Sewing techniques

SILKEN PIECES
This is a tutorial on how Sha Sha makes her silk costumes
I thought you might appreciate what you are seeing in the theater from far away and how this focus of making the costumes helps the artist to focus on the context of creating a dance.

This is how the sections before they are sewn together on the framework.These are the pieces after they have been airbrushed.

Drawings are sketched on top of freezer paper over two layers of silk.

The lines are then sewn on top of the paper with metallic threads and a double needle.

After all the designs are sewn,the paper is torn away to reveal the silk that is to receive color.

More Designs

More and more pieces

The exposed silk is airbrushed a magenta color.

The paper is torn away to reveal more areas to airbrush. The white areas are where the paper was,which acts like a stencil.

Adding More Colors

Here, for instance, all the colors have been airbrushed and what remains is a thin layer of paper that has not yet been torn away.

All the colors have been airbrushed and what remains is a thin layer of paper.

Again,the little strip of paper is removed carefully revealing the white silk beneath.

Then all the pieces have to be steamed.

A new piece of gauze silk is layered over the top and sewn to make each piece into a little pillow. The pieces are turned inside out and a stiffener is placed inside the enclosure.

The sewn pieces are turned inside out and plastic stiffener is stuffed inside.the little pillow.

Finished assortment to be attached to framework.