silk direction

Grumbling Mike

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Jul 13, 2000
Posts
258
Loc
Toronto Canada
any thoughts on wether the silk lines on a matboard should run vertically or horizontally
is there a rule or preference some or all the time. ??
 
Hi Grumbling Mike:
The silk lines on a matboard run always vertically for me. Silkwall paper is hang the same way. I only had one customer who wanted the lines run the other way.

That's my thought to that


Ulli

"You can always tell a German, but you can't tell her much"
 
This was discussed a while back at length and with enthusiastic responses in "both directions." I learned that the "grain" of silk is called the "nub" or something equally silly.

I don't remember what the conclusion was, and I didn't necessarily agree with it anyway.

Does that help, Mike?
 
I always run it horizontally. I believe it is called the slub, which is just as silly as nub. I like "silk lines" better.

-Mike.
 
My Bainbridge rep (Hi Sherri) maintains that the slubs on silk mats should always be run horizontally.

I usually like them parallel to the long axis of the piece.

We have agreed to disagree on this.

Slubs occur when the silk fibers twist during the weaving process. No one knows for sure why they are called that or where the word comes from. Personally, I think it's Chinese for "Oh, crap! The fibers are twisted" but that's just a guess.

Kit
 
Munn runs them horizontally

IdontknowwhatthehelltodoanymoreorLessforthatmatter

[ 01-28-2004, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: lessafinger ]
 
Nah, Tim. It's just the usual consensus.

On the rare occasion when I use one of those Crescent mats that look like corrugated cardboard, I run the lines diagonally.

Does that help?

Kit
 
I like my vertical lines (they say it's sliming). The main thing is to be consistent.
 
we should keep this debate up indefinatly and refer to it anytime we are questioned about our choise on any given job.
My guess is that the bainbridge board snub running along the 40 on a 32x40 would also run along the 40 on a 40x60 given the limitation of most fabric widths.
 
What about running the slubs, lines, weave, nubs on the diagonal? Just think of the possibilities!
- lower left ot upper right
- lower right to upper left
- all the variations of that
- starting at the bottom center all the angles and degrees that the slubs, nubs, weave, line could vary.
Shaping up to be a voting booth "thread" !!!
 
Originally posted by Maryann:
Larson Juhl framed samples are run vertically.
And to demonstrate that they are just as consistent as the rest of us.... the LJ El Greco framed sample behind our counter is framed with the slub running horizontal :confused:
 
Horizontal. The only time I run it vertically is if the full-size board is too small. It is ususally a non-issue, as I wrap most of my mats.
 
Kit: I use the corrugated mat from Cresent on occassion also. My customers really like the following look. I use the corrugated as an inside mat. When I cut it I lay the top mat on the large piece of corrugated on the bias. Then when you cut your inside opening, you get a diagonal look. From a distance it looks like a cord. Pretty striking for an inexpensive mat. I know it is not rag so I only use it on poster art or I use it as a middle mat on a triple with rag top and bottom.
 
I don't have any preferance and I don't have any answers either. However I haven't seen anyone give a pertinent reason for their "PREFERANCE" as yet.
If the direction of the Slub,Nub or weave caused any real probems or differance than I say that is the correct direction but since no one has as yet given a REASON ,I say what ever suits your needs is the correct answer.
I have quoted a needleart instructor before on what may seem like an unrelated topic ,but is it? When speaking about mounting Needleart and how it looked she said "If it doesn't affect the FRONT then it doesn't matter,If it does than it matters".
So if the Direction of the weave causes any ill effects then "IT MATTERS" If not it's a matter of taste .And My taste vary with the subject being framed.
This kind of reminds me of those "Color Studys" when they say RED is in everyone uses red before and after that they use some other color .What ever happened to ARTISTICT OPINION and PERSONAL TASTE?
BUDDY

[ 02-08-2004, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: BUDDY ]
 
A customer of mine who does world-class silk embroidery has told me that, traditionally, the slub runs horizontally. Since she has studied, and taught, in Asia, I'm inclined to believe her.

So I always make sure it's horizontal on the silk mats I cut for HER.

Otherwise, my own preference is to run the slub with the long dimension of the mat - unless I'm framing a pair or group with multiple orientations.

Then I flip a coin and go for consistency.

This topic isn't ever going to go away, is it?
 
You're right, Ron. This thread has had so many responses that someone just starting out on the Grumble might think it was an important issue.

The horizontal orientation (no pun, I swear) of the slubs is probably a hold over from clothing. When the silk is woven, the slubs are at a right angle to the selvage. Clothing is cut with the vertical axis parallel to the selvage, thus making the slubs horizontal.

So I suspect the rationale behind horizontal slubs in a framing package is that that's how we're used to seeing the fabric used.

This would be a more convincing argument if nice dupioni silk weren't so hard to find. And when I do find it, I can't afford to buy it.

I think I just figured out why I'm so fond of those Bainbridge silks - it's sublimation.

Kit
 
I run it the direction which picks up the color best, some look different colors. I run the nap verticle or horizontal depending on my personal taste or the customers. Even if you wrap your own wouldn't you still have the nap to deal with. The bias might also be good.

Now the slubbing really might get this moved to warp.
 
So, if we have a warp(ed) thread on this topic, wouldn't we have a weft thread as well? :D

I like the idea of the bias lines, but I am thinking of those triangular scraps that would generate and that leads to thoughts of storage considerations of those scraps (since, like some-most?- of you I can't seem to throw anything away...) and now I have a headache!!! :eek:

I run most of my grain horizontally when I can, with the exception of moire silk which I run vertically for reasons I can't seem to summon at this moment. My general sense, though, is that rules like this are meant to be broken. So, it is my goal this month to find something that looks lovelier with the grain oriented vertically and a moire that wants to run horizontally...

edie the dontlistentome goddess

[ 02-09-2004, 12:07 PM: Message edited by: Framing Goddess ]
 
On a much more serious note . . .

Has anyone/everyone else noticed that the slub (that word is growing on me, though I'm pretty sure we're ALL misusing it) on the Bainbridge raws silks rarely run parallel to the edge of the board or even to each other?

When a customer picks up an order with a silk mat, I always cock the frame a bit to one side and explain that anything that appears wrong is really an optical illusion.
 
I love the raw silks from Bainbridge.

Paul Frederick, CPF in his "Framer's Book Of Materials And Techniques" says that HORIZONTALLY is the correct way for the slubs to run.
 
I guess that means that Paul has an opinion, too. I hope that doesn't mean that I have to refuse to use raw silk in the 32 x 40 colors on any frame taller than 32 inches.

My two cents: While there may be some archaic rules for using fabric in various applications, design is a matter of taste to be decided on by an agreement between the customer and the framer.

Pat :D

[ 02-09-2004, 01:01 PM: Message edited by: Pat Murphey ]
 
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