54" x 54" Hermes silk to stretch

[charming]

I finished reading the two excellent threads on stretching/mounting delicate silk fabrics, but the discussions were centered on smaller, 34" x 36", sizes. So If possible, I would like some advice on stretching this Hermes silk fabric. I thought about pinning it to a foamboard backing if I could find some foamcore large enough, or putting it on a stretcher bar. The articles gave me some potential ideas for using backing underneath the silk, but it would still mean stapling the fabric.

Hoping someone can give me some insights.

 

[Ylva]

I would not pin anything silk
This is a good candidate for direct contact overlay
If there is a stitched border, you could stitch it to washed muslin and stretch
It will need glazing. Static of plexiglass is your friend in DCO but not in stitched as it might pull the center of the scarf towards the acrylic
Of course, museum optium is not static and works well

 

[neilframer]

I would not pin anything silk
This is a good candidate for direct contact overlay
If there is a stitched border, you could stitch it to washed muslin and stretch

I agree.
I have done a number of Hermes silk scarves over the years.
Pinning it can cause runs in the silk. (and that can't be fixed..)
Most of the ones that I did had stitched borders and I was able to use the finest needle and carefully stitch thru the existing border stitches.
I have also done a few as DCO's with Optium.

 

[Prints Brandon]

I've used a fabric specific double sided tape and it has worked wonderfully and takes 1/100th of the time

 

[Ylva]

and it can never be reversed as the nasty sticky residue of the tape will get into the fabric itself

DCO is fast and easy enough and fully reversible

 

[Jim Miller]

Be sure to caution the customer about the sensitivity of silk to light. In addition to the invisible UV that can be blocked, all other wavelengths are destructive to silk, as well.

Aside from potential fading and color shift, light makes silk brittle over time.

 

[Rick Granick]

Be sure to caution the customer about the sensitivity of silk to light. In addition to the invisible UV that can be blocked, all other wavelengths are destructive to silk, as well.

Aside from potential fading and color shift, light makes silk brittle over time.

I always caution customers about that, and point out the Asian textiles exhibits down at the Art Museum are in extremely low light to extend their longevity. Even those lights don't come on until someone walks into the room and triggers the motion-detector switch.
Rick

 

[charming]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your expertise. I turned down the project for a couple of reasons. First is the availability of 60" plexi in Vancouver, second I'm a one-man-shop and have no desire to try to position silk under 60" plexi, and third I doubt the customer would be able to afford the price.

 

[Nikodeumus]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your expertise. I turned down the project for a couple of reasons. First is the availability of 60" plexi in Vancouver, second I'm a one-man-shop and have no desire to try to position silk under 60" plexi, and third I doubt the customer would be able to afford the price.

This was the wisest decision.

It is OK to say "I'm sorry, but your request is outside my experience or ability. I do not want to risk harming your property."

Not every framer has to be skilled in every possible framing technique.

Oversized / difficult projects like this require enormous investment in time, space, personell and resources.
You could do more " regular" jobs in the same amount of work time and make more profit than one "gotta solve this problem" job.

And yes, some of the time when someone brings in a particularly difficult "problem", they are shocked that the business would want to charge what it is worth for the above extra investment in time and resources.