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 About
Silk: silk thread is made by
unwinding the cocoon of the Bombyx Mori moth chrysalis. First
discovered in China more than 4500 years ago and smuggled out to the West
2000 years later, silk is now produced across Asia and Europe, although the
main sources are Japan, China and India. Manufacture of silk is still an
industry requiring a great deal of manual labor, and the cost of silk
reflects this. Of course, if the prices of silk get you down, you can always
buy your own silkworms from a Silkworm
supplier and 'unroll' your own.
 Each silk fabric
link page to the left goes to a page on that specific silk fabric, where you
can find detailed information, pricing, use and care suggestions. Where a
color card is available, the file size is noted before you download.
 Limitations: Silk is smooth and does not attract dirt as much
as other fibers, silk doesn't mildew easily, and moths aren't interested in
it. But silk can be damaged by sunlight, bleach, perspiration, harsh
detergents and heat.
To keep your silk looking its best, always
launder silk garments immediately if they become stained and after wearing
when you are 'active' (we learned in Australia that ladies do not sweat, they
'glow'). Store silk away from sunlight and heat, and use a cool iron when
pressing. With just a bit of care, your silk garments will last quite a long
time. See also the silk Care tips under the 'Fabric Care' button to the left.
Width: Silk is seldom wider than 45". All our silk is
45" wide unless noted otherwise
Constant Inventory
 We keep the following types of silk on hand as part
of our core inventory. However; because our stock changes often and
hysterical, raiding bridal parties are known to buy unpredictable quantities,
it is best to order over the phone or check via e-mail.
Please visit the individual silk fabric
style pages with the link buttons to the left
- 100% silk charmeuse: Satiny and drapey, it
puts the 'silk' in silky
- 100% silk dupioni: Iridescent, with slight
natural slubs. Best suited for tailored garments
- 100% silk 4-Ply silks - a medium to heavy
weight crepe, lustrous with a pebbled finish
- 100% silk noil - Light and nubby
- Silk velvet (silk/rayon blend) - simply the best
- Burnout Silk velvet (silk/rayon blend) - Same
as above with peek-a-boo viewing ports
- 100% silk organza (white) - 54" wide
- 100% silk gauze (white) - 42" wide
- 100% silk chiffon
- On the 'Other Silks' page:
- Embroidered silk (white base)
- 100% silk broadcloth (white)
- Silk brocades (Chinese patterns, silk/rayon
blend)
- 100% silk crepe
- 100% silk crepe de Chine
- 100% silk Peau de Soie (duchess satin)
- 100% China silk
- Very unusual: silk / metal tissue
- 100% silk 8 mm habati
Variable Inventory
We have varying styles and
colors of the following silks, according to demand. Check the 'Other Silks'
page and the 'New Arrivals' page.
- 100% silk matka
- 100% silk jacquards
- 100% silk georgette
Silk for bridal gowns
The following silks are
most often used in bridal gowns:
- silk mikado is 58", $70.00/yd
- silk dupioni
- 4 Ply silk
- silk charmeuse
- peau de soie (duchess satin)
See the pages on each.
Sewing
 Silk is generally a bit more difficult to sew than
other fabrics, and it ranges greatly by weave: silk dupioni is relatively
easy, silk georgette is very hard to sew (it's slippery). We have noted sewing
difficulty and pitfalls with each fabric. Whatever you pick, make it a bit
easier by using a sharp (not a ball point) needle. You may need a special
foot is you are sewing Georgette and other sewing machine digestible silk.
Hand washing
Nearly all the silk we
sell is washable. And careful washing will make your silks last longer and
stay more beautiful. Click on the 'Fabrics Care' buttons to the left.
The Burn Test
Wonder what that fiber is?
The Burn Test is a quick way to determine the fiber content of an unknown
fabric:
In a well-ventilated area, and away from flammable materials, unravel a few
threads of the fabric in question. Lighting a match or lighter, move the
sample slowly first up to the flame and then into it, watching carefully.
Remove it from the flame, still watching the fibers and extinguish it if
necessary.
Silk fibers curl away from the flame, burn slowly with some melting,
may self-extinguish when the flame is removed, and smells like burned
feathers, kinda like when Suzanne's mother hit that Buzzard with her
Winnebago. Burned silk leaves a brittle, crushable round black bead after
burning.
Rayon doesn't shrink from the flame, burns with a bright yellow flame
leaving a flaky ash, and smells like burning wood.
Acetates, acrylics and polyesters, on the other hand, shrink from the
flame, burn with some melting, and have a vinegar, acrid or chemical smell,
leaving a hard black bead. Nylon has a vegetable smell when burned.
See the other Fiber pages for other burn
test results.
Special Orders
If we don't have what you
want, we can generally find just about anything you need, but the minimum for
special orders is usually eight yards. Call or e-mail in your inquiries.
Copyright ©:
1998-2002, Silk Road, inc.
3910 N. Lamar, Austin, TX, USA 78756
Tel: +1 (512) 302-0844
Fax: +1 (512) 302-0611
Comments? Questions? Write us at: webmistress@srfabrics.com
Site designed and maintained by OriGen.com
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