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You are so very welcome.🌺🖌️ Please feel free to get in touch with any questions or concerns that you may have. Happy silk painting!🖌️

@ I appreciate that. Thank you again.

Thanks for your questions RebeccaBaileySandlin. I work on 100% silk Habotai, 10mm. I purchase yardage, cut, hem and paint the silk myself. You can purchase finished lengths of silk scarves and shirts, as well. I purchase all of my silk painting tools from Dharma Trading Company, which is based in California. This company caters to artists and crafters, and are very helpful indeed, because they too are artists. They also ship internationally. As far as getting a ‘square’ scalf, I pin the silk to a corrugated cutting board, making sure that the fibers are perpendicular to each other, forming a cross; that is, the straight grain of the fabric, should be parallel to the selvage, and the fibers in the weft, must be perpendicular to the selvage and straight grain. Failing all if this, I suggest you purchase the size silk you need. I do hope this helps. Check out more of my work on my website at:- www.claradesigns.com and my Instagram page at:- @claradesignsart Enjoy!🌺🖌️

@@claramitchell746 Thanks for your response, Clara! Do you hand-hem your silks or use a machine? Do you have a special technique for getting that silk to behave? How big is your hem? I am just full of hemming questions!

Thanks for your question @lisafoucart7281 I purchase my hooks from Dharma Trading, a company based in California. I urge you to check out their website, to see what these hooks are, and if you can possibly get them in a store close to you. NB. Dharma Trading caters to artists and crafters alike. Please be advised that some silk artists use a combination of PVC pipe frames along with plastic clothes pins. Hope this helps.🌺🖌️

@@claramitchell746 thanks!

Hello Anira, thank you for your interest! You can stream the course here - skl.sh/3VcQw5s or buy it here - claradesigns.gumroad.com/l/cadbeginner

Thanks for your question. I use Dyn-Na-Flow silk paints, sold by Dharma Trading, which does ship internationally, if you need. Enjoy!

Thanks for your question @Gayanichathu. You will have to wash the starch out of the sari, and then iron while damp. Since it is a sari length, it may be best to dye the sari first, with a very light colour, before you begin to apply the 'gutta' and then paint. NB. You should add water to the colour, and make a big batch to dye the entire sari length. Depending on your design, you may have to paint the sari in sections, on a screen measuring 38" x 48" Hope this helps!!! All the best!!!

thank you so much! Could you also please tell me, apart from being easier to use and set, what is the biggest difference from dye-na-flow and regular silk paint. Does dye-na-flow give the same color intensity as well as the same after-feel of the silk fabric?

Thanks for your question, but I am not sure what you mean, as this is my instruction for a Beginner's Silk Painting or 'gutta serti' class. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your question @cactus4721, I am not certain what you mean by this, but please check out my TH-cam videos on Silk Painting Tools and Silk Painting Tools: Gutta Serti. Hope these help. Enjoy!

Good Morning @cactus4721, Thanks for your question. The 'outlining' of the design is done with water-based 'gutta'. This is the main ingredient for the silk painting technique. The brand I use is Jacquard's Resistad water-base gutta, which I purchase from Dharma Trading in California. This company caters to artists and crafts people, and so ship internationally. Hope this helps. Do check out my other designs on my Instagram account @claradesignsart Enjoy!

Thanks for your question @jenniferknight66, I have been using water-based gutta since 2003. I find it much easier to work with, and it washes out completely at the end of the process. The gutta I use now is called Jacquard Resistad water-based gutta, which I purchase from Dharma Trading, California. Hope this helps. Do check out my Instagram page @claradesignsart Enjoy!

Thanks for the question . I would ask that you look at a few more of my videos, especially the one which introduces the tools and equipment that I am using. That said, I use Dan-Na-Flow Silk paints, which are made to the consistency of silk dyes, and are very much less toxic. These silk paints I chose, because they are vibrant, and are 'fixed' with a HOT IRON. NO STEAMING NECESSARY! The 'fixing' process, is done, AFTER you have finished painting the design, and when the silk is completely dry. Then the piece is allowed to 'cure' for 24 or 48 hours, depending on the size. Then it is washed with Kieralon industrial wash, ironed while damp, and it is ready to be worn or hung. Hope this helps. Feel free to check out my Instagram page @claradesignsart and enjoy!

@@claraapplewhaitedesigns7463 thanks. I was curious about the water based gutta

You are very welcome Sandeepkokane7069 A few more videos to come, sorry for the long wait. Do check out my Instagram page at:- @claradesignsart and enjoy!

Thank you for your question Susan McMillan. I use Dye-Na-Flow silk paints, which are made to the consistency of silk dyes, and are quite vibrant! Unfortunately, the Chinese Suspension Hooks, are no longer available. Instead, one may use Spring Suspension Hooks, which must be used in combination with rubber bands, and steel pins; that is, if you're using a wooden frame, as do I. These tools may be purchased at Dharma Trading, www.dharmatrading.com . The company that is based in California, and works well with artists and crafts people. They also ship internationally, if needed. I do hope this helps, and continue to enjoy your silk work!

@@claraapplewhaitedesigns7463 I did find a company in Canada that says they have them. I may chance it and call them before I order . any washable, removable ink pins you like? Do you have a special brand of the resistant marker that you like? I’m reading as much as I can. But talking to someone that’s doing it is so much more helpful. Thank you for your time and answering. I appreciate it.

@@susanmcmillan1548 Good Morning Susan, I am not certain if I answered your question about a resistant marker. I do not use resistant markers, I use Jacquard's Resistad, a water-based gutta. I use Identipen markers to sign my pieces. Hope this helps. Continue to enjoy!

Thanks for your questions Janet Sammons and @partnertuff. The frames I use are wooden stretchers that artists use. These can be purchased at any art store. (Some people also use PVC pipes as their frames.) The silk paints I use, are called Dye-Na-Flow Silk Paints, which I purchase at the art stores, as well as Dharma Trading, which is based in California. This company is really suited to artists, and they ship internationally. Hope this helps.

Thank you @wylyastley for your kind remarks. I do have a course for Beginners, which you can find here:- skl.sh/3VcQw5s I am still working on an intermediate course, which covers stretching, and that is coming soon. You may contact me with any concerns or questions at clara@claradesigns.com Hope this helps!

Thanks @anyrojas7305 , for your kind words. I use Dye-Na-Flow silk paints, which DO NOT contain alcohol. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your kind words Sherry. I will be doing a few updates and a class soon. Keep experimenting and enjoying the process!🌺🖌️

You are so very welcome! Do check out my Instagram page @claradesignsart for more examples of my work. Enjoy!

Thanks for your question Gitanja. First, I try not to paint large areas of colour, because it is difficult to paint flat colour without getting ‘hard’ lines on my backgrounds. These are lines formed at the edge of dried silk paint. NB. While painting large areas, one MUST be sure to keep the ‘front’ line of the paint WET! This is particularly difficult to do on large areas, as one must work very quickly! Therefore, we deisgn ‘cut-off’ points within the design itself, to prevent unwanted ‘hard’ lines in the background colour. Next, the only time one uses water on the silk, is when one is doing the silk painting watercolour technique, where one spritzes the silk with water before applying the silk dye or paint, and then sprinkling the silk salt for the textural effects. Again, working quickly! Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns that you may still have, at my business email:- clara@claradesigns.com, and for examples of my work at:- www.claradesigns.com and @claradesignsart on my Instagram page. All the best.🖌️🌺

You are very welcome. Do check out my Instagram page @claradesignsart for more samples of my work. Enjoy!

Manmohan, thank you for your question. I was taught to have the design drawn under the silk, NOT directly onto the silk. NB. The lead on the silk is sometimes hard to remove once applied. Hope this helps.🌺🖌️

@@claramitchell746 it seems little difficult to draw from under d silk. But I ll try the way you taught. Thanks a lot.

Hi there Manmohan, Look at the TH-cam video above carefully, as far as seeing the design through the silk. 1. I use a black Sharpie pen to draw the design onto the bright white paper. 2. The design on paper is stuck to the underside of your frame. 3. The silk is attached to the top of your frame, and the gutta is applied. Hope this helps.🌺🖌️

Vicki, You are so very welcome. Continue to enjoy the technique! More videos coming soon! All the best!

Thanks for your kind words Vicki. Getting ready for a few more videos, while working on my new collection. All the best! Don't forget to check out more of my new silk creations on my Instagram page @claradesignsart Thanks again!

Thank you for your request. I have searched, but the only place I can advise that you purchase the Chinese Claws, is at Dharma Trading, which is based in California. (They do ship internationally.) I strongly suggest that you visit their website at www.dharmatrading.com and check out all of the equipment and tools, they carry. I do hope this helps. Remember you may also see more of my work at www.claradesigns.com and at my Instagram account @claradesignsart Enjoy!

Thanks for your question Yvonne. The gutta I use is a water-based gutta, called Jacquard's Resistad, that I purchase from Dharma Trading in California. Once you have applied the gutta, you must let is dry thoroughly, BEFORE applying your colours. The colours I use are Dye-Na-Flow silk paints, which are made specially for silk painting. They are also quite vibrant, and are heat-set by using a very hot iron. (This eliminates the use of the Industrial Electric Steamer.) Much easier for a beginning silk painter. Hope this helps. You may also check my Instagram at @claradesignsart for more examples of my work, as well as www.claradesigns.com

Good Evening Janet Gorelick, The silk MUST be stretched on the frame before any application is done. Remember, the silk filaments are woven, so one must be be sure that the gutta, which ever you choose to use, must go through to the other side, so as to prevent the flow of silk dye or paint from one side of the gutta to the other. Applying the gutta after stretching, will help to eliminate the wrinkling. Don’t forget to test on a small section of stretched silk. Hope this helps. Clara🌺🖌️

Thank you SO much. Guess I'll have to do it again, but thankfully it's a pretty simple design.

@@janetgorelick You are very welcome Janet. Yes, you must begin again, but I bet you won’t make that faux pas again! All the best!🌺🖌️