Types of silk flowers

As I mentioned in a previous post, silk flowers are important in making spring headdresses, and often many clients want the dress fabric to be part of the headdress or complement it. That's why it's important to know the different types of silk that exist if you're going to make a silk flower, as a taffeta will not be the same as a twill, a satin, or a muslin. Today I'm starting with Twill, its weaving method is different, using three threads for weft and warp that rotate in various interlacings, forming a repeating pattern. Very dense and soft twill is used for ties. Satin, or santen, is the best-known fabric, thick, soft, and shiny. Of Chinese origin but with the French name "satin," it began to be exported in the Middle Ages.

3. Satin This is the quintessential silk fabric: thick and compact, soft and shiny. Of Chinese origin, the name satin comes from the French "satin" and this from the name of the Chinese port city from which it began to be exported to Europe in the Middle Ages. Its weaving technique is slightly more complex than twill. By interrupting the alternation of the weft, the resulting fabric is uniform and does not present diagonal stripes. Satin fabrics have a denser texture than other crossed silk fabrics, however, this property is not achieved without sacrificing greater resistance, as the weft threads are weaker than the warp threads. Its shine comes from the warp having few links with the weft, and since the weft is silk, the surface of the fabric remains shiny. Its softness makes it ideal for making elegant lingerie and apparel, especially evening or wedding dresses that require weight and drape. Its main drawback is that it clings to the body a lot if no lining is used.
4. Gauze This is a fine silk fabric originating from the city of Gaza. Its transparency and lightness are achieved by the low density of its threads in the weave. It is used in haute couture for veils, blouses, evening and wedding dresses, and scarves. Sewing such fine silk fabrics is not easy. It is best to use very fine thread and apply a flat or French seam.

5. Muslin This is a type of gauze, so called because it originated in the city of Mosul. Although originally made of cotton, today they are made of silk for fabrics applicable to blouses or dresses, especially those with draping or flounces.  

6. Bambula This is a very fine silk fabric with a wrinkled effect, achieved with highly twisted silk threads arranged in the weft direction, which, when they shrink, create a gathered effect in the warp direction.
7. Chiffon This is a silk fabric also similar to gauze and muslin. It is widely used in the making of evening and wedding dresses.
8. Organza or Organdy This is also a very fine silk fabric that is treated to maintain a certain stiffness. It is widely used in party accessories, veils, and stoles.
9. Velvet This is a very dense silk fabric with short, dense pile and a soft feel. If you want to know more about the origin and history of velvet, we recommend reading this article.

10. Brocade This is a silk fabric with raised patterns of Persian origin. The raised pattern is achieved with weft threads of gold or silver. Its motifs are usually of oriental, geometric, or floral inspiration.

13. Damask This is a silk fabric with a single-colored pattern. It originated in China and was very commonly used in Syria, hence the name by which we know it. The pattern, in this case, is achieved with matte and shiny threads, always using a single color.
14. Mikado This is a type of compact silk with a granulated texture. As it has a lot of body and drape, it is widely used for wedding dresses.
15. Tulle. Tulle is an extremely light and very transparent fabric woven by interlacing warp threads, since, unlike other fabrics, no weft is used in its elaboration. The result is a fabric with a net-like appearance. For silk tulle, a high-quality, single silk filament with a special twist must be used. The origin of tulle dates back to antiquity, with references from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. It continued to be produced by hand throughout history until industrial manufacturing began in England in the 18th century. Depending on the resulting mesh type, there are different varieties of tulle:

*Plain tulle, with a single interlacing *Tulle with two or more interlacings, which allows for the creation of motifs. *Embroidered tulle over interlacings, where the second warp forms the embroidered parts. Of note is what is called in France Valenciennes or Chantilly tulle, which reproduces the patterns of traditional lace from these production centers. Tulle is primarily used in the making of dresses, wedding and party accessories, and veils.   Where to buy fabrics for sewing For those who have caught the sewing bug and are looking for stores - physical or online - to buy fabrics or buy fabric flowers, we recommend consulting this guide, where you will find good offers and information. We hope to have shed some light on this wonderful fabric that is silk and that we can continue to enjoy it together.