I had no idea until today that I have never shared this here before (though I have talked about it many times on Facebook).  Reproduction silks have become very popular among Viking reenactors, thanks to several companies, including Sartor.  The problem with most silk textiles that we use is that they fray like crazy (and the shreds will cling to everything, and pull more our of your precious investment as you work).

My solution to this issue is to prevent the fraying even before I cut my cloth.  To do this I mix a small amount of white glue into some water. It should be some what thin.  I lay my cloth flat on a nonporous surface and draw my cutting lines on the cloth with a pen or chalk.  I then take a paintbrush and paint the glue mixture over my cutting lines.  I allow it to dry fully and then cut the fabric as normal.  If you cut before you treat, the cloth edges will wumple up as it dries.  Painting the lines on before cutting prevents that.

Note that I do NOT use fraycheck, or other types of liquid stitch products, as they can eat away at silk.  Also, if you drip it onto the cloth, the cloth will forever have a spot on it, whereas you can use some water to further dilute the white glue and get it out of your fabric before it is damaged.  Plain white (elmer's) glue also has no fumes.

There are several articles on my blog that get heavy traffic, including those where I discuss hot-weather garb options for Pennsic ( http://awanderingelf.weebly.com/blog-my-journey/summer-wardrobe ).  I want today to share a friend's blog posts about Archaic Greek Chitons so that folks have even more low-bulk, summer-weight clothing options (and since it is only September, you have plenty of time to get things made before next year). Baroness Anna Dokeianina Syrakousian's work is always lovely and this chiton is no exception (and she is professionally a researcher/historian, so I highly recommend checking out the rest of her blog as well, especially if you have any interest in Byzantine clothing).

annasrome.com/2018/08/30/the-archaic-chiton-requires-an-archaic-himation/

https://annasrome.com/2018/08/30/the-archaic-chiton-requires-an-archaic-himation/

Who is ready to start Pennsic prep???

I started a Facebook page for this blog as there are often news stories, links to academic research, or other items that inspire me that I do not always have time to come here and drop a full blog post about.  Sending them through FB is much quicker (especially as I work in social media mundanely and am on the platform all day).  If you want to see those items, place feel free to Like and Follow my Page there!

https://www.facebook.com/awanderingelf