Playsilks are expensive!

[HappyMommy2]

Doesn't anybody make "play-cottons"??? Or any other cheaper material? Also looking for some clips to help make tents and what-nots.

I don't sew or own a sewing machine.

Thanks!

[zinemama]

Yes, they are! Why the fascination with expensive playsilks, I'll never understand. I think it's something some people feel they need to buy in order to participate in the full-on Waldorf experience. (Thus contributing to the reputation of the "Waldorf lifestyle" as a game for the wealthy.)

But I digress. There is plenty of inexpensive fabric to be had at your local fabric store. Just go, look for what's on sale, and get a yard (or less) of a couple of colors and you'll be good to go.

[JamieCatheryn]

Check this out:

http://www.dharmatrading.com/topnav/scarves/

Undyed but readymade silks for cheap, other fabrics too. With silk, you can dye it with vinegar and any pigment (natural stuff, kool-aid, food coloring, acid dyes), in a pot of almost-simmering water

[sanguine_speed]

I have ordered from dharma and dyed my own silks with kool aid with great success!:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s.../dyedsilks.jpg

[-Grace-]

Here's another cheap source: http://www.thaisilks.com/index.php?c...tcii9rn0a3vhi4

Make an activity out of dying these at home and save yourself the astronomical amount of money on pre-dyed ones. Just toss on a smock or old play clothes and break out the Kool-Aid.

We use one to play peek-a-boo, and she loves how it feels. We used towels and scraps of fabric when I was a kid, so I think playsilks are just fancied up versions of what we used to use from around the house.

[One_Girl]

We just buy cotton at the yarn store and my dd plays with it unsewn. She loves to pick out her own colors and when she cuts it for her art project it isn't a big deal because we can get a lot more for a few dollars.

If you just sling a sheet over a few chairs you don't need clips to hold it on. Clipping it to make it less likely to slip may be nice, but if you pull on it while it is clipped the chair will fall and that can be very painful.

[verde]

I get silk scarves at the thrift store. They usually have patterns but they flow beautifully, come in different sizes and you really can't get much cheaper!

[honey-lilac]

I second getting some at the thrift store. We've found a pretty good selection!

On the other hand, while I wish I could afford ALL the cool Waldorf stuff - it's not happening. There are a few things that are worth it, though, and the silks are used like every DAY at our house, all day long. It gets great mileage for the money spent. But yes, you can get them cheaper.

[averlee]

I agree with verde and honey-lilac about checking out some thrift stores. I used thrift-store scarves instead of receiving blankets to give some coverage while nursing, and many from that batch- which were 25 cents to a dollar each, some silk, some huge- are still her favorite toys.

[notneb]

Originally Posted by verde

I get silk scarves at the thrift store. They usually have patterns but they flow beautifully, come in different sizes and you really can't get much cheaper!

We do this too. I've found some really beautiful scarves, and DS enjoys playing with them.

[To-Fu]

I just use stuff I find around the house (bandanas, even), or thrift store goodies.

[sunnmama]

We bought them from thaisilks (linked above) and dyed them ourselves. I do find that the actual silks get a lot more play than the other fabric remnants we have in the dressup box. They drape better, are lighter, and feel better on the skin. They are also more durable than other drapey fabrics you find in the fabric store (don't run or tear). Ours have gotten tons and tons of play, and still look new. "dress up" quality fabrics have all torn over the years.

Clips: We use clothes pins and these spring clips from the hardware store. Cheap!