Silk fabric
Posted by Textile MBSTU on Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Under: Apparel / Fabric
Silk fabric is known for its softness, luster, beauty and luxurious look. It is one of the higher grade fabrics, which gives the wearer comfort in all types of weather. It keeps the body cool in summer and warm in winter. It is the strongest natural fabric in the world.
It is said that silk was discovered during 2640 B.C. in China. Chinese Empress, Hsi Ling Shi studied the silkworm and learned the art of unwinding the silk from the cocoon and made silk fabric from it. This was the beginning of silk industry in China. Today it holds over 50% of the silk production in the world. Japan ranks second followed by Brazil and India.
Indian silk textiles are popular worldwide because of its sheer variety of designs, weaving and quality. Thai silk is one of the most valued fabrics in the world. USA is the world’s leading manufacturer of silk products and France and Italy are the leading manufacturers of high value sophisticated silk fabrics in Europe.
Luxurious and expensive dresses and home furnishings are made of silk fabric. Silk wedding gowns, sarees, kurtas, scarves, silk evening wear and suits are widely used for their elegant look, lustrous shine and sumptuous feel. The different varieties of silk are Chiffon, Georgette, Organza, Crepe de Chine, Duponi, Noil, Pongee, Shantung, Tussar, etc.
Process of creating Silk Fabric
From Cocoon to Yarn
Silk from cultivated silkworms is more used though silk of wild worms is also valuable. The worms feed on mulberry leaves and increases their body size by nearly 10,000 times in a short span of time. The worm ceases to eat by the end of thirty days and attach itself to a piece of straw and begins to spin its cocoon. After the spinning of cocoon and before the hatching of the worm into a moth, the cocoon is soaked in hot water unraveling and producing long size thread. This fine thread is the basic component of silk yarn and fabric.
Washing and bleaching of the silk threads
The natural fiber extracted from the silkworm holds some glutinous substance (gummy substance or glue) which is removed by washing and bleaching.
Weaving
Weaving is a process where the fabric is created by interlacing the warp yarns and the weft yarns. It is either done by machines or hand. Hand woven fabric is better than the machine woven. It can make delicate designs with different colored thread. Modern machines use lances, projectiles, a jet of compressed air to shoot the weft-yarn between the warp-yarns. It leads to greater yield and productivity.
A good quality of silk begins with a warp of approximately 2,000 threads for one meter width. 1,600 threads or 1,800 threads are considered to be poor quality fabric. Loosely woven fabrics are difficult to sew.
Dyeing, Printing and Finishing
There are two main types of silk fabrics. One which is yarn-dyed or dyed-woven, like taffeta, duchess satin and many pattern-woven fabrics. The other type is piece-dyed fabrics, which is carried out after weaving, like crepes, twills, etc. The dyeing process gives the silk different shades.
Printing is giving pattern to the fabric. It is either done by block-printing method, roller-printing method or screen printing. Screen printing is widely used in silk fabrics.
Embroidery process gives embellishment and the perfect finish to the fabric to make it look more beautiful.
All fabrics has to be finished. It is here the fabric gets the desired appearance and feel. Finishing process is either physical or chemical. It give treatments like crease-proofing, water-proofing, fire-proofing, etc.
Final soaking in a chemical solution
This process helps to preserve the sheen and luster of the silk fabric. It adds weight and makes the fabric soft, smooth, easy to iron and wrinkle resistant.
Characteristics of Silk Fabric
Silk is very smooth and luxurious.
Wild silks are an exception. They are dull with coarse hand and texture.
It is comfortable and has a very good absorbent quality.
It is the strongest natural fabric.
It is not a good resistant to abrasion.
Impurities in the air and direct sunlight fades the color of a silk fabric.
Perspiration and sunlight weakens the silk fabrics.
Cloth made of silk water-spots easily. Hence it is recommended that silk garments should be dry-cleaned.
Silk fabric do not resist wrinkle.
Silk fabric is also used in computerized clothing to conduct electricity.
Uses of Silk Fabric
Apparel/Garments - The soft, luster and supple feel of silk has made it widely used as apparels. The absorbent quality is an added advantage in silk cloth which keeps the body comfortable in all types of weather. All types of garments like sarees, shirts, skirts, blouses, suits, gown, etc. are made of silk. Silk made garments are of formal use.
Home Furnishing - Silk fabric is used in different products of home furnishing which gives the room a luxurious look like sheets, pillowcases, and throws. Since silk is not a good resistant to abrasion, it should be taken extra care.
Medical Textiles - A medicated silk fabrics has been developed which keeps the body part un-affected from cuts, burns, and bedsores. These medicated silk textiles are also antibacterial.
It is said that silk was discovered during 2640 B.C. in China. Chinese Empress, Hsi Ling Shi studied the silkworm and learned the art of unwinding the silk from the cocoon and made silk fabric from it. This was the beginning of silk industry in China. Today it holds over 50% of the silk production in the world. Japan ranks second followed by Brazil and India.
Indian silk textiles are popular worldwide because of its sheer variety of designs, weaving and quality. Thai silk is one of the most valued fabrics in the world. USA is the world’s leading manufacturer of silk products and France and Italy are the leading manufacturers of high value sophisticated silk fabrics in Europe.
Luxurious and expensive dresses and home furnishings are made of silk fabric. Silk wedding gowns, sarees, kurtas, scarves, silk evening wear and suits are widely used for their elegant look, lustrous shine and sumptuous feel. The different varieties of silk are Chiffon, Georgette, Organza, Crepe de Chine, Duponi, Noil, Pongee, Shantung, Tussar, etc.
Process of creating Silk Fabric
From Cocoon to Yarn
Silk from cultivated silkworms is more used though silk of wild worms is also valuable. The worms feed on mulberry leaves and increases their body size by nearly 10,000 times in a short span of time. The worm ceases to eat by the end of thirty days and attach itself to a piece of straw and begins to spin its cocoon. After the spinning of cocoon and before the hatching of the worm into a moth, the cocoon is soaked in hot water unraveling and producing long size thread. This fine thread is the basic component of silk yarn and fabric.
Washing and bleaching of the silk threads
The natural fiber extracted from the silkworm holds some glutinous substance (gummy substance or glue) which is removed by washing and bleaching.
Weaving
Weaving is a process where the fabric is created by interlacing the warp yarns and the weft yarns. It is either done by machines or hand. Hand woven fabric is better than the machine woven. It can make delicate designs with different colored thread. Modern machines use lances, projectiles, a jet of compressed air to shoot the weft-yarn between the warp-yarns. It leads to greater yield and productivity.
A good quality of silk begins with a warp of approximately 2,000 threads for one meter width. 1,600 threads or 1,800 threads are considered to be poor quality fabric. Loosely woven fabrics are difficult to sew.
Dyeing, Printing and Finishing
There are two main types of silk fabrics. One which is yarn-dyed or dyed-woven, like taffeta, duchess satin and many pattern-woven fabrics. The other type is piece-dyed fabrics, which is carried out after weaving, like crepes, twills, etc. The dyeing process gives the silk different shades.
Printing is giving pattern to the fabric. It is either done by block-printing method, roller-printing method or screen printing. Screen printing is widely used in silk fabrics.
Embroidery process gives embellishment and the perfect finish to the fabric to make it look more beautiful.
All fabrics has to be finished. It is here the fabric gets the desired appearance and feel. Finishing process is either physical or chemical. It give treatments like crease-proofing, water-proofing, fire-proofing, etc.
Final soaking in a chemical solution
This process helps to preserve the sheen and luster of the silk fabric. It adds weight and makes the fabric soft, smooth, easy to iron and wrinkle resistant.
Characteristics of Silk Fabric
Silk is very smooth and luxurious.
Wild silks are an exception. They are dull with coarse hand and texture.
It is comfortable and has a very good absorbent quality.
It is the strongest natural fabric.
It is not a good resistant to abrasion.
Impurities in the air and direct sunlight fades the color of a silk fabric.
Perspiration and sunlight weakens the silk fabrics.
Cloth made of silk water-spots easily. Hence it is recommended that silk garments should be dry-cleaned.
Silk fabric do not resist wrinkle.
Silk fabric is also used in computerized clothing to conduct electricity.
Uses of Silk Fabric
Apparel/Garments - The soft, luster and supple feel of silk has made it widely used as apparels. The absorbent quality is an added advantage in silk cloth which keeps the body comfortable in all types of weather. All types of garments like sarees, shirts, skirts, blouses, suits, gown, etc. are made of silk. Silk made garments are of formal use.
Home Furnishing - Silk fabric is used in different products of home furnishing which gives the room a luxurious look like sheets, pillowcases, and throws. Since silk is not a good resistant to abrasion, it should be taken extra care.
Medical Textiles - A medicated silk fabrics has been developed which keeps the body part un-affected from cuts, burns, and bedsores. These medicated silk textiles are also antibacterial.
In : Apparel / Fabric