Creating Silk Paper

By:  Treetops Colour Harmonies

Silk paper introduction

Silk the most lustrous of all natural fibres, has always been surrounded by an aura of glamour.  Silk 'paper' (i use quotes because this is not a true sheet of laid paper) captures this intense lustre and is easily incorporated into the artist's work. By simply laying down unspun silk fibre and "gluing" it together with various adhesive mediums you can create a sheet of shimmering silk 'paper'. The original concept was passed down by a felter/papermaker from holland, inge evers, who originally incorporated silk paper into her felt.  In 1995, when I first heard about the concept of silk paper, I immediately realised that it could have a much broader application than just felt. I therefore spent the next several years researching various adhesive mediums that would allow for the creative use of the silk paper in many other art forms.  Several years have pasted now and it is truly amazing to witness the limitless creative uses artists and craftspersons have found for silk paper. Machine embroidery, three-dimensional sculpture, jewellery, wearable art, quilting, book coverings, collage, home furnishings, and mixed media to mention a few....  the list is limited only by the artist's imagination! 

Silk fibre characteristics

Silk is spun by a caterpillar as a semi-liquid, continuous filament that hardens on contact with air.  The smooth surface of the silk fibre reflects light, and this reflected light is seen as lustre. Silk is processed and sold in many forms. 

There are two major types of silk fibre depending on which species of caterpillar spins the silk.  The bombyx mori extrudes a pure white silk that is very fine and highly lustrous and is sometimes commonly known as mulberry silk. The chinese tussah silk worm spins a lovely honey coloured fibre which is slightly coarser and less lustrous, but also less expensive.

Recommended fibre types

To create a paper with lovely lustre and strength you should purchase silk in a “top” preparation. A “top” has been both carded and combed so that all the fibres are aligned perfectly parallel and are of a specified length.  Make sure when purchasing the tops that the staple length is at least 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm) - the longer the better.

Other fibres and materials that may be of interest

1. Silk noil:.  very short stapled fibre with cocoon debris carded throughout. Great texture, but no lustre. Comes either in tussah or bombyx.
2. Silk throwsters waste:   very long lustrous strands of white silk filament, very fine and squiggly.  Great texture and fibre strength.
3. Silk laps:  wonderfully textured, long fibres roughly carded into batts. Like a giant sheet of lacy silk fibre. Comes in tussah or bombyx.
4. Silk hankies (also know as mawata squares):  Individual cocoons are spread over a handkerchief shaped frame forming a cobweb like square of fibre.  May be used individually as a gossamer thin layer or several together to make as dense a surface as needed.  Very versatile!
5. Fibre other than silk that may produce interesting textures and surfaces:  hemp tops, ramie tops, flax (linen) tops or line, mohair tops.
6. Fine open weave fabrics of various textures and fibre types (such as silk organza) may be of interest to use as a middle layer to add internal strength to your project or to act as a background onto which you lay the silk.
7. Fine knitted fabrics can be utilized as above, but lend an interesting flexibility to your project.

Quantity of silk needed

Approximately 50 gms of silk tops will make two sheets of paper of medium thickness 16" wide by 30" long (40 cm x 76 cm).

Procedure

It is easiest to work on fairly heavy sheet of plastic.  You may eventually want to move the silk outside to dry in the shade so cut the plastic to a manageable size.  First lay down a piece of tulle (netting) twice as big as your project (so as to sandwich the sheet of silk paper).  If your silk tops were hand-dyed it may need to be given a few tugs along its length to loosen up the fibre (silk becomes stiff after being wet). 

Laying down silk tops

The following instructions are for forming a classic sheet of silk ‘paper’ from silk tops. Begin by laying out the silk fibre on top of the tulle. Pull off a manageable length from the silk top (say 6-12 inches) and strip it lengthwise as many times as needed to be easily manageable. Then use the palm of your hand to hold down the end of the silk top on the tulle and pull out a length of fibre approximately 1/2" to 1-1/2" wide by 3" to 4" long. The length of fibre laid down at any one time is directly related to length of the individual fibres in the top.  continue laying down fibre in this manner - being sure that the fibres are slightly overlapping each time. I usually begin in the upper right hand corner of the sheet and work downwards towards me then on the next row move back up away from me. On the subsequent rows it is imperative to place your palm on top of the previous row so that each new row overlaps approximately 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" on top of the previous one. You should not be able to see the tulle underneath the silk.  Continue laying down the silk until it reaches your desired dimension. The paper's thickness is dependent upon the amount of silk you place in any one spot.  Sampling is the best way to determine the correct thickness for a particular use.

There are several things to keep in mind that will improve your results. First that the strength of this sheet of paper is along the length of the fibre (the fibres are more likely to pull away from one another crosswise than lengthwise). If you need your paper to be strong in all directions  (such as in wearables) lay down three separate thinner layers.  The middle layer is placed at right angles to the top and bottom layers. Second, the highest possible lustre is obtained by keeping the fibres as orderly and parallel to each other as possible. Finally, when laying out the silk, it is essential that your work area must be completely dry. Static electricity can make the silk difficult to lay down evenly and orderly. Patients will be needed or simply apply an anti-static spray (sold to keep your dress from clinging to your stockings). Be sure and let it dry thoroughly before working with the silk.

Wetting out the silk

After your silk is laid down cover the top with the rest of the tulle. The next step is to wet out the silk so that it will easily accept the adhesive agents. Silk fibre has a great tendency to repel water, so to help break its surface tension, paint the silk with a solution of soapy water. A paint brush about 2-3 inches wide works well. Any mild soap will do (approximately 1 tsp per 4 cups water) or use synthrapol (1 tsp per 4 cups water) which is a wetting agent available from most dye houses. Turn silk over and repeat on the other side.  Wipe up any excess water gently with a sponge. Don't worry about a bit of lather.

Applying the adhesive

There are several adhesive agents that can be used to "glue" the fibres together, depending upon your project. There are advantages and disadvantages inherent to each adhesive, so some experimenting on your part will be necessary. 

To apply any of the adhesives simply prepare as directed and paint very evenly and thoroughly onto both sides of the silk paper (once the silk has been thoroughly wetted).  After the adhesive has been applied to both sides it is best to move the paper off the plastic onto some type of screen (fly wire) to dry (otherwise your paper may become excessively shiny where too much adhesive settles out onto the plastic). When dry simply peel the silk paper away from the tulle. Be sure the paper is thoroughly dry or it will be difficult to peel away from the tulle. You can then iron the paper (silk setting) under a pressing cloth to further flatten it. Drying times vary according to the paper's thickness and the adhesive used, but generally allow over night.  Never place silk in direct sunlight as this will cause degradation of the fibre. 

Sculpting with silk paper

After the adhesive has been applied to both sides of the silk paper, remove the tulle and leave on the plastic. Then with your fingers simply start manipulating the silk into any desirable shape or drape over a mould, leave to dry. If your mould is precious, cover with plastic wrap or simply create your own mould by scrunching up aluminium foil. Of course, proper cast moulds work well - mediums may stick to the mould if it has not been properly sealed or covered with plastic wrap. If you find the medium dripping off the moulded piece remember to dab up the excess as it is drying so that not too much medium accumulates (these drip areas will become very stiff and once dry it cannot be removed). It may be necessary to apply several thin coats to areas where the medium has drained off before it was able to dry.

Design variations

The method you use for laying out the silk will vary depending on the type of fibre preparation you use and the end effect you would like to create. Interesting surfaces can be constructed simply by throwing down tuffs of silk at random or spreading out the fibres very fine like a cobweb. Try incorporating other materials like paperbark, feathers or threads in with the silk as you lay it down. Sandwich very fine woven or knit fabrics in-between the top and bottom layers to create a fabric with greater overall strength  and/or texture - great for wearables.

You can also simply lay down the silk on top a piece of finely woven fabric (like silk organza) to create an interesting design.  If you are into 3-dimensional design incorporate fine wire or cords in-between the layers of silk - then fold or bend into shapes.  Silk paper is also fantastic to use as a drawing surface, using inks, oil pastels or acrylic paints to name a few. Silk paper can also be used for photo transfers, embossing or burn out techniques. Machine embroideries and quilters can create their own silk ‘paper’ fabrics to use for embellishment. 

Conclusion

Silk paper is an exciting new and unique medium for designing with silk.  Because it has not been spun or woven first the paper's lustre is intensely alluring and it's surface texture is easily manipulated a variety of ways (scrunching, moulding, stitching...).  You can virtually paint with the silk paper, create sculptural pieces or design wearable art pieces- its diverse applications are virtually unexplored.  Experiment with the various adhesives to obtain the feel and effect you want and most of all have fun!

Article Source: http://www.treetopscolours.com.au/SilkPaper/SParticle.htm

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