Your silk scarf designs can be sold online or to boutiques.
Not everyone can quilt or sew, but that doesn't have to stop you from designing and creating your own clothing accessories. Scarves are a popular Christmas gift and necessary accessories in regions with harsh winter weather. Surprisingly, there is no knitting required to create a beautiful scarf. With some silk fabric and other materials from the fabric store, you can create and design a painted silk scarf with the help of some dye, a brush and your imagination.
Instructions
1. Measure the silk for the size that you want your scarf to be. Scarves range in length from 40 inches to 66 inches. For smaller necks and people, opt for the shorter end of the scale. For big and tall, opt for the longer end of the scale. Width ranges from 6 to 8 inches.
2. Turn the edges of the short ends of the silk fabric in 1/8 inch. Iron down the edges. Sew the edges of the silk to create a hem. Clip and remove any excess threads.
3. Draw out your painted scarf design on contact paper. Draw in pencil and then etch your designs using a marker so that it is easier for you to see when you retrace it onto the silk.
4. Stretch out your silk until it is wrinkle-free. Place your sketch underneath the silk. If you don't use contact paper, put plastic wrap or another piece of thin plastic between the fabric and your sketch to protect your paper for reuse. The hot wax will seep through.
5. Secure the silk to a wooden cutting board or a wooden table so that it doesn't slide around when you start working on it. Place a hardback book underneath the contact paper for support.
6. Spray the silk with a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water. Keep the scarf wet while you're working. Spritz more water/alcohol solution on it if it starts to dry.
7. Preheat your wax pen and dip it into the beeswax. Sketch your design with the wax pen onto the silk. Trace your design as if you are drawing it all over again.
8. Remove the silk from on top of the book and the sketch. The contact paper should have lifted off onto the scarf.
9. Secure the silk back to your work area. Apply your dye to the appropriate areas based on how you want to color in your design. Use the paintbrushes to color in your design.
10. Use a wet paper towel and small droplets of water to correct any errors you make while you're painting in your dye.
11. Allow the dye to dry for 24 hours. Repaint any areas that didn't come out as planned once they dry. Allow it to dry for another 24 hours.
12. Place the painted area of the silk on top of evenly stacked paper towels. Place sheets of steam paper on top of the scarf. Turn on an iron to moderate heat and roll the iron over the area for five minutes until you can see that all the wax has been removed.
13. Steam your scarf. Hang it up on a hanger. Attach both corners to the hanger with a clothespin so that there are no wrinkles in the scarf. Run the steamer over the scarf for 20 minutes.
14. Send the scarf to be dry-cleaned and pressed. Once you get it back, let all your friends know that you designed your own silk scarf.
