Anti-tarnish Silver Cloth Bags

by Judy Larson

Category: Non-Jewelry Items
Technique(s): General Education
Skill Level: Beginner

My grandmother collected silver serving pieces and silverware in the 1920's. My mother remembered hating her chore of having to polish all the silver-often. When my mother inherited some of the pieces in the mid 1950's, she discovered silver cloth. She lined drawers for silverware and made bags for larger pieces so she would not have to polish the silver. When I inherited the some of the pieces, they came with the silver cloth. None of the silver needs polishing yet.
Anti-tarnish paper and plastic strips work, but only for a short time. Storing pieces sealed in plastic bags helps, but does not last for years. Anti-tarnish plastic bags are available, but again, have a shelf life.

Because of how well silver cloth works, I wanted to make bags to store the silver and gold Christmas Angel Ornaments I made for the Grandchildren. I did and internet search for "anti-tarnish silver cloth" and found a supplier. There was enough left to make myself many bags for jewelry, as well as lining and making a cover for a drawer in my dresser that I wanted to use for jewelry.

Available in a variety of colors, anti-tarnish silver cloth bags will help keep tarnish producing gases in the air from reaching your silver jewelry and will be effective for years. Washing will remove the anti-tarnish properties so I chose brown to make my bags. The only drawback is that the bags are not see-through.

Materials

ShineBrite Silver Dip - 8 Ounces

CLN-856.01

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.95
Gold Club Price: $5.21

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Sunshine Satin Polishing Cloth, Single Pack

G9-3

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.04
Gold Club Price: $3.03

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Tools

No tools listed

Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies being used and the space you are working in.

Fold the silver cloth in half lengthwise, with the selvages (woven edges) even-the top edge in the diagram

Judy Larson's Anti-tarnish Silver Cloth Bags - , Hair Accessories, Zipper Pulls, Christmas Ornaments, , anti tarnish bag pattern

Step 2

Open the cut strip. Square up the selvage (woven) end by cutting off the selvage. Measure, mark, and cut 5½" (13.97cm) sections from the squared end.

Step 3

Zig-zag around the entire edge of each bag strip.

Step 4

On both short sides, measure down 1½" (3.81cm) from each corner. I marked with pins, but a chalk pencil would work, too.

Step 5

Fold the corners in as shown and press down.

Step 6

Stitch the triangle flaps down as shown.

Step 7

Fold the edge with the stitched corners down a bit over 5/8" (17mm). Press in place if desired.

Step 8

Stitch the folded down section across the full with of the fabric on or just above the zig-zag stitching.

Step 9

Fold the bag strip in half, matching up the folded and stitched ends. With the bag sides even, pin the bag sides. Stitch the sides just inside the zig-zag stitching, backstitching at the top and bottom of each side.

Step 10

Turn the bag right side out.

Step 11

Cut two 16" (40.64cm) pieces of ¼" ( 6.35mm) or 3/8" (9.525mm) wide ribbon.

Step 12

Fold one end of one end over and attach a safety pin. Thread the ribbon through the casing around the top of the bag.

Step 13

Remove the safety pin. Match the ribbon ends. Tie an overhand knot to secure the ends together.

Step 14

Starting on the opposite side of the casing, repeat Steps 12 and 13.

Step 15

To prevent fraying, melt the ends of the ribbon using a lighter or a match.

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!