Norma, that sounds lovely. I hope you can post a photo tomorrow?

Most everything on this subject is said already, but I want to add that the material that gives you the texture you want is the right for your project. I don't understand why people are so shy to using silk. It's much more strong than you think. I have been dyeing silk scarfs and my first is about 12 years old. I wash it in the machine with my other clothes and it behaves very well.
As for mixing I just finishes a quilt where the background fabric is silk and the appliqued items are cotton. It is quilted with invisible thread, cotton thread and polyester thread, so I mix as my heart says to do. I wish I could post it, but I have not taken the photos yet and I need daylight to do it. I hope to do it tomorrow. The quilt is a birthday present and will be delivered on Sunday.

Reetzbobeetz wrote: I do, and this afternoon is my grandson's craft time we spend together. Lovely day even though it's overcast. Cheers.

Well BJ it doesn't look like you need that book but it is beautiful and has lots of lovely projects. So even as a spring-board for the imagination it's a lovely book to have. Good luck with the project I really look forward to seeing it when you are done. Now don't you have some clothes to make? I know you have the bottom half covered but I don't think topless will go down so well in Philly!

PosyP wrote:
Is that what this is? I was thinking Jacobean--should look great with lots of beads though don't you think? I don't think I will be using fishing twine, but yes, any old thing that makes the right look.

Reetzbobeetz wrote: Rita, I do not have that book but it's been on my wishlist for a while. Maybe this is a good reason to buy it. Raveling is an issue no matter what kind of applique one uses, I think and batik is a good choice now that you mention it. I will be appliqueing by machine, but I am likely to turn the edges. I will be machine quilting it also...thread to be determined, but I often use silk for my quilting. Anyway, we'll see how this goes.

Reetzbobeetz wrote: Nah! for a picture you can use any old thing, even fishing twine - if that gives you the look you want

Bj I will be very interested to see your interpretation of a 20's-30's interpretation of a psudo jacobean cum indian chintz design.

BJ, that's a beautiful design. I was just looking through Deborah Kemball's book Beautiful Botanicals and she seems to use a mixture of farics as well from silks to prints, batiks and commercial dyes. Personally I love the batiks for needle turn applique because they unravel less than others and can be manipulated easily. Actually, I don't know if you said that you were doing needle turn? Deborah also mixes the thread she uses although if you are quilting the silk by machine I guess you will use silk thread? Anyway, it looks like my kind of project and now that I have her book out you have got me going again. Thanks.

Thanks Nancy. I hope I can make it come out as pretty as the design. It's all Tom Russell's fault.

That'll be beautiful!!

Nancy

Oh that is so pretty! It's very close to the color I have in mind for the background of my folk-art piece. Here's my design:

What a cute dress! The different textures of the fabrics really works well. Thanks for sharing!

Nancy

Betty Jo, go and mix at your heart's content! It's such a lot of fun! There is no reason at all why you should not use different types of fabric together. It actually adds an extra dimension to your piece. All fabrics reflect light differently, so you will get a subtle contrast when using silks with cottons, or linens, or wool, or (quilt police turn away, please) synthetics, or if you overlay a fabric with a sheer, like organza.

I used a silk jacquard for the body of a dress and a standard 100% cotton for the bodice. This dress has been washed very carefully by hand and then drip-dried on a hangar. See how it looks:



The only limitation is the way the piece will get washed or cleaned, so testing all fabrics is always a good idea.

Rosemary, That's a very good point about antique items. OK, but maybe I'll pick up a few pieces of silk at the PA show anyway, just to be sure.