Prepare Silk
45 minScour silk gently to remove sericin if desired, or dye in natural state for different uptake.
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Scour silk gently to remove sericin if desired, or dye in natural state for different uptake.
Create concentrated dye liquor; silk often dyes at lower temperature than wool.
Hold silk in dye bath at 160–180°F, turning gently; shorter time prevents fiber damage.
Rinse in lukewarm water with drop of vinegar if alum mordant, air dry, press on silk setting.
Silk protein degrades above 185°F — gentle heat only.
Silk dye baths still hot enough to burn — use tongs.
Iron mordant contact spots permanently marks silk — clean pots.
Silk dyes fade faster in UV — store finished goods in dark.