What is silk gauze, and how do I stitch on it?
Silk gauze looks like netting or panty hose with very fine, even mesh. You can’t do pulled stitches on it, and it is not blocked when finished. Traditionally the background of a silk gauze piece is not stitched, as unstitched mesh seems to disappear in contrast with the stitched area. Silk gauze comes in various counts (32, 40, and 48 holes per inch are common), colors (ecru and black are generally available), and either already mounted in acid-free mat board or just straight off the bolt. Unmounted is cheaper. Mounted silk gauze looks like a matted picture, with the gauze in the center. It is easier to stitch on silk gauze if it is either mounted in a mat or sewn into the center of a piece of fabric which is then put into a hoop or onto a scroll frame or stretcher bars. Kreinik’s Soie d Alger silk thread, or one strand of cotton floss covers beautifully on 40 count. Except for the #28 size, tapestry needles are too fat for the meshes in silk gauze. SharonG recommends #15 or #16 beadin
