Silk Long Underwear

[hlat]

I machine wash all my silk clothing. I use the delicate setting and cold water. I also throw them in the dryer on the low setting.

As a result, a lot my Wintersilks clothes have fallen apart. However, my other silk clothes are fine so far. I use Tommy Bahama long sleeve button up shirts and pants for work. The pants (90% silk) I bought new with large discounts (eg 60-75% off) online from places like Nordstrom Rack and Sierra Trading Post. The long sleeve shirts (100% silk) I bought used on ebay for under $20.

None of my Tommy Bahama silk clothes are shiny or super smooth, though they are much higher quality than smooth or shiny Wintersilks clothes.

 

[3DStudent]

I machine wash all my silk clothing. I use the delicate setting and cold water. I also throw them in the dryer on the low setting.

As a result, a lot my Wintersilks clothes have fallen apart.

I have the same experience. I just expect the Wintersilks to slowly degrade. They don't fully fall apart, just the seams. So it seems (no pun intended), that you could cut them up and make something out of them.

Since I'm usually hard to buy for, my mom and grandma usually buy me more Wintersilk underclothes for Christmas. Now I'm curious about the burn test. Maybe the silk makes good charcloth? :P

 

[herondancer]

I did think of cutting them up to make quilts with, or having them tailored and asking the tailor to use the trimmings to make scarves for instance. It may be a good option, if the cost of tailoring is not more than the cost of a new silk shirt. If that's the case, then it may all just be a waste of money unless I can sell the shirts.

We have a front-loading washer which is less dangerous than a top loading washer, so machine washing is more feasible. However I'm not sure how far I can push this, I'm not sure how to know which shirts actually need to be hand-washed (most of them say machine washable). However these are men's shirts which seem to steer clear of very delicate washing requirements. What kind of soap do you use?

I use Woolite. It's meant for natural fibers. There are even laundry soaps especially for silk. I think your shirts will be fine in the machine set to cold water using a gentle cycle. No synthetic detergents and no dryer though. Heat and harsh chemicals will make the fiber break down.

Good luck with the alterations!

 

[Altair]

I did think of cutting them up to make quilts with, or having them tailored and asking the tailor to use the trimmings to make scarves for instance. It may be a good option, if the cost of tailoring is not more than the cost of a new silk shirt. If that's the case, then it may all just be a waste of money unless I can sell the shirts.

We have a front-loading washer which is less dangerous than a top loading washer, so machine washing is more feasible. However I'm not sure how far I can push this, I'm not sure how to know which shirts actually need to be hand-washed (most of them say machine washable). However these are men's shirts which seem to steer clear of very delicate washing requirements. What kind of soap do you use?

I use Woolite. It's meant for natural fibers. There are even laundry soaps especially for silk. I think your shirts will be fine in the machine set to cold water using a gentle cycle. No synthetic detergents and no dryer though. Heat and harsh chemicals will make the fiber break down.

Good luck with the alterations!

Indeed. Maximal 20°C, 400 cycles of rotation per minute and washing in a laundry bag with special "silk detergent".

 

[Yupo]

Slightly off topic, but I know a source for silk noil yarn, sold by the 1lb cone. Knit-it-now (formerly Bonnie Triola Yarns) will be ordering this again on March 15th. It dyes easily and makes sturdy, fairly thick (relative to most silk fabrics) garments and fabrics (for blankets). You could get a very thick fabric by double knitting, or even y using multiple strands together (which would knit up a lot faster!). I'm planning to buy a few pounds. If there is a lot of interest here, perhaps I can ask for a discount code for our group. Let me know if you would likely purchase some. The source is in USA. Usual price is $22/cone. It was on sale recently for $19/cone. I think this is a good value, even at $22.
There is a short video on the yarn on this page:
_http://www.knititnow.com/store/product/401/yeoman-silk-bourette/ConeDetails?utm_source=ConstantContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3-21-15-silk-yarn-on-cones

I've also attached a picture of a sweater I'm wearing now, made of something very similar, if not the same. This appears to have been knitted on a standard gauge machine 1/1 rib, dyed a camel color.

 

[Yupo]

Here is another source for silk, this time unspun fiber roving of various types and grades. I think silver bombyx is the best grade, but tussah might be useful too. One could knit with the roving (rope of unspun fiber) directly. I think a much better price is available in China. Anyone live in that or another silk production area?
_https://www.treenwaysilks.com/productlist.php?category=16

Here is a tutorial on knitting with roving. FYI, roving can easily be divided into much smaller diameter sections if you want something less bulky.

https://youtu.be/3Of4ytjVLkw

 

[monotonic]

Wow, interesting ideas. What about the washability of the yarn and roving? Down here in the south, everything picks up sweat over time.

 

[Yupo]

I have machine washed this sweater on cold/gentle maybe 5-6 times. I got it from my sister who wore it for many years. The fabric is fine. One seam needs a repair.
I would hand wash anything made from unspun roving. Silk fibers are a bit sticky, as far as getting caught in tiny (invisible) skin cracks. I think if I made a thick blanket like that, I would enclose it in a duvet to keep in clean and to keep the fibers off of fiber magnets. Spun yarn is no problem this way. But if you want to spin it, you might as well buy it as a yarn.
Another possibility is to take old silk clothes, sarees, scarves... cut them into strips for knitting, weaving or crochet. It is possible to find bolt remnants and smaller yardages at a good price in fabric stores.

 

[monotonic]

Down here I have no use for a knitted sweater, even in the winter the wind just blows all the heat out of it. The roving is actually more expensive than the yarn by the pound. It may make a good batting for pillows or inside blankets though.

 

[herondancer]

Slightly off topic, but I know a source for silk noil yarn, sold by the 1lb cone. Knit-it-now (formerly Bonnie Triola Yarns) will be ordering this again on March 15th. It dyes easily and makes sturdy, fairly thick (relative to most silk fabrics) garments and fabrics (for blankets). You could get a very thick fabric by double knitting, or even y using multiple strands together (which would knit up a lot faster!). I'm planning to buy a few pounds. If there is a lot of interest here, perhaps I can ask for a discount code for our group. Let me know if you would likely purchase some. The source is in USA. Usual price is $22/cone. It was on sale recently for $19/cone. I think this is a good value, even at $22.
There is a short video on the yarn on this page:
_http://www.knititnow.com/store/product/401/yeoman-silk-bourette/ConeDetails?utm_source=ConstantContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3-21-15-silk-yarn-on-cones

I've also attached a picture of a sweater I'm wearing now, made of something very similar, if not the same. This appears to have been knitted on a standard gauge machine 1/1 rib, dyed a camel color.

I'd love to make an order. It's a bargain, but maybe they might give more of a discount for a large order. It must be rather thin as they recommend it for machine knitting, but you can always use two strands for a bulkier yarn. Good find!

 

[Yupo]

I think this would knit up into very warm, very durable undergarments. My next question: since it is spun from short (trash silk) fibers, will it give RF insulation too, or is the staple length an important factor in the protective qualities of silk?

 

[monotonic]

I don't know the mechanism for RF protection by silk and it is almost certainly not the same as for normal materials. It may not even have anything to do with blocking RF directly. We know that the majority of frequencies used by humans pass unaffected. My educated guess is that even short strands will be long enough to perform it's function, whereas the size of the largest hole between fibers/knits will determine the coverage - a lacy garment full of holes will probably have much less effect. This is the same concept as braid coverage in a coaxial transmission line.

 

[meadow_wind]

Hello,
I'll be posting my question here because it seems like the best thread to follow/update.

I've been looking at the links that were provided, and some of them are no longer selling silk.
I've been researching silk sold by the yard/meter because it would be the most economical and I know how to pattern & sew.
My main concern is to get real pure 100% silk and not some counterfeit fiber blend.

I've looked up a few leads and skimmed down to 2 potential suppliers. I'd like to have your opinion on them or if anyone found another supplier worth mentioning.


Dharma Trading Co.
Regenerative Agriculture Smooth Silk Noil 34mm 55" PFD (it's raw Mulberry silk)
Regenerative Agriculture Smooth Silk Noil 34mm 55" PFD

has good reviews/comments from seamstresses/designers on a Reddit thread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/comments/8ym59f

I'm having a hard time believing that it's real silk at such a low price (14$/yard - USA) when anywhere else, it's minimum 30$/yard or more. I went in a store in Montreal and they tried selling silk without any identification of its source or type of silk at 70$/meter.


Lan Huong Pham Thi : Owner of VietnamsilkHandmade
RAW 100% Mulberry Silk on sale for 33$/yard.
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1044015978/raw-silk-fabric-by-the-yard-100-mulberry?click_key=f835f7853ee1ec6bfa20732955c318bb8b7e51d4:1044015978&click_sum=2fb2cfb0&ref=landingpage_similar_listing_bot-3&pro=1&listing_id=1044015978&listing_slug=raw-silk-fabric-by-the-yard-100-mulberry&variation0=2520743273


There is this website that explains the types of silkworms, regions, type of woven fabrics, etc.
Know your silk: Types of Silk Fabrics and Yarns.

 

[Emerald Rob]

regarding silk and its protective capabiliites
In the autumn I purchased a 100% silk silk sleepin bag liner
its great !

Sleeping Bag Liners | Silk, Cotton & Fleece Liners - Rab® EU

Discover our sleeping bag liners for protecting your sleeping bag and keeping it fresh. From lightweight silk liners, to warm fleece liners for expedition use.

rab.equipment

 

[Emerald Rob]

• Session 2 December 2000​

  • Q: (TK) That stuff is expensive. (L) What about silk?
  • Q: (L) The alchemists say that to protect the body from outside frequencies, one should wear silk. I know that sounds crazy, but that's what they said and did. Silk is a heck of an insulator. (TK) If we shielded the area with a silk tent, or wear silk clothing... (A) Silk by itself might not work, or it probably only works when in contact with the body. (TK) A copper mesh around the area would help.
  • Q: (TK) Silk would help?
  • A: More silk.

  • Session 21 September 2002​

    • A: Silk clothing and headgear.
    • A: With silk lining.

  • Session 3 January 2009​

    • A: Silk is always good.
    • Q: (___) They're gonna put me in a cage! Aah!! (L) Where the heck would we get one? (Ark) No, that's impossible. (J) You can build one! (L) Well, they put it in quotes, so they must have meant something special. (S) Drape silk around her bed. (Ark) Yes, because Faraday cage to prevent from microwaves would have such tiny little openings that there would be no air to breathe...
    • Q: (L) What did Scottie say? (S) I was saying that if she's going to be in her bed, instead of mosquito netting, you have a silk netting. (Ark) No! A suit of armor like the warriors in the old times used. (L) I don't think that's very practical, dear. (laughter) (Ark) Silk is a Faraday cage. (S) Why silk? Why silk protects against these things is totally bizarre to me. (Ark) Well, it's made by animals. (L) It's made by caterpillars.
    • Q: (L) That's what the caterpillars eat to make silk. (J) So _____ should take Mulberry extract? (laughter) (_____) And Then I can start making silk? (L) If you start doing weird things, I'm outta here! (laughter) (_____) What can I do to mentally block?
    • Q: (D) So your first priority has to be to stay healthy and make sure you take care of yourself. (S) We need to get you a superhero outfit. (_____) Made of silk! (laughter)
    • Q: (L) I would have said 8. (Ark) 6. (S) I thought you could take like 50 grams a day or something. (L) Well, that was when she was really sick, but she needs to stop doing that. (Ark) 6. (S) For silk, is it more important to protect the head and brain, or the body, or doesn't it matter?
    • A: Everything. And D_____ should keep a silk scarf about her throat.
    • A: Thin silk.
    • Q: (D) Well, thin silk. Right, okay. (A____) Can I ask another question? (L) Yes. (A____) Why do I have so much deja vu?
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