Handpainted Silk for Quilting

Have you ever wanted to create your own fabric designs for quilting? Learn how to dye your own silk using techniques from an ancient Japanese method used to create kimono fabrics in a style that dates back to as early 700 A.D.

In this tradition, a special smooth wax is brushed onto the silk using a natural bristle brush as a resist to the dye. Dyes are also brushed onto the fabric in the areas where that color is a desired part of the design. This technique differs from batik which is known for its crackled appearance and is usually dip-dyed.

For a visual graphic of the layering of dye and wax as described in steps 7, 11, 13, 15 and 16, please see this special dyeing section on www.lindagass.com.

Steps:
1. Pre-wash the silk to remove any sizing or other fabric treatments, iron it to dry.

4. Stretch a small piece of silk on an embroidery hoop for testing dye combinations.

6. Brush a wash of clean water onto the stretched silk using the foam brush.

7. Brush your first layer of dye onto the wet silk using the watercolor brushes. Before the silk begins to dry, blend the dye into the silk using the blending brush.

8. Wait for the silk to dry completely.

9. While the silk is drying, put the beeswax and paraffin in an electric deep frying pan in a well ventilated area and set the temperature to approximately 250 degrees. The wax should melt but it should not be smoking. Getting the wax to the exact temperature in your electric frying pan requires some experimentation so allow time to figure this out. The perfect temperature for the wax is hot enough so that the wax paints onto the silk without forming a whitish border yet isn't so hot that it begins smoking. Test the wax on newspaper. Safety Note: Paraffin is a petroleum product and the fumes are toxic. Keep a cover on the wax pot when you are not using the wax and make sure to work in a well ventilated area or use a respirator.

10. Dip the natural bristle brush into the melted wax and swirl around in the wax for 2 minutes. This prepares the brush for painting the wax smoothly onto the silk. Do not leave the brush sitting in the wax pot—this will burn the bristles and ruin your brush. Always hold the brush in the liquid wax and avoid brushing it along the metal of the pot.

14. Wait for the silk to dry completely.

15. Apply another layer of wax to the design.

16. Continue applying layers of dye and wax until the desired effect is achieved.

17. Allow the silk to dry overnight and then steam set the dyes according to the dye manufacturer's instructions.

• Use nylon monofilament for quilting this fabric to allow the dyed fabric to shine. For extra sparkle, try rayon thread.

• Use high-loft batting for heavier quilting (figure I).