Re: Indian scarves.

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on September 06, 1999 at 22:57:44:

In Reply to: Indian scarves. posted by Amy C on September 06, 1999 at 21:19:18:

Silk scarves like this do several things....as they flutter, the
meanings (prayers and auspiciuous symbols) of their patterns are
dispersed into the air...or if they have lots of shiny things and
tassels attached, they distract the evil eye so it cannot cast its
malevolant gaze on the mother and child....or they create a sacred
space. This is off topic, but it's something I've done a lot of
research on. So.....pardon me if I rant a bit....

Want to make such yourself? If you're on this forum, you likely enjoy
drawing...so....here's how to make such!

Link below to an excellent source for pre-fab, ready to dye silk
scarves.
To make wonderful patterns on them:
1) heat parafin in a crock pot or simmering potpourri thingie until
the wax is transparent
2) stretch the silk scarf on 4 bamboo tomato-stakes pounded into the
ground....and keep the silk very taut by attaching rubberbands and
safety pins from the stakes to the corners of the silk cloth.
3) paint the wax onto the silk with a sumi brush....going back and
forth quickly because the brush must have HOT liquid transparent wax
at all times, so the design you paint on the silk will be translucent
wax lines. Paint the same designs that you know and love from doing
henna!
4) When you have these wax resist lines painted in, then use Deka Silk
paint, or Dynaflow Silk paint to color in the inbetween areas. (Sumi
brush again) This is like batiking a cloth or an Easter egg, but a
damn sight easier! Putting the colors in will be just like coloring
in a coloring book! These dyes are at the link below, too.
5) When all the colors are dry....throw the scarf in your dryer for 10
minutes, or iron it on a couple of old towels. The wax won't hurt
your dryer or your iron. That will heat set the dye. Then, just
rinse the silk in hot water with detergent. The dye is very permament
and does not run. All the lines you painted will be batik white and
the spaces in between will be whatever color you painted them.
All done.

Dharma Trading

Follow-ups:

Re: Indian scarves. Amy C 02:39:48 9/07/99 (8)
- A way of expressing hopes and fears Catherine Cartwright Jones 03:51:56 9/07/99 (7)
  - Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears Amy C 23:45:42 9/07/99 (6)
    - Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears Maria 22:27:23 9/08/99 (0)
    - Reclaiming pregnancy/birth Anon 17:20:02 9/08/99 (2)
      - everyone Catherine Cartwright Jones 18:14:35 9/08/99 (1)
        
        Re: everyone Becky M. 19:41:14 9/08/99 (0)
    - Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears SeeSee 01:53:11 9/08/99 (1)
      - Shit. Last again. (NM) Amy C 17:35:24 9/09/99 (0)

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: Silk scarves like this do several things....as they flutter, the : meanings (prayers and auspiciuous symbols) of their patterns are : dispersed into the air...or if they have lots of shiny things and : tassels attached, they distract the evil eye so it cannot cast its : malevolant gaze on the mother and child....or they create a sacred : space. This is off topic, but it's something I've done a lot of : research on. So.....pardon me if I rant a bit.... : Want to make such yourself? If you're on this forum, you likely enjoy : drawing...so....here's how to make such! : Link below to an excellent source for pre-fab, ready to dye silk : scarves. : To make wonderful patterns on them: : 1) heat parafin in a crock pot or simmering potpourri thingie until : the wax is transparent : 2) stretch the silk scarf on 4 bamboo tomato-stakes pounded into the : ground....and keep the silk very taut by attaching rubberbands and : safety pins from the stakes to the corners of the silk cloth. : 3) paint the wax onto the silk with a sumi brush....going back and : forth quickly because the brush must have HOT liquid transparent wax : at all times, so the design you paint on the silk will be translucent : wax lines. Paint the same designs that you know and love from doing : henna! : 4) When you have these wax resist lines painted in, then use Deka Silk : paint, or Dynaflow Silk paint to color in the inbetween areas. (Sumi : brush again) This is like batiking a cloth or an Easter egg, but a : damn sight easier! Putting the colors in will be just like coloring : in a coloring book! These dyes are at the link below, too. : 5) When all the colors are dry....throw the scarf in your dryer for 10 : minutes, or iron it on a couple of old towels. The wax won't hurt : your dryer or your iron. That will heat set the dye. Then, just : rinse the silk in hot water with detergent. The dye is very permament : and does not run. All the lines you painted will be batik white and : the spaces in between will be whatever color you painted them. : All done.

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