welcome to silk painting. this class is all about exploring your materials and getting to know what to expect when putting colors on silk. if you'll do a little research at the dharma trading website, there's enough information to help you decide which brand of dye you'll like, which kind of silk, which resist. no worries, tho, they're all good. get small amounts to start, and later we'll discuss larger volumes.

silk - get a dozen of whatever suits you - mix and match maybe. i'm going to use 11x60 habotai 8mm scarves, but you can use 11x11 pocket squares if you like, or buy a length of yardage and cut it up. you don't have to get habotai if you like something else. be aware that every type of silk (charmeuse, crepe, etc.) takes the dye differently. you can use anything, even raw silk; whatever you choose, you'll learn how your material works and go on to produce wonderful items.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1741-AA.shtml?lnav=scarves_silk.html

dyes - get black plus the "primaries" - cyan, magenta, and yellow (different with each brand)

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3278-AA.shtml

resists - clear water based resist (the colored ones don't come out in the wash)

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3251-AA.shtml?lnav=resists.html

clips, rubber bands - you'll need a dozen or two fabric clips or clothespins to hold your silk, and a bag of regular sized rubber bands to tie the clips to the stretchers.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1528-AA.shtml

stretcher bars - 4 pieces of wood, 8 inches longer than your silk, so for a 11x60 scarf, you'll want 20x68, for an 11x11 pocket square, you'll want 4 20" sides. You can get painting stretcher bars from the art store, or lengths of lath from the hardware store, or bamboo rods, or you can just use broom handles and clothes hangers.

brushes - from bamboo sumi brushes from the art store, to sponge paintbrushes from the hardware store.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3259-AA.shtml?lnav=tools_brushes.html

salt, table, kosher, or canning - for the classic salt technique. get it at the grocery.

karo syrup - a novel resist, found at the grocery. get the cheap stuff.

ice cube tray - to mix up different colors.

food steamer - a large metal pot with a steaming basket insert and a lid. this is how you set the dyes.

newsprint, kraft paper, masking tape - to wrap your silk in prior to steaming.

synthrapol - industrial grade detergent to make sure you get all the excess dye out after setting.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2127-AA.shtml

please look here for loads more info on silk painting -

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/614952-AA.shtml?lnav=techniques_silkpaint.html