Months ago we clipped a post we’d seen about a Tyvek shower curtain sold by Grain design. We filed it away as a possibility for our soon-to-be-renovated bathroom, since it was touted as being completely waterproof, mildew-resistent and fabric-like (you can even draw on it) with no off-gassing like regular plastic shower curtain liners. The photos on their site showed a pristine, creaseless shower curtain that looks as though it had been ironed.
In our quest for a good-looking shower curtain (stay-tuned for our linerless, ultra-sheer linen shower curtain tests) we ordered one. We immediately squnched it up; it wrinkled and softened in such an oddly beautiful way, we wondered why the folks at Grain hadn’t shown pictures of it’s REAL self (which is what it would turn into if you drew on it…a factor to figure critical to design).
Although we’re still contemplating shower curtain possibilities, we like Grain’s Tyvek one because it IS like a light silky fabric, yet needs no liner, and has a really minimal footprint, without a lot of bunched up fabric. And it’s slightly translucent, so when you’re IN the shower, you don’t feel hemmed in.
You can buy it with, or without, a marking pen for drawing on it: $30 to $33 at Grain Design.
We’re also mulling what other applications Tyvek could be used for.
Related posts: the best fabric pen for ‘drawing just for fun’
d-i-y shower curtain clips: easily removable
unhemmed (ripped) linen with yarn stitching
design your own textiles
copy this: paint a pillow…sofa…bedspread…curtain…
Seriously looking forward to your upcoming post on the linerless ultra sheer shower curtain! Tyvek — interesting, but it’s still envelope material to me.
Tyvek is used quite a bit among the art quilters and mixed media folks cuz it burns and melts and is very, very strong–think backing for heavy piece or slightly crinkled in an embroidery piece, etc. It is also what many of the media mail envelopes are made from. You can also get it (not a curtain, tho) at craft stores like Michael’s if you want to experiment on a smaller piece and not blow the whole curtain away.
All of this is to say that if anyone uses a hot blow dryer near it, you might have a very different curtain!
Thanks so much for the info about where to get Tyvek!
Sally, somehow I missed the Tyvek shower curtain post, and just found your comment wondering what else Tyvek might be used for. As a calligrapher, I’ve used Tyvek for making custom waterproof envelopes… it’s a wonderful surface to write on, and if you use waterproof ink or paint, you can make outdoor event banners, etc. Also, if you stain it with colored inks, it develops a beautiful “patina” that looks sort of like stone. Someone’s probably sent you these web sites already, but in case not:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700103869/Crafters-find-Tyvek-can-do-more-than-wrap-houses.html?pg=all
http://tyvek-blog.materialconcepts.com/
On the Second one there’s a great video of a guy doing Mexican paper cutting using Tyvek… beautiful. It’s a great material!
Dear Jeanne, Thank you SO much for this great info. It’s expanded our view of Tyvek enormously (including alerting us the black Tyvek, which one reader longed for as a shower curtain). We’ve had quite a few fantasies for ways to use Tyvek and are happy to have these resources. GREAT.