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Even the word satin conjures images of lushness and privilege. Derived from the Old French, samit, which in turn came from Medieval Latin, samitum, examitum and the Byzantine Greek, hexamitum, satin indicated the use of six varying yarns. The fabric dates back to the Middle Ages, and refers to a heavy and luxurious silk known as samite. Its weave was a twill type and often included threads of gold and silver.
Samite and other Byzantine silks entered Europe beginning in the ninth century via Italian trading ports. In the tenth century, the Vikings expanded their trade routes to include Constantinople, and samite-embroidered with silver-wound threads was considered common garb for Viking burials. In the 12th and 13th centuries, silk weaving was established in Italy, particularly Venice and Lucca. In the Venetian guilds, samite-weavers were distinguished from weavers of other types of silken cloth.
Typically, satin has a glossy surface and a dull back. Ever wonder where the sheen in satin comes from? The weaving technique used to create it is warp-dominated, which means it forms a fabric that contains a minimum of inter-lacings. The high number of “floats” or “missed” interlacings, where the warp yarn lies on top of the yarn, or vice versa tend to make the fabric look glossier.
A fabric is designated as a satin if it is formed with a weave using filament fibers such as silk, nylon or polyester. If the yarns utilized are cotton, the resulting fabric is considered a “sateen.” Satin is used in the making of clothing and bedding: baseball jackets, athletic shorts, women's lingerie, ballet pointe shoes, evening gowns, men’s neckties, interior furnishing fabrics and bed sheets, comforters and pillowcases. Surely there are fewer fabrics that denote comfort and luxury more than satin sheets. The only problem with them seems to be that they are known to slide, which means you must proceed at the art of sleeping through the night at your own risk!
Still their beauty makes them very desirable and satin does have a noble past, one quite worthy of sleeping upon.
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| This article was published on Sunday 14 December, 2008. |
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