Painting on silk scarves is actually quite simple and rewarding. I originally did this project with a group of Kindergartners. When I introduced them to the project I suggested that they think in terms of simple shapes and to not worry if their colors bled into one another. I tried to follow my own advise when I painted the pictured scarf.
Dharma Trading Company has a great site and reasonable prices for ordering white scarves. I used acrylic paint mixed with about 4 parts water so that it is slightly thicker than watercolor. Make sure that you have newspapers or a drop cloth underneath your scarf since the color will go right through. I initially planned on working in just blue and gold, but the gold had a rather drab look, so I added the reddish orange and pale green. When the scarf dries you can soak it in warm water and fabric softener. The finished product will be stiff if you do not sufficiently dilute the paint.
