About Dyed Silk: A design is drawn on the silk with a petroleum based resist. When this resist penetrates through to both sides of the fabric, it forms a barrier. When the resist is dry, dyes can be applied and contained within the separate areas of a pattern or drawing, much like coloring between the lines in a coloring book. After the design is complete and the fabric is dried the color needs to be heat set through a steaming process. The silk is carefully folded and wrapped in several layers of paper and placed in a stock pot or larger commercial steaming container for 3 to 4 hours. The silk is then dry cleaned to remove all of the resist as the petroleum would cause the silk to break down. Finally, the silk can be rinsed in water with a few drops of vinegar to help further clean any residue on surface of fabric.

Silk looks beautiful when light is allowed to filter through it and some like to display it this way. Like any fabric though, light will fade the color and it is best to display it behind conservation glass with a UV ban. A more expensive museum glass may also be used.