I tried the 'silk' setting on my iron between 2 pieces of release paper... wrinkles still there. I am wondering if I can put it in the heat press on low heat between 2 release boards? It's newer silk embroidery brought back from China and there is adhesive residue on the back, mostly around the perimeter. Help!
Opinions Wanted I need to iron silk
- Thread starter skye
- Start date
Not something I have done for a long time. I did a big silk painting (Possibly of Asian origin) once about 30x24ish. To get it flat I dry-mounted it. Not something to do with anything of value, but this was a 'tourist' piece. I used dry-mount film pre-mounted on board. It worked fine apart from getting a hair under the silk. This is when I found out that you can peel the silk off - which I did. Thing is, once you have mounted the film firmly you have a tacky board. (I suppose nowadays you could use a ready-made sticky board). You need only give it a quick squeeze in the press at low temp. It won't bond it hard like paper, but unlike paper the fabric won't expand/contract so it will stay put. And it can be removed easily.
It's a compromise between appearance and preservation. Stick it down and lose the crease or don't stick and live with it.
My exp is that a hard cease in silk is nigh-on impossible to get out completely.
It's a compromise between appearance and preservation. Stick it down and lose the crease or don't stick and live with it.
My exp is that a hard cease in silk is nigh-on impossible to get out completely.
artfolio
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
That adhesive may well cause grief if you apply any heat to the silk.
I have successfully mounted small ones using a sticky board lie "perfect mount" but you may get bubbles around areas of thick embroidery. I dealt with one large one by having a seamstress sew 2" wide strips all around it then I used staples through the strips to tension it.
I have successfully mounted small ones using a sticky board lie "perfect mount" but you may get bubbles around areas of thick embroidery. I dealt with one large one by having a seamstress sew 2" wide strips all around it then I used staples through the strips to tension it.
Very True. And any stray threads on the back will stick out like a sore thumb. Also, the adhesive surface is quite shinny and will alter the appearance of any unworked portions.
I would not do anything if something is beyond my expertise. You are the framer. You frame. In this case, up to the customer to make it look better.
I would never iron true silk. Any glue residue will become a bigger problem with heat applied to it.
I would never iron true silk. Any glue residue will become a bigger problem with heat applied to it.
That residue was probably from the glued silk border that was on it. Those silk paintings are known for it and it is always the problem getting it flat. Quite impossible really. Sounds like someone removed those borders.
MarkyW
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Could it be that the "wrinkles" are waviness caused by the embroidered area's stitching pulling the weave of the silk compared to the un-embroidered areas. There's not much to do about that, maybe it can be made a little better, but it is what it is.
I know my mother would iron something delicate by putting another piece of fabric on top. You would think the release paper you used would function similarly, but maybe for some reason it makes a difference.
I know my mother would iron something delicate by putting another piece of fabric on top. You would think the release paper you used would function similarly, but maybe for some reason it makes a difference.
Thanks for all the advice- the wrinkles, I think, came from the customer having the piece folded during transport home. It IS a tourist piece, and we are cropping it, so the adhesive will not be an issue as that part of the fabric will be wrapped around the board I mount it on. I thinkm what I am going to do is try & stretch it around rome cor and if that doesn't make it better I might do the sticky board. As far as what Ylva said, yup, you're right, but I have no one else to pass it off to so I am having to learn fabric. If it was a valuable or old (or both) piece I would probably have refused to work on it rather than ruin it. 
I think, in that case, I would pin it around foam board. Make put some batting underneath to get some of those wrinkles out. Don't pull too hard, as that might increase the problem (depending on if it's true silk or a wannabe)
Pinning on foam board would probably be OK, but be careful. Over-stretching may distort the weave where the pins are placed. An alternative mount, which is easier, faster, and may be safer for the weave, would be Tight Fit Mounting as described on page 50 of the PPFA Guidelines for Framing Textiles and Needlework. Essentially, you cut a window to fit the textile in foam board and press the fall-out back in to hold the textile in place. This limits the tension of the mount and would assure minimum harm to the silk.
If you are a PPFA member, your chapter probably has this book in their lending library.
If you are a PPFA member, your chapter probably has this book in their lending library.