| There are two types of silk 'paint'; iron-fix and | | | | can attach the silk to the frame with 3-pronged pins |
| steam-fix. Iron-fix are great for beginners as they don't | | | | which will not damage the silk. Place the pins in the |
| require a complicated process in order to fix the | | | | corners first, then either continue stretching the silk with |
| colours to the silk. The paints bond to the silk and can | | | | more pins, or use a strong masking tape to stretch |
| be blended and diluted to create different effects. | | | | and stick each side in turn. |
| When the painting is finished it can be ironed on the | | | | The mounted silk can be turned upside down so you |
| reverse and it's done. However, because it only bonds | | | | can trace your design on with a fabric pen or |
| to the silk, your silk will lose some of its lustre and will | | | | permanent pen. Bear in mind that a water-soluble |
| feel slightly stiff. For this reason it is not so good to use | | | | fabric marker will give you an 'invisible' outline, but it will |
| on scarves. | | | | also disappear as soon as the dye goes over it! There |
| Steam-fix dyes penetrate the silk deeply and leave it | | | | are many problems and options in silk painting and the |
| soft and lustrous. A wider variety of colours and | | | | fun is in the many hours you'll spend trying to work |
| textures can be achieved by using alcohol, salt, sugar | | | | them out! |
| etc. However, the silk needs to be steamed in order to | | | | Effects |
| fix the colours - this can be a fairly arduous process | | | | Pin a piece of silk onto your frame. Now have a play - |
| unless you have invested in a professional silk steamer | | | | experiment with anything and everything you can think |
| (currently about £600). Several people offer a | | | | of, wax, gutta, blending...what happens when you drop |
| steaming service which can be usefull if you are | | | | a pile of rock salt on damp silk and leave it? Or sugar? |
| serious about using steam-fix dyes, and it is possible to | | | | What about if you put surgical spirit on your brush and |
| steam small pieces yourself if you are careful (be | | | | flick it at some damp silk? What if you paint an area |
| prepared for a lot of failures before you get the | | | | yellow then blob a bit of pink on it? Or paint a bit blue |
| formula right!). | | | | and add a drop of water? Just play, it's the best way |
| Setting up | | | | to learn! |
| Silk must be stretched before it is painted on. You can | | | | If all this sounds a bit complicated and you just want to |
| make or buy a wooden frame or even use the back | | | | dip your toe into the world of silk painting, Japan Crafts |
| of an old picture frame. A recent alternative is | | | | has a great starter kit which does not require any |
| self-adhesive mountboard for very small pictures. You | | | | special equipment. |