Quilt to Jacket to Beads.

Ok, I know that sounds odd, but I am an artist and I follow where my muse leads me most times.  So, let me explain, please.  I bought a box at an auction for a $1 in the early 1990's.  In the bottom of the box among now other un-recalled things was this unfinished but beautiful crazy quilt made of silk pieces and embroidered with silk floss.  I have loved this quilt and it has always hung on an old auction found oak rocker back, because it is so beautiful.    Here is a couple of scans of the quilt so you can see what a beauty it is.

You can just tell someone loved this quilt and put lots of love into making it, highlighting pieces with beautiful hand work.

Well, I have thought for ever that I would finish the quilt.  But, I had to gather some silk pieces to do that.  I have been gathering pieces of silk here and there to make the quilt pieces-sometimes pieces at yard sales, sometimes garments at yard sales and thrift shops.  One piece I found is this nubby silk cream colored tailored jacket.

Love the feel of this piece.  It had a cream colored lining and a label marked 100% silk!

But as I was deconstructing the jacket I became mentally involved in whether the lining was actually silk or not.  At some time in my life, I read somewhere that you can tell the difference between synthetics and  natural fibers with heat.  Synthetics will melt, naturals will burn... or so the theory goes.  I decided to give this a test.  But, I like to make tests that give me something useful, so, I gathered up my bead making knitting needles, lol.  

I think they are like size 5 and 3 there about.  I don't knit, but I bought a bundle of metal and a few plastics of these needles at the yard sale mall... cheap, of course, since I had no idea what I would do with them, (then.)  Since I have discovered they are wonderful tools for making beads from paper and, yep, especially synthetic fibers!

Here is the process:  I cut a long triangle of paper, or fabric in this case, or I could use synthetic yarns to wrap around my needle.

I wind my chosen material up on a dowel or in my case a metal knitting needles..

So, I wound a piece of the lining from the jacket on the needle with the expectations that if it was synthetic I would have beads, and if not... well, I would know for sure, ya know?  lol

Once you get the synthetic on the needle, then you have to apply heat... I used my trusty adjustable heat gun set on high and and at highest temp.  cuz I want this stuff to melt fast if it is going to melt. The metal knitting helps with this as it is a great conductor of heat.

And the results?  This lining fabric is.... synthetic.. it melts onto itself and it gave me some beads... which I will use to tie onto a neck scarf I am making.. They should make a fun and light weight fringe, don't you think?  Some embellishing with shiney glittery paint here and there will be in order too.

So, thank you my muse, for leading me from a quilt, to a jacket, to beads.... and I guess eventually to a scarf, he he.