Common Ground on the Hill

A regional folklife center ofmaryland state arts council's maryland traditions program,
in residence at Mcdaniel College in Westminster, MD.

In this workshop, you will learn to degum the surface of a silk organdy scarf. Degumming is the process of removing sericin (silk gum) from silk. Removing the gum improves the silk's luster, color, feel, and texture. Most commercial silk fabrics are sold completely degummed, but in this work shop you will learn how silk fibers can be degummed and hand-painted on the areas where sericin remains and where it has been removed, giving layers of depth and texture to colors and patterns.