10 Different Types of Silk Fabrics for Painting

It is a medium – to – heavyweight fabric with a simple warp and weft; it is stiff, very close-woven, and durable, with a smooth texture. This type of silk is relatively easy to obtain and is very useful for experiments and first attempts to paint on silk. Once it has been steamed and dry-cleaned, ponge is much softer to the touch than before, and its sheen improves with use.

It has a crinkled and elastic texture achieved by twisting the thread before weaving it, after which it is finished in water to reduce the coarseness of the thread and create a crinkled surface texture. This type of silk absorbs a significant quantity of dye and therefore gives colors great richness and depth. It is an ideal material for clothing.

It is a muslin type of silk, but its ruched form of creating gives a fascinating look to cloths.

It is a highly resistant type of silk because it is made with a very stiff diagonal weft known as fluting. This fabric is very taut, although there is no danger of tearing. It is ideal for making up into lampshades, for example.

It is fabric but with the distinction of being relatively transparent. It is usually used to make elegant items of clothing, such as warps, for formal events.

It is usually confused with unrefined silks because it has a rough texture, prominent protuberances (knops), and a dull sheen. It is the only type of silk that allows the silk warms to escape before the cocoons are gathered. The discarded short fibres from this process are woven into a rough material called floss (or noil) silk, now known as rustic silk and popular in recent years for clothing. While it is difficult to apply paint to this unrefined silk because it has not had the bast (glue–like substance) removed, floss silk minus bast and bleached will undoubtedly absorb dyes.

It is much more resistant than spun silk but has stiffness similar to that of crepe de chine. It drapes well, and because of its unique transparency and elasticity, it is suitable for a great variety of garments.

It is also known as wild silk and has small knops in the yarn, giving it a rough texture. Problems may arise because an excess of dye can accumulate in these knops, and the guttas cannot carry out their blocking function as well as in other silks. Because of its unique feel, tussore silk handled carefully is widely used for curtains, shawls, and formal garments.

It has one shiny and one matt side. The weft and warp of this particular silk are very stiff, and so it is highly suitable for making clothes and as a base for pictures.

It is a type of silk with a very different feel from the other varieties. The warp and weft of the fabric pass through a machine that raises part of the fibre, and then another machine cuts the fibre to a uniform level, giving the cloth a soft and unique texture. An ideal style for painting velvet is very free since the fabric does not permit outliners. Painting can also be done with aerosols.