How to Pick a Silk Stretcher

Choosing a silk stretcher for your silk painting project is not as difficult as you might think. The size of your silk helps determine what kind of stretcher you need. You can buy a stretcher specifically made for stretching silk or other fabrics, or you can create a stretcher using objects you may already have around the house.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Embroidery hoops
• Stretcher bars
• Push pins
• Safety pins
• Rubber bands

1. Use wooden embroidery hoops for small projects. This method is good for painting small areas of silk.

2. Choose wooden stretcher bars for larger projects. You can attach the silk directly to the stretcher with push pins.

3. Suspend silk between stretcher bars by inserting safety pins every 4 inches to the edge of your silk and attaching rubber bands between push pins on the stretcher bars and the safety pins. This method is good for painting items with finished edges, such as silk scarves.

4. Purchase an adjustable silk stretcher system. These are recommended for artists who plan to do large silk paintings or large quantities of silk paintings.

Tips & Warnings

• Raise your silk stretcher off the table by placing blocks or upside down cups under the corners so that your silk does not touch the surface when it sags from the paint or dye.
• You can also create your own silk stretcher by using an old wooden picture frame and attaching the silk with push pins. You can also suspend silk from the frame by following the directions in Step 3.
• Make sure the wood on your stretcher method of choice is smooth and splinter free. Silk is easily picked and you don't want to ruin your silk before or during the painting process.

Resources

• For more information about buying or creating your own silk stretcher, visit dharmatrading.com.