RE: Colored Silk
I have about 10 yards of Dharma 5mm silk. Good stuff. They have a tutorial on their website on dying silk. I also bought their acid dye to color my silk red. PD1 is right about washing the silk twice before dying it. That will removed the "sizing" chemical in order for the dye to take. I remember using Rit dye to color silk and then using a salt in the mix to make the silk color proof. I love the translucent look of colored silk. I remember a pattern contest in Pensacola years ago. A guy, Al Pinson, was flying a Jerry Nelson Pegasus. It was done in red silk with many, many coats of clear dope. Rubbed out to a brilliant shine, it took your breath away when the sun caught it just right. It was the first time that I saw someone flying an old Bramco reed set with separate control box. The good ole days!
Frank