I love dupioni. It’s quite easy to sew, really. Use a new needle (I use all-purpose needles, which really are almost all-purpose except for very fine or very heavy fabrics) and remember that the dupioni frays quite a bit. It also shrinks, so pre-wash your fabric. I always wash silk by hand and almost never dry clean it, especially for kids’ clothes.
Seams can slip a bit, meaning that if you pull on the fabric at either side of a seam little holes can develop at the seamline. There are a few ways to combat this: You could use French seams where appropriate, select a loose-fitting pattern that won’t be very tight anywhere, or stitch a second seamline just inside the first one and press the seam allowances to one side where appropriate.
In general, just give yourself a chance to practice with the fabric a bit before you get started. And be sure to finish your seam allowances as you go (or even before you start, if possible) to avoid all that fraying.
Have fun with it! Can anyone think of anything to add?
