Inge Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 I'm having a hard time finding silk material so I can make lots and lots and lots and lots of curtains for my really BIG Garfield (the living room alone has 10 windows). I've tried the usual websites but they don't have many of the color choices I am looking for: pale gold, burgundy, pale peach and pale pink. Also, anyone know which "type" of silk is used for curtains and what is used...hair spray, fabric stiffener on silk? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueirishmoon Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 One of my favorite sellers on ebay sells lovely silk. I like to buy the silk taffetas, dupionis, and habotais, for upholstery and curtains, and she has lots of color choices! User id is silkfabric, and the ebay store is called prism silks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannonc60 Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Maria’s Fabrics sells smaller lots of silk (and other fabric) in all sorts of colours. https://www.mariasfabrics.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Gee, I buy old silk clothes in thrift stores to make my dh curtains. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 I'm just getting into the side hobby of 1/12 dollmaking, costuming. I'm collecting silks for that and also for doing formal, fancy curtains on several large houses. I'm trying to get small amounts of each type of silk so I know the difference between them. I wish someone would sell a sample board. Just my opinion so far, but I think silk taffeta is what you want. I've also bought from prism silks on eBay, she sells remnants which are convenient sizes for me, since I'm still just testing out what I want. I've also bought from China based sellers through eBay and get some really great prices that way. There are sellers from India with good prices too. Just takes a few weeks to get your order. I looked all over my town and surrounding towns and could find no silk in the fabric shops. Thrift stores would be fine but when you want a certain color scheme and type of silk, that would be really hit and miss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Look on amazon for Sue Heasers 1:12 curtain book, it's a great resource. Spray starch is what I've been using, like you would use when you're ironing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 If you're going to be doing a lot of curtains and don't already have one, I would seriously consider investing in the pretty pleater. It's recommended in the book I mentioned as well. I purchased all three sizes and the neatness of my work has improved greatly because of them. My husband raised his eyebrows quite a bit when I told him how much they cost but it was still worth every penny to me This listing is for the one inch size only, probably the most useful to you, but there are three sizes available. https://www.etsy.com/listing/101757403/pretty-pleat-i-large-1-inch-scale-fabric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 You can also make a pleater with a piece of flat board and bamboo skewers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 5 hours ago, WyckedWood said: pretty pleater. Personally, I favor the pin and spray method for a more natural drape. To me the results of the pretty pleater are unnaturally even. No curtain in my real house was ever that perfect. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inge Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Thanks everyone. I don't see where I can answer each of you individually, so here we go: Cynthia, thanks, I am checking out prism silks. Shannon, thanks, I will also check out Maria's fabrics. Karin, I had the same problem. Fabric store in neighboring town said they no longer carry silk so that's no longer an option. I've been "told" to use shantung or taffeta for curtains. Also, last spring I had my local library "borrow" Sue Heaser's book so I could check it out. I remember her mentioning using silk but not which type nor what she uses to stiffen it. I can't get the book back again to check that out. I also made a pretty pleater out of cardboard should I decide to go that route. Kathie B. you don't say what type of spray you use. Right now I have been trying to use pretty shiny nylon (polyester) which isn't working. Here are some pictures of curtains I made for my Harrison. The white fabric is polyester with a fleece backing, the red fabric is stretch velvet. I glued these onto long coffee stir sticks. I thought they looked good. The green curtains are also stretch velvet. I "painted" fabric stiffener on the back so it wouldn't go through and wreck the velvet, then used dowels and pins to shape the curtains. Hair spray faded out the velvet. So I do know how to make the curtains, just didn't know what type of silk or what to use for stiffener. Sooooooooooooo, it won't let me upload (choose files) or drag the file says I'm only allowed 1.17mb. Not sure what to do so will try again on another reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thimble Hall Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 If you start to cruise the thrift stores it doesn't take long to build up a stash of silk,at least it is the case fairly close to me, and you quickly get so you can just brush along the rows of stuff and feel it .I have loads of silk but I truly think my favorite is a peach skin type, it is very soft and drapes beautifully but it doesn't look thin, the peach skin fuzz seems to make it look thicker, so you have the fullness without the thickness if that makes sense. I find a lot of men's shirts made of it and I get a lot of Sari silk too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 6 hours ago, Inge said: Kathie B. you don't say what type of spray you use. Hair spray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 I have found that the cheap lacquer-type hair spray holds like crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Inge, I'll look in my book today and let you know specifically what Heaser recommended. I'm thinking it wasn't too specific tho. They usually just recommend that you use %100 cotton or %100 silk, and then give the usual list of the different types of suitable silk. I think from there it's a personal preference thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L Swearengin Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Men's ties. Check goodwill, thrift stores etc. I grab what I like for future projects. Uh oh ......packed up 3 boxes of material. Might have enough for a while. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inge Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Hey everybody: I live in REDNECK COUNTRY, we have one thrift store and you won't find silk clothes in it. lol Here are the curtains I made for the Harrison that I could not upload yesterday as per my reply: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 49 minutes ago, L Swearengin said: Men's ties. Check goodwill, thrift stores etc. I grab what I like for future projects. Uh oh ......packed up 3 boxes of material. Might have enough for a while. Lol SILK men's ties; the polyester ones are good for upholstery, but won't work for drapes or curtains. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Inge, I also wanted to tell you, your Garfield is coming along beautifully. Not sure how I missed those pictures when they were first posted. Redneck Country....I'm kind of in the same situation lol Ok so from the Heaser book : Spray Stiffener choices: Spray On Fabric Stiffener ( for making roller blinds) Spray Starch Firm Hold Hairspray ( back in the 80s we used to love Aqua net) - I recently heard a designer say that she actually preferred fabric sizing to fabric starch. She said that it gives the fabric fullness and doesn't sit on top of the fabric like starch does. She uses Niagra Sizing brand. After the pleater process she takes the drape to the pinning board, pins and drenches the fabric with Niagra Sizing. I've been using starch on my doll costuming...I'm going to switch to using sizing and see if that works better. Ok, so silk fabric recommends from the Heaser book: Fine silks such as pongee, crepe de Chine and Taffeta. - slub silk (Duponi (sp?) has lines of slub in the weave and makes grand curtains for a formal room. Although stiff it will drape beautifully - translucent silk such as georgette, chiffon and finest pongee are perfect for sheer curtains She also says fine pure cotton but we already knew that and silk was the question. Hope that helps a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inge Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Hi Karin: Did you go on my Garfield album? I have a lot more pictures because I've come a long way on the house but frustrated trying to load pictures to the album. Last time it took over 2 hours and a lot of pictures were duplicated. Just like on here, I couldn't load the pictures of the Harrison curtains last night but could this morning. What do you think of those curtains? Thank you so so much for taking the time to type up all the info from the book. I guess I just assumed silk was silk, not realizing there are so many choices. This will help tho. I'm batting zero on the taffeta for the colors I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 1 hour ago, Inge said: Here are the curtains I made for the Harrison Inge, they are lovely, very formal. Can't wait to see how you furnish these rooms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inge Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Hey Kathie: Thanks, glad you like them. Actually the rooms are finished. As mentioned in my post to Karin, I have more pictures for Harrison and Garfield just have no patience trying to load pictures to the albums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mineejv Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Your curtains look very nice. You did a great job on them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 You're welcome Inge, glad that was useful. Your curtains are very elegant, I like your color choices too! Hope you can locate the fabrics you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 The windows in your Harrison are similar to some of the ones I'll be decorating when I finish my Marquam Hill Mansion. Those big bays. Hope I can do as well as you have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inge Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 Karin, seriously, try the stretch velvet. When I think back to the Victorian days for some reason I think velvet. It was actually easy to work with once I figured out what I was doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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