Amazing Frugal gift!!!!

[ediesmom]

I have been wondering WTH i'm going to do for gifts for Christmas. I just ran across sights for playsilks and silk scarves for a few (meaning$2) a piece!!! They are white, so you can die them yourself to personalize!

www.dharmatrading.com


and www.thaisilks.com (site not easy to navigate)

and if you do the real snail mail shipping its so cheap.

I mean, you could take care of all the babies, girls, and women on your list for a few dollars each plus a little time. They also have silk underwear really reasonable.

hope this is even half as exciting for someone else as it is for me i hate to be the only poor geek going

[Thystle]

The local AP moms group did a bulk group order one year and then had a "dyeing" party.

[shayinme]

You reminded me that I need to place an order since I want to make silks for dd. Gonna order a few and dye them with the koolaid. Much cheaper than buying them already dyed.

Shay

[mightymoo]

I did that a while back. Kool-aid doesn't dye them as well as I was told. They came out looking good, but I couldn't get it to stabilize, they constantly bled whenever they got wet (like if a kid put it in their mouth, or spilled a drink on it). Also, wear gloves when you dye, my hands looked awful afterwards, I figured it didn't matter it was only kool-aid and vinegar, but it will dye your fingers too.

If I was doing it over again, I'd spring for the real silk dye, not the kool-aid. It sounded cool but just didn't work, and I tried it a bunch of different ways, followed several different sets of directions, etc.

[spsmom]

Originally Posted by ediesmom

I mean, you could take care of all the babies, girls, and women on your list for a few dollars each plus a little time. They also have silk underwear really reasonable.

Um, excuse me, but my 2 boys are huge fans of playsilks! this is not just limited to girls!

our playgroup just did a co-op for the second time. I think playsilks are our number 1 plaything in the house! i may have an obsession, though. last I count we have about 15!

[momaste]

If you're in the Bay Area, you can take a trip over to Thai Silks in Los Altos. It's a cute little store. We bought fabric for our wedding there and the sales people were super helpful. Plus, so many pretty fabrics!

[Shoe]

Could someone please explain what playsilks are and what do you do with them?

[AmmiK]

Ok what is the ideal type and size to buy for children??

[sunanthem]

yup, got my playsilks for this year in the last dharma co op. I still have to dye them though.

[aircantu1]

Could someone please explain what playsilks are and what do you do with them?

Haha! Thanks for asking.

I've seen them at a resale shope and guess I know what they are -- I'm just not sure how you "play" with them or what they're really for.

[maizy]

I want to buy some play silks but from the website not sure which type. I guess it doe snot really matter but perhaps one of you is a play silk pro and can clue me in. My son has lots of scarves and silks. I've always wanted the silk waldorf types but refuse to spend much.

Also, I've never dyed how easy is it to do?

[blessed with boys]

Thanks for the great idea!

[mommyddeville]

I've seen people buy the 11" silks through the 35" silks for their kids to play with. I've dyed a few for my son that are 30", and those are the ones that he uses the most. I've tied them on him like a sling for his bear, he wears them as superhero capes, he carries his treasures in small ones, we use them to be crowns and hats and different dress up clothes.

We use them the way you'd use any piece of toy fabric, but they're also SO pretty. I want to make a toy area in my son's room and put some on the ceiling and walls to make a canopy.

[spsmom]

Originally Posted by Shoe

Could someone please explain what playsilks are and what do you do with them?

We have lots of dyed silks in many sizes ranging from 11"x24" to 35"x35" to 21"x72". we also have some silks from the thrift store that have funky prints. usually used fashionably for things like tying around your head, neck, or waist, i presume. but we use them for play.

some things they have been used for:
cape
blue one laid under our train track as a river
pinned up with clothes pins to make a canopy
to "wrap" presents and play birthday party
baby doll blanket
baby doll sling

that's off the top of my head, but I know there are many other uses! absolutely the most versatile plaything in the boys' room!

[Mama2Bug]

Originally Posted by Shoe

Could someone please explain what playsilks are and what do you do with them?

(bolding mine)

Playsilks are to play with, of course!

Honestly, your kids will find things to do with them that you never could have thought up. Just give them a few and see.

[MrsAprilMay]

OK, the website has a bunch of different kinds of silk scarves. Which ones do you ladies use for play silks? Devore? Satin? Habotai?

[ediesmom]

well, the habotai are really affordable....thats what I'm using

and I love long silk scarves, so I am making the (?) 14x72 inch ones. Its cold in Maine, but if you wrap a silk scarf around 2 or 3 times its as warm as a woolie. And they don't itch

[DesireeH]

My son does the cape thing too. My DD uses them for her "babies." LOL