One of the most used fabrics in the market is silk. It is known for its soft feel to the skin and the fact that it is very strong. Most people use it especially in nightwear since it allows them to be comfortable and absorbs and sweat. However, as time has gone by, it has become difficult to know if you are buying a real silk pillowcase. The reason for this is there are so many imitations that look like real silk. If you have issues identifying what is real and not, here are some pointers for you.
1. The touch test
One of the easiest and common methods one can use when buying the material is the touch test. It is simple because you do not have to go through so much trouble to use if it is silk. Simply take your hand and run it across the fabric, silk is very smooth. The other thing you will notice with silk is that it starts to feel warm after rubbing your hands against it. The other silk imitations will not have that feel to them. If you also feel like the fabric has a roughness to it, then that is not silk.
2. Its appearance in light
With silk fabric, the colors slightly change when you are looking at it from different angles. If you are in a bright place, try turning the fabric around to see how it behaves in the light. You will notice that it changes the shade slightly. If it does not, you know that you are not dealing with silk.
3. Pass it through a wedding ring
Based on how heavy the fabric is, you can also use a ring test to determine whether or not the fabric is silk. Take your wedding ring and thread the silk through it. Since silk is very smooth and delicate, it will pass through the ring without resistance. If you notice a resistance level, then there is a huge chance you are not dealing with genuine fabric.
4. The burn test
While this is the surest way to know if you are dealing with actual silk, not many sellers will let you use it, so keep that in mind. If you have tried the other method and are still not satisfied, you might want to consider this. People often only use this method when they have bought the fabric and still have doubts about it. Here are the steps to follow when you are doing the test:
- Cut a piece of the fabric.
- Using a lighter, burn this piece of fabric. It should smell like burnt hair.
- The flame should also go off when you take the piece away from the fire.
- The residue is ashy and crumbles when you rub it between your fingers. Any other result means you are not dealing with genuine silk.
Last words
Getting the right fabric will determine the quality of clothes you produce. Take your time and figure out if you got the right fabric. It will ensure you can create whatever piece you want without an issue.
