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Mr. Ree Elite user Sedona AZ 414 Posts |
I have done both Traveling Knots and Sympathetic Silks and have my own routines.
I have always used the recommended "silks" in the past. As recommend for the Sydini routines or the Tony Clark version. (I am also familiar with Paul Potassy’s routine.) I would like to use ladies scarfs if possible as I am using them in an earlier routine. From actual experience has anyone previous used lady’s scarfs instead of traditional “magic silks”. (This is for stage so a large size is good. My previous work was for parlor.) I’ve done a lot of thread searching here at the Café and elsewhere but never found any definitive answers on lady’s scarfs. Any comments on where to buy, material content i.e. must they be 100% silk, etc would be helpful. (I do understand from Potassy’s routine they must be “heavy”.) I will end up with between 4 and 6 scarfs depending on which routine I decide to use. To just start buying stuff to experiment with could waste both time and 100s of dollars. Thanks in advance, David
An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.
---- William Bernbach (1911 - 1982) ---- (After 25 years of PCs, everything switched to Macs, June 2008) |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
If the silks or scarves are large enough (30 inches square or so) there is a nice finale that makes it APPEAR that you could have performed this with borrowed ladies scarves - although it is unlikely you would be able to find four such scarves being worn by four women in a given audience. After doing the usual four scarf (two and two) sympathetic silks (so the audience knows what to expect), invite two women up and lay the separated silks over their shoulders which suggests they could be used as ladies scarves. Have one woman turn around with her back to the audience and tie the ends of her scarves together. Ask the first woman who is still facing the audien ce to pull down on the scarves that are resting on her shoulders and she will find that her two scarves are now tied together in the back. Meanwhile, have the woman who turned her back on the audience turn and face the audience once more (with the two scarves tied together). Have the other woman untie her scraves and hold one in each hand (sort of a "ta-dah" position). Then have the other woman do the same with her scarves which have suddenly become "magically" untied. It gets genuine spontaneous applause for an effect which (in my opinion) usually only gets sympathetic and half-hearted applause. As an encore, gather up the four scarves while thanking the women and returning them to their seats, and then suddenly throw all four silks in the air to end with a chain of silks. By then the audience "gets it" and generally responds with a second burst of applause.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
I'm sorry I can't give you any information but you might try going to the local thrift stores and see if they have two of the sort of scarves you're looking for (or use two corners of the same scarf).
You could try the tie right there or buy a couple. Two should be all you need to check for viability. -Mary Mowder |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
I believe it is in the Rice instructions sheet and their books by Rice Silk King Studio that talked about the reasons silk material is used and the 1/16 inch hem is applied to the silks for this effect.
The proper silks can be obtained from Silk King Studio and P&A Silk, P&A silk is a heavy weight silk. If you desire to make the silks yourself, then find the silk colors you desire and have a 1/16" hem applied to all sides of the silk material. The reason such a small hem is so the knots will not get caught. In the Magic of Paul Potassy book on page 59, it states he uses "silk" that he found on the "Champs-Elysees in Paris" France. "They are made from heavy silk manufactured in Lyon, France." His scarves measure 28-1/2" by 28-1/2" they are "hand rolled and hand stitched rather then hemmed". So on your next vacation to Paris France obtain the material you need. You might want to have someone in that country hand roll and hand stitch the scarves as I have not heard of this being done in this country. I have used the cheaper "store" lady scarves years ago, and found that the Rice statement is true. If your knots are pulled tight, then they will catch on a hand rolled scarf, and the effect will be spoiled. |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Wm is correct in that you need to have heavier flat hems. The rolled hems will not work or hold up. I don't know what the situation is with P&A silks with Pete's passing. I have not heard that Cynthia is filling any orders. Rice may have the silks you need. I also make the silks that can be used. They need to be at least 8 momme.
If you decide you want to use regular scarves, you will need to reinforce (resew) the hems so they hold up. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
As to where to buy silk on the consumer market, very high end fabric stores usually carry silk material. Of course this silk is for clothing, so it is even heavier then we use in magic, but it will work. I found the colors not to be as vibrant as needed for performing.
I don't know if you are married, but take you wife or girlfriend shopping to all the ladies stores in your area. I have seen some very nice large scarves in ladies stores. Again, mostly on the high end stylish kind of stores. These scarves worn by woman to accent their clothing are very vibrant and colorful. Not subdued as in clothing apparel. Many had very nice art designs on them as well. Of course you will have to take out the rolled hem and give it a very small flat hem, to work properly for this trick. You mentioned Slydini scarves, this is Parachute or rip cord Silk, and not the same type of silk used for Sympathetic Silks routine. It is more difficult to find as it was used in WWII by pilots. Parachutes are no longer made out of silk material. |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
Good place to get white silks and scarves for use as is, for painting or for dying. http://www.dharmatrading.com/topnav/scarves/
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Dharma is a good source but the scarves are all hand rolled hems.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
Mr. Ree Elite user Sedona AZ 414 Posts |
Spelbinder: Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas on an interesting method
of presentation. (As well as a link for white silks and scarves.) As I read your various comments here at the Café you often get my creativity flowing. Mary: Thank you. I will do some experiments with tying some knots in the store. It would be a quick way to test a wider variety of mixtures of materials. wmheghli: Thank you for the information on material and type of hem. It makes sense and helps to verify why I sometimes had problems with some of the silks I’ve ordered in the past. I’ve only order silks that were for were supposedly made for traveling knots or sympathetic silks but the results varied widely. Sometimes fraying too quickly or never releasing very well. (I think one set was advertised to be made from parachute material but it seemed more like nylon and not silk.) Also thank you for the size information. From Mr. Potassy’s video it was hard to tell the size of the silks he was using. (And I had guessed wrong.) Richard: Thank you for the verification of requirments as well as the additional information. I will carefully make sure that I don’t get hand rolled hems. BTW because of the information you all have graciously shared I have learned much more about what allows the successful presentation of these types of routines. (I even looked up an now understand the difference between hand rolled hems vs flat hems.) ------- My wife Cindy, of 32 years, has this all figured out. First we’ll visit “all” the high end stylish ladies stores in out area. (She’s fairly sure I won’t find exactly what I need so we’ll need a second phase.) But after our fervent searching from phase one “she” will be ready for our trip to Paris. Yes, I get to come along. Then, finally after a few weeks in Paris I can pick up a few silks before heading home She’s also looking to the future and thinking that I should come up with some Asian flavored routines in the near future. (But only ones that need “special” props”;) (Spellbinder the above “script” is your fault.)
An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.
---- William Bernbach (1911 - 1982) ---- (After 25 years of PCs, everything switched to Macs, June 2008) |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Tell her it works best with Hermes scarves and that you only need 6 of them.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
wally Inner circle 1828 Posts |
Just bought Alexander de cova dvds, Now I want to perform the travelling knot from silk. I am looking for 4 x bright yellow square silks about 36" x 36". I live in UK. I may look at the china silks.
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 6, 2014, wally wrote: Wally, here is the reference for Silk King Studios. Regular silks: http://www.silkkingmagic.com/Rice's%20S......ilks.htm You can check with Abbott's Magic, for their Abbott brand of silks, the last I heard they use a heavier Italian silk. http://www.abbottmagic.com/Abbotts-Solid......ilks.htm Make sure they understand you do not want cheap imports, you want Abbott's hand dyed silks, as they are not selling other non-Abbott's brand silks as well. Other then that, check on eBay, there have been several references to silk scarves in this section. |
StevieDee Regular user Salt Lake City area 154 Posts |
Go on Ebay and search for "Womens Ladies 100% Silk Charmeuse Square Scarf Shawl 32"x32" 30 colors". That should lead to you an Ebay store called SistersSilk2008. A solid color 32" scarf is $18.95. They are pure silk and nicely heavy. While I am a Rice fan, I have purchased several silks from these folks when I needed something a little thicker for cover purposes. Because of the weave used (charmeuse, whatever the heck that is) the silks are shiny only on one side, but since you're representing them as ladies scarves that should pose no problem. Also, the hems are not flat or rolled, but are a locked hem. (Look inside a pair of trousers--not jeans--to see what this hem is like. Most clothing uses a locked hem to keep cut edges from fraying.) Their service is good and reliable; usually I get my order in about 10 days, which isn't bad considering it comes direct from China.
In experimenting with these scarves, I found it's easy to upset a square knot tied in them. You may want to give them a try. Also, if you dig around their Ebay store a little, you can also find similar print designs (as opposed to solid color). In the spirit of transparency, I must add that I originally got the lead on this source from another Café member. |
wally Inner circle 1828 Posts |
Thank you for that info.
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wally Inner circle 1828 Posts |
Just decided after watching paul potassy S/Silks last night, That I will start looking for the correct scarfs / silks. I do prefer his polka dot scarfs, But I may go for these http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Silk-Scarf-S......15026978 Does anyone know any other shops. Please message me before I order them, Cheers, magicwalsh@gmail.com
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
If you use the magnifier tool on the product you listed, then you will notice that the edges are surged with a surging machine. These will not work, although you do have more then enough to create a flat French hem.
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I have made flat hemmed Sympathetic Silks for the trick a couple of times. I use the 12 mm silk which is heavier and takes the gaff.
Bill is correct in that the serged hems will not hold up to this effect. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
JNeal Inner circle I used to have 999 posts, now I have 1617 Posts |
Richard has stated the facts. The heavier silk of 12 momme (often called habotai silk) will last longer than silks designed for general use or for production.
If silks that will withstand constant and regular performances are not required, then you can use all sorts of designer scarves. And as Bill mentioned serged hems are NOT preferred. FLAT hems are the best. You might look into 'Wild rags' (aka cowboy silk neckerchiefs) that are reasonably priced for a patterned 8 momme silk. But the hem should be converted from rolled toflat for best performance use. I've made plenty of silks and the flat hems are the most durable and useful for this effect.
visit me @ JNealShow.com
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