smcfadden

I purchased a couple yds. of fabric from an antique store. It looks and feels to me like good quality silk, but I want to make sure it's not rayon or some synthetic. Does anyone know of any tests to determine for sure if it's silk?

Fraew

Hi. The burn test works well. Try this link: http://quilting.about.com/od/fabrice.../burn_test.htm

dublb

Wow I didn't know that silk could be tested the same way as cotton. I see that the smell is the key. Thanks Fraew for this info.
I can't wait to see what you make out of this fabric Susanne.

redmadder

The smell and the feel of the ash. Synthetics will be a crumbly, hard ash, black smoke. Silk will be a fine, powdery grey ash. Hope its the real thing.

jitkaau

Do the burn test.I usually use a candle and tweezers and drop the swatch into an ash tray: Watch the thread as it burns. If the thread is genuine silk, it won't burn but it will glow faintly. It will also give off the smell of burning hair.

ghostrider

Two good references:
http://www.marquise.de/en/themes/howto/stoffkunde.shtml
http://www.ehow.com/how_8163302_dete...ilk-rayon.html

CarolinePaj

We need to know the result!

Hugs