Vegetarian Silk is a new product.  It is needlefelted from plant fibres and comes in sheet form.  The heavier weight is similar to a silk cap, and the lighter resembles a soft J-cloth in appearance.  No, it is not a J-cloth and is much more versatile!  The plant fibres used in its production are from a sustainable renewable source and the resulting product has a number of uses.

Ideal for the embellisher both qualities of Vegetarian silk can be used on a background to create areas of soft colour and feel.  Combine it with Fine Scrim for extra texture and stitch into it to.

The background for this bluebell scene is made on the embellisher using Vegetarian silk with fine scrim.  The flowers are hand-stitched.

Its soft loose texture won’t give any resistance to the sewing needle, either by hand or machine, making it the dream surface for either.  The embellisher was not used for the above work, the Vegetarian Silk can be clearly seen on the right and left.  The area in the middle has been covered with fine scrim.

Unlike other plant fibres it is possible to gently felt the vegetarian silk.  Pin your piece, cut to size, to a cork board/polystyrene tile or similar and lightly spray with water.  Gently rub areas and you will create additional texture.  With care it is possible to ‘felt’ threads and fibres into the surface of the heavier grade.  It can also be used for devore, manipulated into bowls and, using an application of silk paper medium, can be transformed into ‘paper’ for stitching or other uses.

You can buy it here

Please note that holes and areas of texture are natural within this product