RJR Fabrics

Sleek and Silky

IRONING
  • Use a press cloth or iron on reverse side.
  • Use a silk setting, dry iron (a steam setting may risk staining the silk unless the whole fabric is steamed)

GENERAL SEWING
  • Use a sharp, new, unused needle, size 70 or 80 is recommended.
  • Use a fine, high quality 100% cotton thread or a high quality poly thread.
  • We recommend a fusible interface to help stabilize the silk, the very lightest weight possible. The fusible interface will minimize problems with shifting and fraying. It is best to interface the silk as yardage prior to cutting it for use. Once the interface is on the silk, the fabric can be treated just like cotton.
  • We suggest pinning prior to sewing, or pin as you sew, especially when combining silks with other fabric constructions.

COMBINING SILKS AND VELVETEENS
  • When sewing silks to velveteens, to avoid stretching, orientate the velveteens towards the bottom, against the feed dogs.
 DECORATIVE MACHINE EMBROIDERY
  • For decorative embroidery, we recommend a 30 weight rayon thread to give the embroidery more definition.
  • An additional stabilizer is suggested.
  • Use an open toe foot when embroidering. This will help you to better visualize the stitches and to better follow the design.

MACHINE QUILTING
  • Treat the silk like you do regular cotton.
  • Use the batting of your choice.
  • Use a new, unused, sharp or topstitch needle (metallic needles can be used for quilting), size 70 or 80 is recommended. You may need to change your needle, depending on the size of the project.
  • Use a high quality 100% cotton or high quality poly thread. If using invisible thread, use a light tension.
  • We recommend that you practice quilting scraps before quilting your finished project.
  • Quilt marking chalk is recommended when marking your quilting, and will easily brush off.
 PIECING AND APPLIQUÉ
  • The silks can be used for all piecing and appliqué projects, both needle turn and raw edge appliqué.
  • For raw-edge appliqué, use a fray preventative liquid, or cover the seams with additional stitching or yarns or other embellishments.
  • Pre-washing the fabric may help with fraying.

DYEING AND PAINTING
  • We have tested numerous methods of painting and dyeing including, direct dyeing with line resist, batik, salts, ombré, painting wet-on-wet, blending, fold and dye, silk screening, stamping and stenciling. The fabric responds wonderfully to all of these methods and accepts dyestuffs beautifully, promising surprising and exquisite results.