When applying silk backing, I'm thinking i should stretch it out and hold the stretch while the glue dries (not by hand, of course    ).

Iss this correct?? I wouldn't think that it would be likely to tear when drawn if pre-stretched?  

done linen but never silk.

Thanks for any help!

Try to find a direction with little-to-no stretch. and make that the direction of your cutout for the bow.  Short of that, use 2 pieces, starting at the tips, clamp them down, and stretch as you go towards the handle.  Overlap the pieces in the middle, to be covered with your handle wrap.
The stretch will be easy to keep from unstretching once it is all down and saturated with your glue.  I like to use a smooth metal tube to help with the stretch/squeezeout of glue.

Mike

Thanks, I was gonna start at the handle, but starting at the tips is definitely gonna work better.  

Appreciate it!

Like linen, silk backing are only for protection and not performance so I see no need to stretch it while glueing. Apply it just like you did the linen.

yeah, i didn't figure on any performance.  It's just so stretchy i figured it'd do a better job holding down splinters if it was tighter across the back.  I suppose the glue matrix takes some of that elasticity out?

Thanks for the input Pat  

Question.  what are you useing for glue with your linnen and silk? I would like to try this but dont know what to use to let the fabric show through.  Thanks

Titebond II or III for me, but i suppose some others might work.

TB3, and it will let you see through to the fabric well.

My site has info on silk. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/