft. Some of these fabrics can be very slippery to sew with, moreso if they are bias....something to keep in mind. Someone suggested using a silk jersey, which I think would be lovely for lingerie too.
Everyone should call Dharma Trding 1-800-542 5227 and ask for a catalog. You can get swatches of silk and know just exactly what you are looking for. The catalog just makes interesting reading also.
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