Silk Shawl Scarf
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 New Silk 3 ply paisley shawl scarf wholesale LOT 12 US $29.00
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How to Care For Your Hand Painted Silk Scarf Or Hand Dyed Silk Shawl
Because silk is such a fine and flimsy material, many people assume that it is not at all durable and extremely difficult to look after. Add hand painted designs to the mix and fears increase that the item would be highly impractical and therefore represent poor value for money.
Actually, though, hand painted silk scarves for women and hand dyed shawls are very easy to take care of and make a stunning addition to any lady's wardrobe.
As with any item that is worn about the body, silk scarves and shawls need to be cleaned regularly to get rid of stains, the residue of perfumes and air-borne pollutants that can affect the look and feel of the material. Washing not only refreshes the colors, giving them a new lease of life, but also gets rid of the odors which can cling to any type of fabric. Far from shortening the life of the item, it keeps it in tip-top condition so that your precious and unique scarf or shawl continues to provide value for many years. Here are a few quick and easy tips to bear in mind to extend the life of your wearable canvas.
1. Hand wash the item. The dry cleaning process uses harsh chemicals which can not only have an adverse effect on the silk material, but also on the colors and dyes used to create the unique designs on your hand painted or hand dyed scarf or shawl. The agitation and rapid temperature changes which machine-washed garments are subjected to can also damage hand painted or dyed silk. Hand washing is quick, effective and safe, and also, of course, cost-efficient. Use lukewarm rather than hot water, and always make sure that you use a gentle detergent or, better still, a soft baby soap or shampoo. The nature of the material is such that this should be sufficient even to remove stains, but it is important not to rub the material hard as this could cause worn spots to appear. Ordinary household table salt, when added to the soap and water solution will prevent the colors in the item from bleeding, but never, under any circumstances, should bleach be used.
2. Add vinegar during rinsing. Once your silk scarf or shawl has been washed, you then need to rinse it in clear, cool water, making sure that you do not wring it in the process. When all the soap has been removed, rinse again, but this time add some kitchen vinegar to the water. This will not only neutralize the soap, but it will also brighten the fabric and restore its natural shine. Finally, rinse again in clear, cold water to remove the vinegar, being careful to ensure that no odor remains.
3. Use clean towels to dry your scarf or shawl. Silk should never be wrung out as this can cause it to become stretched and misshapen. Instead, lay your scarf or shawl flat on a clean, dry towel and then roll it up. This will effectively squeeze the excess water out without causing any damage. Once this has been done, simply lay the scarf or shawl on another dry towel and leave it to air-dry.
4. Iron with care. When it comes to ironing your silk scarf or shawl, it is always preferable to work on the reverse of the fabric, but do make sure that the iron is on its lowest setting. Alternatively, you can use a slightly higher setting, but place the item underneath a clean cotton cloth or towel so that it does not come into direct contact with the heat.
Hand painted silk scarves and shawls are a delight to own, and by following these few simple steps, yours will give you pleasure for many years.
About the Author
Interested in silk scarves, or shawls? Visit WomenClothingToday.com to browse a gorgeous collection of scarves and shawls perfect for accessorizing or for giving as a unique gift.
Silk Shawls, Scarves & Accessories – Part One of A Six Part, Six Color Guide to Natural Dyes
Did you know that leaves, stems, bark, roots, seeds and fruit from your very own garden can be used to make brilliant, non-toxic natural dyes for your favorite silk shawls, scarves, accessories and more? Mother Nature provided us with so many wonderful resources to create, play and have fun with! Let's use them!
Silk is the most luxurious of all textiles; it's also the sexiest and most seductive. Believe it or not, silk is the easiest fabric to dye. It is the most absorbent of all textiles, and its silky smooth fibers act as a prism in the light, reflecting a magnificent spectrum of oscillating shades for any one color. This effect is what gives silk its glorious luster and sheen.
So grab some old silk shawls, scarves, accessories in need of revitalizing and let's have some fun! And while we're on the topic of sexy and seductive, let's dye our silk a rich, sultry red. Red is powerful, passionate and steaming with strength and confidence. The power of a single red silk shawl or silk scarf should not be underestimated. Wear it with a simple black dress, or drape it over a lampshade. You'll thank me for it later, I guarantee it.
First thing you want to do is gather your natural dye materials. For a passionate, garnet-red dye, Brazilwood works beautifully. It's inexpensive to buy, easy to use and produces rich, vibrant colors. Next prepare your dye solution by chopping the wood into small pieces the size of wood chips. Place the wood chips in a pot with double the amount of water to wood chips. Leave the wood chips and water mixture to saturate over night.
The next day, prepare your silk shawls and scarves for the dye bath by soaking it in a color fixative. This will ensure that the color sets in the fabric. Mix 4 parts cold water to 1 part vinegar in a large pot, add your silk and simmer for an hour. Rinse in cool water and squeeze out any excess.
Meanwhile, bring your saturated dye solution to a boil and simmer for about an hour. Strain out all wood chips. Set the wood chips aside and use them again (you can probably get 2 more good dye baths out of them).
Now you are ready to add your fixative-soaked silk to the dye solution. Simmer together until you are happy with the color. For a deeper shade of red, simmer for 20-30 minutes and then allow the fabric to soak in the dye solution overnight.
The next day, hang your brilliant new silk shawls and scarves out to dry. Admire your beautiful work, then rinse them out with cold water to remove excess dye solution. Hang out to dry again and voila!
About the Author
Incredibly Handmade is a one of a kind shopping site with gorgeous handmade, hand-dyed silk shawls and scarves and other handmade accessories and ethnic crafts from around the world. Silk shawls and silk scarves are handwoven and hand-dyed using natural dyes by hilltribe people such as the Mien, Karen and Hmong scattered throughout mountainous regions of Asia. Feel free to visit our online store at http://www.incrediblyhandmade.com/
