100 Details in 100 Days: Day 17

A word about satin. I use a lot of bridal satin, but I am picky. I do not really like Silk Charmeuse, because it is too slippery for easy sewing and piecing and too thin for surface embroidery without using stabilizers. I prefer Duchesse Satin and Peau de Soie, which are medium to heavy weight satins, with a slightly delustered finish.

While these fabrics are available in 100% silk, often it is rayon backed, rayon blend, polyester blend or even 100% polyester. This is one case where I am not a silk snob. Be very careful, because even though soie means silk, many companies sell Peau de Soie that is 100% polysester. That is okay, just be sure you know what you are buying. Avoid acetate at all costs. While I prefer 100% silk; at $45 to $100 a yard, it is a rare treat and I use it exclusively for special hand embroidery. The good thing is that it is easy to determine if what you have is really 100% silk, because it rolls up, no matter how much you press it!