Thursday, August 01, 2013

How to make cheat's silk paper.

Lots of people are on holiday at the moment so for a recent group I decided to have a ‘show and tell’ rather than plan out a full session, however, some people had shown an interest in basic silk paper so I thought I would show the cheat’s easy way to make it. I thought some of you might like to see this too.
Start with some Carded Cocoon Strippings. Here they are:

You may find they are a little more expensive now as I have had mine for ages.
Lay them out on a piece of fine net or in this case a j-cloth. You can make the ‘paper’ thicker by adding more layers. I tend to lay mine out as if making felt, that is  a strip one way and then the other, but I don’t think it matters, just cover over any gaps.


Spray with water, another good use for my handy spray bottle.
Cover with j-cloth or net. Spray on both sides lightly.
Iron to set. The strippings still contain natural serecin glue so this is what fixes the fibres together.

Threads and other bits can be added before setting, one time I added pine needles:




 there was a reason, it was a little book about my mother who lived at Pinelands. Down-under Dale currently has the book for 'My Artful Journey'  an exhibition at the WA Craft Show in Perth which opens this weekend. 
You will not see the pine needles though as I slid them out, thinking there could be a problem with them in the post.


The ‘paper’ can be coloured with inks etc. It’s nice to add to projects and is easily stitched. Recently someone told me about adding sharpening s from coloured pencils, I've not tried that yet.

15 comments:

  1. Ooooooooooooooo. Lovely. Thanks for a new idea!

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  2. This is terrific! Thanks so much for sharing this.

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    1. Can't get back to your blog,, thanks for the comment .

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    2. Ah, sorry about that. I'm having a "blogging sabbatical".

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    3. Actually I've been looking around this evening to buy some cocoon strippings and I was wondering how much paper you can make from 100g? I realize it depends on how thick you make your paper, but can you give me a rough idea? I'd really appreciate it.

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    4. Well to be honest the only answer I can give you is an awful lot! I would only buy one bag and see how it goes.

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    5. Thanks! I will.

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  3. I will definitely try this technique, nothing so easy and beautiful should go untried. Thanks for sharing, Jackie!

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  4. I just bought 100 gs of strippings online! Can't wait to get them.

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  5. Anonymous8:29 PM

    That's really crafty! Must have a hunt around and see if I've got some of those cocoon strippings now!

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  6. it's a fabulously easy way to make silk paper with the real emphasis on paper - your work for an artful journey was wonderful Jackie and yes I guess quarantine would have been down like a ton of bricks. i love the cocoon stripping paper as it adds to the idea of hand made papers
    cheers
    Dale

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    1. Thanks Dale, I'm pleased that the exhibition and show went well for you.

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  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  8. Hello Jackie - warm greetings from Toody in Cape Town, South Africa! Please if you can, will you tell me how to dye carded cocoon strippings? I see you have added inks. What inks please? I'd prefer to dye, but am open to learning as much as I can re the best way to colour the carded cocoon strippings, please. I've dyed them before, but can no longer remember how I did it - whether I mordanted them as with silk fibres or not???!!!!

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    1. Sorry to have not answered until now.
      I used to colour the paper with acrylic inks, diluted. Also add snipping of thread in the process. I never dyed them ,but experimentation is the way to go. Good luck.

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