Silk Curtains – Elegant Silk, Queen of Textiles

Interesting data

It is a miracle that a tiny caterpillar and its cocoon could be the source of one of the most beautiful textiles we know of. Cultivated for thousands of years, silk remains the paragon of elegance and refinement. It’s also incredibly versatile, taking many forms. Silk threads can be woven into gossamer net curtains or made into velvets; it is one of the only fabrics that has the ability to keep you warm in winter but cool in summer. Due to its protein structure, it is the most hypoallergenic of fabrics.

The soft sheen that we recognize as unique to silk is the result of its prismatic structure that refracts light coming in and out at different angles…there’s nothing quite like silk.

Today’s faux silks are notable for their ability to mimic both the look and “hand” of fine silk. Seen on their own, they are quite convincing and a cheap and practical alternative for those with budget or performance concerns.

However, the real deal isn’t cheap. The relatively high cost of silks is due to the labor-intensive methods that must be used to grow them. About 2,500 cocoons are needed to make a pound of silk; each cocoon contains a continuous thread that is about 2/3 of a mile long.

Working with silk: Silk is the strongest natural fiber known to man, equivalent in tensile strength to steel. Ironically, exposure to sunlight is quite detrimental to silk fabric, as it becomes brittle and experiences “dry rot.” Therefore, when working with silks as a window treatment, they should not only be lined, but also interlined. This is essential as it won’t be long before your unlined treatments are ruined. Easily available from many catalog companies are silk panels for what appears to be a very good price. These are never line spacing, nor are they custom grade products. It is important to remember that they are quality made.

Investment in silk would be money wasted if it were not honored by turning it into something custom, complete with all the special techniques and handling that silk fabrics require. The workshops demand a higher price for working with silk, the hems and sides must be finished by hand as the fabric is too slippery to go through the machines, and yes they must be lined and lined. Only the best sewn in the workshop can work on silk. This is because highly rated staplers do not make mistakes. Sewing a seam and having to rip it out is not healthy for silk; leaves a line of demarcation and previous needle marks are visible.

Silk is not for everyone. My clients often ask for silk. As it is such a specialized textile, it is my obligation as a designer to inform you of the pros and cons of using silk in all types of home furnishings.

First of all, it’s a lifestyle fabric…while silk is tremendously strong, it is also compromised by sunlight, therefore I don’t recommend it for south facing windows and/or brightly lit rooms throughout the day, even if the treatments are interlined. The only exception is if there are some sort of light-filtering blinds on the windows as well as the curtains. Silk is also subject to staining if it gets wet with water, so I will not use silk on any windows where it may be subject to splashes or moisture.

Secondly, it is a natural fabric and all the irregularities that give it its character and texture are inherent in it. It is not perfectly smooth or even. It also wrinkles, not as linen does but as it sits or as we say in the trade, its “hand.” Silk has a stiffer feel and tends to fall in sculpted folds. This is unique to silk and prized for that very effect. If you are someone who does not like irregularities or “wrinkles”, then silk is not for you! Floaty silk draperies are the epitome of elegance; in fact, I like to see silk curtains made with a generous allowance for such. While it is true that you can make drapery panels without the puddle effect, I believe that doing so is not taking advantage of one of silk’s most beautiful characteristics. Silk curtains, Roman shades or valances in a dining room… dim lighting, lit candles… there’s nothing like the unique quality of silk and the way it handles light to create the most delightful atmosphere. It will enhance your dining and entertainment experience.

Silk may be for everyone if… The good news is that silk blends beautifully with almost any other fiber, so while 100% silk may not suit your lifestyle or sensibilities, perhaps one of the silk blends do. Silk/linen and silk/rayon blends work wonderfully and still manage to impart the special light quality that silk is known for. Fabrics often contain as little as 7-10% silk, which is enough to impart that special sheen. So if you think you can’t afford silk or don’t want to be bothered by your fussiness, ask your designer to show you some silk-blend fabrics for your next project.