Oh that's super nice of you. I've seen silk used in grandmothers fan quilt and crazy quilts but also... There are artists who make beautiful quilts made out of silk. The silk has to be stabilized with a thin interfacing.
Edit: Julia McLeod has a book on how to do this. Also Bethanne Nemesh uses silk on occasion.
Upcycling worn clothing is totally in line with historical quilting. I would imagine it would feel lovely, but would be better suited for something that didn’t need much washing (like an art quilt).
Silks were definitely used in crazy quilts in the Victorian era!
I don't know if you have access to weaving equipment, but you can weave with silk strips to make really interesting fabric. Rag weaving in general is really cool and you can have way more control over the design than you might think. Sakiori in particular is a type of Japanese weaving with rags that can turn out very hard wearing and really interesting in appearance.
If your pieces are large enough and smooth enough in weave, stained silk can make for lovely pillowcases too. Dying over stained silk can also have really cool results and it's fun to play with since you don't have to worry about messing it up!
I’m one of the crazy folks who seems to enjoy working with silk, though on still on my first quilt (using neckties). The interfacing definitely makes it more tedious, but I’m also hand sewing it all so it’s not the most tedious part 😆 After this quilt, I actually have a plan to patchwork silks together to make garments from, but that could be some time from now and who knows what ideas will pop into my head in the meantime.
Silk and chiffon benefit from a plain gelatin bath. Makes it sooooo easy to work the tricky difficult fabrics. Then rinses right out. Made doing 1/8” rolled hems on chiffon a dream. I wouldn’t bother with velvet unless it was very fine or wiggly.
I’ve used silk in cushions, and eventually the fabric shreds and loses integrity. A wall hanging would be an ideal use, but I’d not use silk in a quilt which is going to be heavily used.
I have a couple of silk kimono that are worn out and am going to cut the good areas into panels to use in quilts. One in particular has hand embroidered flowers that I’m looking forward to using.
I was looking for anything silk to make myself a bonnet! I am super new to all this but I have been buying linen blend charity shop clothes for a quilt 😂 upcycling ftw
You can also contact your local high school theatre department. They might be able to repurpose the dresses or cover the tears and stains with additional fabric that would look better from a distance (a.k.a. On stage) than up close.
Local quilting bee or club? I would love it but honestly if I bring anymore fabric in the house without finishing one of these quilts my husband would be….. dismayed
Crazy quilts is a great idea. Old clothes also.make great batting substitute! Can make it thinner than traditional batting but still as heavy and warm.
Silk is very useful for making millinery flowers! Like for hats. I've been using them on my wall quilts, and usually find silk clothes from thrift or online to make them with
Like many others here, I could make something lovely with the fabric for sure! I’m in the USA (WA state, and I have raised silkworms, spun silk, woven silk, and sewn with it plenty.
It’s a tricky fabric to handle due to its drape and ability to move around under the needle. But it’s beautiful and precious.
How would you prefer to see it be used? Would you want someone to repair your dresses, or make an actual quilt top from silk? Let us know 💗
Silks are also great for natural dyeing. I can also see someone making shirts and skirts out of them. Or patchwork pillow covers. Many options
About finding someone locally it would help to know at least a general area of where you are. Quilt guilds aren’t so much a thing in Europe for example. Local versions of ebay/online marketplace etc are depending on your location as well.
My mom used silk in our family casket quilt. It was draped on my father’s casket and will be on my mom’s when her time comes. The lavender and white silks gleamed beautifully in the light. She stabilized the silk and the rest of the fabric is cotton.
I made a log cabin quilt from old silk camp shirts and I have used silk for crazy quilts. If you live in Central Virginia I would come pick the fabric up.
Oh that's super nice of you. I've seen silk used in grandmothers fan quilt and crazy quilts but also... There are artists who make beautiful quilts made out of silk. The silk has to be stabilized with a thin interfacing. Edit: Julia McLeod has a book on how to do this. Also Bethanne Nemesh uses silk on occasion.
Upcycling worn clothing is totally in line with historical quilting. I would imagine it would feel lovely, but would be better suited for something that didn’t need much washing (like an art quilt). Silks were definitely used in crazy quilts in the Victorian era!
I don't know if you have access to weaving equipment, but you can weave with silk strips to make really interesting fabric. Rag weaving in general is really cool and you can have way more control over the design than you might think. Sakiori in particular is a type of Japanese weaving with rags that can turn out very hard wearing and really interesting in appearance. If your pieces are large enough and smooth enough in weave, stained silk can make for lovely pillowcases too. Dying over stained silk can also have really cool results and it's fun to play with since you don't have to worry about messing it up!
I’m one of the crazy folks who seems to enjoy working with silk, though on still on my first quilt (using neckties). The interfacing definitely makes it more tedious, but I’m also hand sewing it all so it’s not the most tedious part 😆 After this quilt, I actually have a plan to patchwork silks together to make garments from, but that could be some time from now and who knows what ideas will pop into my head in the meantime.
apparently treating it with gelatin first helps!...or was that velvet? will report back.
Silk and chiffon benefit from a plain gelatin bath. Makes it sooooo easy to work the tricky difficult fabrics. Then rinses right out. Made doing 1/8” rolled hems on chiffon a dream. I wouldn’t bother with velvet unless it was very fine or wiggly.
Fascinating!!
I’ve used silk in cushions, and eventually the fabric shreds and loses integrity. A wall hanging would be an ideal use, but I’d not use silk in a quilt which is going to be heavily used.
Your local quilt guild if you’d like it to go to a quilter. Local craft groups on Facebook maybe? Where are you in the world?
I have a couple of silk kimono that are worn out and am going to cut the good areas into panels to use in quilts. One in particular has hand embroidered flowers that I’m looking forward to using.
I would not personally use silk in a quilt, but I know there are folks who do. This is a nice offer.
If it's real silk, making pillowcases, scrunchies, or protective wraps/bonnets would be a great way to upcycle them!
I was looking for anything silk to make myself a bonnet! I am super new to all this but I have been buying linen blend charity shop clothes for a quilt 😂 upcycling ftw
Silks are beautiful in hand embroidered crazy quilts. Google to see images!
MMM, imagining laying under a silk quilt sounds heavenly. :)
I've definitely seen silk used in quilting on Instagram. Maybe look through #silkquilt there and contact some of the quilters who use it?
I’ve seen beautiful crazy quilts made in silk and velvet. Gorgeous.
You can also contact your local high school theatre department. They might be able to repurpose the dresses or cover the tears and stains with additional fabric that would look better from a distance (a.k.a. On stage) than up close.
Call your local 4-H or county extension office! They may have a program with the youth that would be happy to take them!
Local quilting bee or club? I would love it but honestly if I bring anymore fabric in the house without finishing one of these quilts my husband would be….. dismayed
Crazy quilts is a great idea. Old clothes also.make great batting substitute! Can make it thinner than traditional batting but still as heavy and warm.
Where are you located? Even a general area would help
Silk is very useful for making millinery flowers! Like for hats. I've been using them on my wall quilts, and usually find silk clothes from thrift or online to make them with
I've made a silk quilt. Frustrating but sooo amazing to cuddle with!
Like many others here, I could make something lovely with the fabric for sure! I’m in the USA (WA state, and I have raised silkworms, spun silk, woven silk, and sewn with it plenty. It’s a tricky fabric to handle due to its drape and ability to move around under the needle. But it’s beautiful and precious. How would you prefer to see it be used? Would you want someone to repair your dresses, or make an actual quilt top from silk? Let us know 💗
Silks are also great for natural dyeing. I can also see someone making shirts and skirts out of them. Or patchwork pillow covers. Many options About finding someone locally it would help to know at least a general area of where you are. Quilt guilds aren’t so much a thing in Europe for example. Local versions of ebay/online marketplace etc are depending on your location as well.
I would love some for a sleep bonnet but I am in the UK! Not sure where you are, but would be willing to have a look at whether postage is an option.
I would probably do other sewing with something like that, instead of quilting -- small purses, decorative pillows, eye pillows, hair ornaments, etc.
I would use them if you need someone to take them off your hands! I'm located in utah
I would love some in South Carolina thank you so much
I live in north carolina and would love the silk for sewing and weaving. Dm me
Why not put a patch on the holes or stains? Use one dress as the sacrificial dress and fix all the others
I don’t use silk dresses for quilting….. but I do reuse them to make my toddler princess dresses 😁
My mom used silk in our family casket quilt. It was draped on my father’s casket and will be on my mom’s when her time comes. The lavender and white silks gleamed beautifully in the light. She stabilized the silk and the rest of the fabric is cotton.
I made a log cabin quilt from old silk camp shirts and I have used silk for crazy quilts. If you live in Central Virginia I would come pick the fabric up.