Fir

Or perhaps it would it be better to fuse the interfacing to silk, and then wash it?

If the above can be done, are some silks more washable than others?

<Scratching head and wondering>
Renee

Dear Renee,

First, most fabrics (except maybe polyester double knit) will need touch-up ironing after laundering.

Next, fusible interfacing may or may not be appropriate to fuse onto your silk - it depends on the type of silk and also what kind of garment you are making. The technique you describe - cutting the same pattern piece in both the lining and the fashion fabric, then sewing them together as one - is called "underlining" and is generally used when it's necessary to stabilize or give extra stiffness/weight to your fabric (such as in very structured formal wear or a tailored suit jacket). Silk organza is often used for this. You can use fusible or sew-in interfacing for this...but it does not really reduce the need for ironing.

Finally, washing silk is generally not recommended - especially silks like dupioni, shantung or taffeta. These will have to be dry cleaned. Some silk broadcloths and raw silk noil can be gently washed by machine. However, as with other fibers, you'll want to immediately pull your silk garments out of the washer and hang it up to reduce/prevent wrinkles. Touch up ironing will still be needed.

I hope this helps.
Dianna

Note from Jan: I wash my silk broadcloth blouse (which has interfacing in the cuffs-collar-frontfacing and no lining) using baby shampoo either by hand or gently in the washing machine. Because I do not like the "wings" the hanger leaves in the shoulders of my blouse, and like you I dislike ironing, I fluff dry my treasured blouse in the drier using NO HEAT. It takes a while but is worth the results.