How to Steam Fix Silk Dyes Properly

There are very many sites on the web with tips andpaper about 2 hand spans away from the pole, taking
hints on how to steam fix pieces of silk that havecare that they are not too near the edge or touching
been painted by hand and there seems to be a lot ofeach other. Keep them all at least a couple of inches
confusion as to exactly what is involved. This article isaway from each other.
going to take you through the process of how toThen starting with the pole in your hands, slowly roll the
steam fix silk dyes properly so that you don't ruin yourpaper and silk together, forming a long sausage. At the
work.other end, roll up another 2 hand spans of empty
When you have taken the time to create a beautifulpaper for protection of the silk. Secure the roll with
piece of artwork, the last thing you want is to have itmasking tape.
spoiled by experimenting with methods of fixing theIn order to make sure that your steam fixing is done
dyes permanently into the silk. And let's be honest,properly, this roll needs to be suspended in a steam
there are very many people offering tips and tricksbath for around 3 hours, depending on how thick it is.
with methods that just aren't reliable enough.Ideally you would now hang it inside a professional silk
I don't know about you, but I prefer not to play Russiansteamer which would ensure that your roll does not
roulette every time I want to fix my work. I need totouch the edges and is kept safe from water droplets.
know that the fixing is going to be clean, reliable andThe device is closed, switched on and the thermostat
produce fabulous results, without me having to worryset. It will safely and correctly steam your silk dyes
about water droplets or fading.and permanently fix them.
The first thing you need to pay attention to whenIf you don't have access to a steaming device, this is
steam fixing is that there are no grains of salt stuck towhere things begin to get tricky. You will have to roll
the fabric and that any coloured gutta you have usedyour artwork up without the pole and make a package
has been iron fixed from the back. I also recommendthat will fit inside a steaming pot that can sit on top of
that you take care not to steam silk that is crushed oryour cooker. This is obviously a huge improvisation, as
full of folds as these can get steamed into the fabricany large pieces of work need to be folded up which
and are difficult to get out.will potentially create creases and folds. There is also
You'll need some paper, ideally unprinted newspaper, tothe danger of any water droplets getting inside the
roll out and lay your silk on. This will absorb any dyespackage which will ruin your work. For this reason I
that bleed out of your artwork during the steamingdon't endorse home-made methods but the choice is
process. If you are going to use newspaper, be surealways down to you the individual. I hear again and
that it is at least 6 weeks old, otherwise the print isagain of people running into difficulties steaming silk
likely to mark your silk. It's definitely not my first choice.dyes on the hob.f you would like any assistance in
There are companies which sell paper ideal for thissteaming your silk paintings professionally in a steam
online, so have a look and see what you can find. Onefixer, please have a look at my website and blog. I look
end of the paper is then attached to a metal pole withforward to hearing from you.
masking tape. Start to lay your pieces of silk onto the