Felting with white silk

[josiebrat]

Has anyone ever felted on white silk using color, and what was your experience?

I've been wanting to make a white scarf using color for some time now, so today I made one. I used a lime green, blue and purple. I knew going in that there might be bleeding due to the colors used, but I wanted to try it anyway. It kinda looks like a stained fabric with flowers. Is there a way to use white silk and color without getting bleed through or is this something I should always expect? The scarf is still wet in these photos.

[jwugg]

I think it's pretty, Josie. As longs as you tell people there is a 'hint' of mauve it looks like you meant it! But yes I have made quite a few white scarves with coloured roving & sometimes this happens. I can't say for sure, but I feel that the hand dyed fibres are more likely to run; whereas fibre from somewhere like World of Wool, for instance, when the dying is much more mechanised, I believe is less likely to run.

[lyn]

Bleed happens. I think it enhances rather than detracts from the design - the scarf is very pretty - but I can understand that sometimes you don't want it to happen. Sorry but I have no answer.

[felicity]

The reds and purples run the most. Some things could be done if you are in doubts that your fibres could bleed:
felt quickly;
never leave it lying wet for any time;
rinse thoroughly with vinegar and roll in dry towel to remove excess of coloured water.
Your scarf is very pretty but if you do not like it as it is you could dye it in pinkish colour to reduce the bleeding effect.

[jwugg]

Oh yes, & to add to Galina's list - don't use hot water & felt by hand not in the washer/dryer I think would help.

[josiebrat]

Thanks everyone for your valuable feedback. I did leave it wet on the table so go forward I will felt quickly and use only cold water in my fulling process. I do like the look but then again it's for my personal use.

[Frances]

I really like it and the bit of fading - what kind of silk did you use?

[MTRuth]

Great scarf Josie. Don't have much to add but you could try soaking a sample of the wool you plan to use to see if it bleeds into the water. Then you could just use the ones that don't bleed. Use a white container with a little hot water and then add the wool sample. You'll be able to see if it bleeds.

[Teri Berry]

Totally agree with what others have sai, I really like the subtle colour changes, it's the sort of effect that if tried to achieve it, it wouldn't happen! Likewise agree with the advice given, for my money using commercially dyed wool and avoid using water too hot to leave your hand in.

[Pandagirl]

Nice Josie. I like it the way it is the fading adds sublety.

[chookie2]

test your rovings in some ho water befopre felting to see if they will run, as Galina says, Reds,Purples can be worst but it all depends on the dyeing and the rinsing when it was dyed.

[Shepherdess]

I don't have much to add to all the good advice. I always nuno with room temperature water. For testing they recommend to wet with hot soapy water then press in a clean white cloth. I have had really bad bleeding with commercial wool too. Nature of the beast I think.

[josiebrat]

SORRY FRANCES - I used to get alerts when someone had responded to a message of mine, but that does not happen now so I did not see this before today. Anyway, I used silk gauze for this particular scarf. I think I'm going to stay away from white for a while at least with these deep colors. I still plan to order some fiber from World of Wool to see how it compares to what I use now and certainly test these colors go forward. thanks again for all the great feedback.