Satin-something about

Satin is a type of glossy fabric first
made from silk in China. Exportation during the Middle Ages introduced
satin to Italy in the 12th century. By
the 14th century, satin garments
were greatly appreciated throughout
Europe because of their high gloss,
and were often the choice of royalty for both their feel and sheen. Traditional satin has a glossy and a
dull side, which is important to
remember when sewing garments. Those who sew need to be sure to
assemble garments on the
appropriate side in order to
showcase the gloss and shine. While
satin was once made exclusively of silk, satin is now made with polyester, acetate, nylon, and rayon. These other fabrics provide a less
expensive means to achieve the
glossy finish provided by satin. Shine from satin is derived through
its weave. Some weft or weave yarns
are brought to the surface in a
process called floating, which allows
some of the yarn to reflect light, thus
producing the shine and gloss. In some cases, it is possible to achieve
this effect on both sides of a garment,
producing double-faced satin. This
material is often highly desirable,
since it is soft against the skin, but
will tend to cost more, particularly if made with silk.

Some of the common satin types are
duchess satin, satin faconne, slipper
satin, and delustered satin. Duchess
satin is used primarily in dress
fabrics, and is a common choice for
wedding dresses. It is a fairly stiff satin with a heavy weight and is
glossy on one side only. Satin faconne or satin jacquard is a
type of satin with patterns woven
through it. These could be stripes,
paisley, or virtually any design. Satin
jacquard comes in a variety of
weights and qualities, but tends toward being a looser more flexible
fabric than duchess satin. Slipper satin is often used for shoes.
It may be used on dye-to-match
shoes for prom goers and for bridesmaids. It’s also a common
choice, not surprisingly for slippers.
Slipper satin also covers toe shoes
worn by ballet dancers. Delustered satin, also called peau de
soie (skin of silk), is a less shiny,
lightweight material. Unlike the shine
associated with other forms of satin,
peau de soie is often described as
having a dull luster. Delustered satin is usually finished on both sides,
making it double-faced. One can also
note fine-grained threads in this type
of satin. A few other forms of satin are sateen and satinet. Sateen is a glossy cloth
made from cotton or rayon, while satinet is a very thin form of satin,
usually made from silk threads.