Sometime before Christmas I got the great idea that I should get a box of hand dyed silk scraps from Carter Smith. If you've never heard of Carter Smith he's probably the best known and most successful commercial shibori dyer around. His dresses and banners sell for thousands of dollars. His scraps are expensive too but a lot less than the dresses!
I don't remember what provoked me to buy them but I do remember that once I saw the fabrics I knew my plan wouldn't work. So I set the overstuffed box aside (the pile above is a small sampling of the fabrics in the box) and waited for inspiration. The box contains silk scraps of ever size and texture. There are tiny little pieces and a couple of pieces as large as a fat quarter. The textures are chiffon, velvet burnout, charmeuse burnout, pleated, satin.....every possible kind of silk.
One day I sorted them into some piles, some by color and some by texture. Then I dusted off the serger and started sewing some of the pieces together.
I used a narrow rolled hem with some wooly nylon thread in the upper looper and then I started making pieced scarves!
The first one used the chunks of fabric in the original shapes with very little trimming. I just tried to make each piece fit to the next one. All of the seams are on the right side of the fabric and I think that gives it a bit of a stained glass look. I didn't pay any attention to grain (and it shows) but the scarf is very flowy and drapes really nice. This one is about 60" long and about 10" wide and would look great over a black winter coat.
The second scarf uses (what I an calling) burnout charmeuse. The center section is a large black piece and the ends are pieced with dark red scraps. it's very wide and long and would make a great stole.
I kept tryong to add fabrics to this one but eventually realized that this extra long and skinny piece of fabric worked really well on it own. It's a very pretty deep pink with gold and black. It would look great with a suit or dress for day wear.
This one is my persona favorite so far. I cut black and red scraps into squares and rectangles and pieced them into this 8" x 60" (approximately) scarf. It's pieced on the serger but hemmed by hand because I couldn't get the serger edge to hold onto the fabric.
Aren't they yummy? I know I will keep the one on the right. I may keep all of them! I may give them away for gifts. For now I am just enjoying the process.
I'm done with black thread for a while. Next up is something in blues. I start by finding the chunks of fabric that I might like together and I roughly lay them out on my cutting table to see if I have enough for a scarf. Now that I have these fabrics pulled I will decide on how to arrange them.
What a fun diversion!
Note to self:
Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.Do not buy more silk scraps.
gorgeous, especially the second one!
Posted by: Deb Levy | April 18, 2012 at 03:03 PM
These are absolutely wonderful. I think you need to buy more silk scraps, buy more silk scraps, buy more silk scraps, buy more silk scraps, buy more silk scraps, buy more silk scraps, buy more silk scraps, buy more silk scraps, buy more silk scraps :)
Posted by: Ruth Lane | April 18, 2012 at 03:29 PM
Those are fabulous! I love the red and black one. Do you think you convinced yourself?
Posted by: Yvonne | April 18, 2012 at 04:03 PM
These are unbelievable fantastically dyed scarves! t favorite is the deep ink with a tiny splash of gold and black. You must be thrilled with the outcome of these scarves - I know I am.
Posted by: Gabriela Divine | April 18, 2012 at 04:10 PM
Fabulous!!! They really are unique and beautiful. I'd be tempted to order more. ;)
Posted by: Jeannie | April 18, 2012 at 04:26 PM
Absolutely LOVE your note to yourself!
The scarves are fabulous -- good for you for going for it!
Posted by: quiltdivajulie | April 18, 2012 at 05:28 PM
oh, yum. those really are very snazzy!
Posted by: elle | April 18, 2012 at 05:29 PM
Well, if you do buy more, I will gladly help you out by taking them away to my house!
Posted by: Mary Ann Harpe | April 18, 2012 at 05:39 PM
They are so awesome! Did I mention that my birthday is next week! ;o) ;o)
Posted by: Cindy Is Crafty | April 18, 2012 at 08:55 PM
Those are ALL gorgeous. you need to have a giveaway so i have a chance to win one. WOW....great idea you had.
Posted by: shirley bruner | April 19, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Oh my..... my mouth is watering. Color does that to me and these are unbelievable. I would be more than tempted to buy more more more so I'd best stay away.
Posted by: Jean S. | April 19, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Oh gosh...I love scarves, I adore silk...this is a match made in heaven, Vicki! Love your scraps!
Posted by: Sandra | April 19, 2012 at 08:11 PM
They are all beautiful but my favorite is the first one it looks exotic. I keep saying i won't buy more fabric (over and over) it doesn't work. But you keep trying but I think you maybe on to something. Try one one Etsy, I bet you will find a buyer, they are so pretty, it might pay for the next boxload! Just saying. Have fun.
Posted by: Elizabeth Johnson | May 05, 2012 at 10:09 PM
They are gorgeous Vicki!
Posted by: Linda Stokes | May 06, 2012 at 02:20 AM