You probably want fusible interfacing, also called iron-on interfacing.

Fusible interfacing is usually a non-woven polyester fabric with glue, often in little dots, on one side. It can also be a woven fabric or a knit fabric, also with glue on one side.

You put your fashion fabric on the ironing surface with the wrong (back) side facing up, then put the interfacing on the fabric with the glue dot side facing down. I use a damp press cloth on top of that and then press. The glue is activated by BOTH the heat from the iron and moisture from steam. Often the steam from the iron alone isn't enough to fully activate the adhesive, thus the use of the damp press cloth.

Interfacing can be light or heavy. Heavy ones also tend to have more glue, which also stiffens the fabric.

You can find an assortment of fusible interfacing at Joanns. There are also specialty interfacings that fuse at a much lower temperatures for use with delicate fabrics. Something like this may be better for your project.

From an online article about fusible interfacing:

"There are special purpose interfacings. "Cool Fuse" describes a category of interfacing that can be applied to delicate fabrics with a cooler iron setting. Nylon tricot comes in 60" widths and is excellent for applying to the complete yardage for underlining when you want to change the character of the fabric (such as giving it more body so you can use it for tailoring or to make linen more wrinkle resistant). Textured Weft is a fusible interfacing that allows you to interface fabric with loft (hand woven, mohair, brocades, corduroy, velvets, etc.) without crushing the nap. Flex Weave is a fusible interfacing that maintains the stretch of the fabric (fabrics with lycra, knits, slinkies, etc). Sheer Magic is a lightweight, sheer fusible that comes in several shades of skin tones for use in see-thru fabrics. (See Lisa Shepards article "Invisible Underlayers" in Threads issue #96, Sept 2001.) All of these are manufactured by HTC. "

I suspect that cool fuse is more of a specialty product, and you may not find it at Joann's, but something 60 inches wide would be ideal for your piece of silk. You may be able to buy specialty interfacings like this online. There are a number of online sewing stores that cater to garment sewers; these stores tend to sell products you won't find in your local chain store.

I'd suggest going to Joann's and looking at what they have and pick a few fusible interfacings that seem to be close the the weight you might want to use. Buy 1/4 yard of each (they aren't very expensive), take them home and make some tests. Make sure you get a copy of the instructions for each test interfacing you buy (printed on plastic rolled onto the bolt with the interfacing.) The more glue, the stiffer your fabric will turn out. This may or may not be the effect you want. Sometimes a fusible interfacing will have a much different effect than I imagined, usually because of the heaviness or lightness of the glue, so testing is the way to go.

If you don't have any silk to spare for tests, try testing on a fabric with a similar weight and drape.

Depending on what your project is, there is also fusible batting, which would add fluffiness to your fabric in addition to stabilizing it.

You can Google "fusible interfacing" for more general info.

Whatever you decide, test, test, test first. It would be a shame to have all that silk fused with an interfacing that you don't like.

CMC

OK, so I am looking for cool fuse, non woven, 60" wide interfacing probably? I am assuming that woven will show through the silk and create a texture.

All of the sites I find never mention silk which makes me very nervous. I don't have any extra fabric and need every inch of it so I really can't experiment without it wrecking the use of the silk. I want to thank you for answering and taking the time to educate me on this endeavor. Thanks!

silk has many weaves. are we discussing china silk? charmeuse? dupioni, noil, matta? that will help us tell you what to use to stabilize it.