Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

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123hackney
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Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

Post by 123hackney »

Hi framers!

I was just about to frame a silk scarf - method being - Batting over board, calico over this and laced around the board and the silk scarf then stitched to the front of calico. Mount board covering the edges of scarf/stitching.

However I have bought cotton fusible batting. On reading the instructions (meant for using it for quilting) it says that the fusing medium is water soluble and therefore after washing (which i'm not going to do) it will wash out.

Hmm - is this of concern? Is this fusable agent going to affect the silk of the scarf in any way? There will be a layer of calico between it and the scarf so it won't have direct contact...

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Kitty
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Re: Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

Post by JFeig »

One thing we all should learn from Art Conservators is that we have to know the source and content of the product we are using to preserve a clients property that we are charged with to frame and preserve.

All tape is not alike
All paper mount(mat) board is not alike
All glass is not alike
All adhesives are not alike
All fasteners are not alike
etc.
etc.

Some products are useful and some are not useful for use in our industry and level of protection we want to offer. Forget what a consumer package tells the consumer customer what is "SAFE" as written by a marketing department and get some real facts.
One of the biggest problems we face is the term "ACID FREE". There is a lot more to the destructive nature of paper, as an example, as the PH of the paper such as lignin and additives such a brighteners.
Jerome Feig CPF®
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Re: Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

Post by Not your average framer »

I've always understood that silk is particularly vunerable to being used in conjunction with less conservation fiendly materials. Therefore the inclusion of an unknown fusible material is taking a bit of a risk in my opinion.
Mark Lacey

“Life is short. Art long. Opportunity is fleeting. Experience treacherous. Judgement difficult.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer
123hackney
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Re: Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

Post by 123hackney »

Thanks very much. My thoughts confirmed. Would you be inclined to go with cotton or polyester out of interest? (With no fusible agent!!)
Not your average framer
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Re: Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

Post by Not your average framer »

How are you intending to mount the silk scarf? Will there also be a window mount in front of the scarf? Obviously I can not examine the scarf for myself, but I'm not a big fan of using anything adhesive to secure a silk scarf in place, so maybe the Newberry tight fit method, with a cotton rag mount in front to hid the edges of the scarf.

As for cotton, or polyester, it always used to be said that when framing something made or organic materials, you are best advised to only used organic materials in contact with and item to be framed that is made from organic materials, but having said all that polyester is usually considered chemically inert, so take your pick.

Both Tudor Rose, or Mal Reynolds are really knowledgeable about framing items like this and hopefully one, or both of them will notice this thread and offer their advice.
Mark Lacey

“Life is short. Art long. Opportunity is fleeting. Experience treacherous. Judgement difficult.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer
123hackney
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Re: Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

Post by 123hackney »

Thanks so much Mark. The edges won't be visible. There will be a mount on top. I am going to stitch the edges to a layer of natural cotton calico which I will wrap over a board with a layer of batting behind it.
Thanks a lot
Kitty
girlfromkent
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Re: Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

Post by girlfromkent »

Hi Kitty

I'm about to do the same, and was just wondering how you got on? Any lessons learned that you'd pass on?

How did you sew the silk to the calico, all the way around? Machine stitched or hand sewn? Did you iron it first and if so how?

I was planning to use inert poly batting.

Thanks in advance
Megan
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Re: Silk scarf - Fusable cotton batting...

Post by MITREMAN »

Personally like NYAF I would go for the Newberry tight fit method, around a cotton rag mount board, Unbuffered which is better for silks with the same type of mount board in front to hid the edges of the scarf.

You could add cotton batting to the centre board and glue on the back with Evo-con R glue.

If you have to stitch it use silk threads.

Post your finished result, always good for members to see.

Good luck

Mitreman
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