Posts Tagged ‘knitting’
Rug Yarn
Thursday, September 8th, 2011
How to Identify a Real Silk Rugs
We don’t mean to be alarmist, but we sometimes see “silk rugs” that are made of something other than genuine, natural silk. This is not a problem if you know that the rug you are considering is made of artificial silk, but sometimes rug dealers neglect to pass on this information! The problem happens most often with just a few rug types sold in tourist markets in Turkey and India (and sometimes in Pakistan).
Real Silk
Real silk is produced as the cocoon covering of the silkworm, the pupal form of the Asian or mulberry silk moth, bombyx mori. The cocoon is spun by the silk moth caterpillar of a single silk fiber that can be up to several thousand feet in length. To harvest the silk, completed cocoons are boiled or heated to kill the silkworms, then laboriously unwound into single fibers which are plied together and spun into thread or silk yarn.
Artificial Silk
Artificial silk is everything billed as silk that doesn’t come from the silkworm cocoon. Most often this means mercerized cotton; sometimes it means a manufactured fiber like rayon or a blend of chemically altered and/or manufactured fibers. It’s not that artificial silk is intrinsically evil, it’s just that the whole point of using artificial silk in a rug is to save the cost of real silk. It is not nice when this cheaper, artificial silk rug is misrepresented and sold for the price of a real silk rugs.
Mercerized cotton
A ripening cotton boll can contain as many as 5,000 separate cotton fibers, each fiber growing from a tiny seed and formed as a hollow cylindrical sheath of as many as thirty layers of almost pure cellulose. Cotton fiber is mercerized by being stretched under controlled tension at room temperature while being treated with a 21%-23% solution of caustic soda (NaOH). The effect is to swell the fiber and make its surface much more reflective, thus dramatically increasing its luster (and also its tensile strength). After the chemical treatment, cotton yarn is often singed to remove whatever small amount of fuzz remains on the surface of the fibers. Sometimes cotton is calendered by being passed between heated rollers. The effect is to increase the luster and sheen of the fiber still more. However it is treated, cotton remains cellulose: C6H10O5.
Rayon
Like cotton, rayon is made of almost pure celulose, but rather than being grown, rayon is produced by first dissolving cellulose (obtained from cotton or woodpulp) to produce a thick yellow liquid called viscose. The viscose is extruded through tiny holes into a chemical bath that produces long filaments which can be spun into thread and yarn. Viscouse rayon was the first man-made fiber. In 1920, DuPont bought from the French the technology for making viscose rayon. DuPont first called the material “artificial silk”, and formed a company (The DuPont Fibersilk Company) to manufacture it. Other artificial fibers would follow quickly: acetate (also derived from cellulose) in 1924, nylon, (commonly, adipic acid reacted with hexamethylene diamine) in 1939, acrylic (from acrylonitrile, a petrochemical) in 1950, polyester in 1953, and triacetate in 1954.
With all these artificial fibers around, how can you identify a rug woven with natural silk?For example handmade area rugs,silk rugs,persian rugs,oriental rugs,wool rugs.
First of all, pay attention to whatever clues the dealer–or the rug–gives you. For instance, we have seen many artificial silk Kayseri rugs (and some Hereke rugs), both Turkish types. In Turkey, a real silk Kayseri is an ipek Kayseri: ipek is “silk” in Turkish. An artificial silk Kayseri is a flos Kayseri ( a yun Kayseri has a wool pile). The dealer might be accurately describing the piece to you as a flos rug, but by not explaining the difference between flos and ipek, he lets you jump to the intended assumption, and you unwittingly buy an artificial silk rug.
Indian rug dealers are seldom as delicately circumspect as some of their Turkish counterparts. Artificial silk rugs in India are often blatantly sold as real silk, complete with certificates of authenticity and written guarantees. For many years Kashmir in northern India has been the major source for both real and artificial silk Indian rugs. Look carefully at the “silk” rug: it should be tightly woven (with more than 200 knots per sq. in., and often with 500 or more knots), intricately detailed, closely clipped, and it should have real silk fringe that is clearly an extension of the rug’s structure, not sewn on or sewn into the ends of the rug. Artificial silk rugs often have only medium weaves (less than 250 knots per sq. in., and sometimes less than 150 knots per in.), and often have cotton fringe. Good quality real silk rugs always have real silk fringe. In Pakistan we often see rugs called jaldars. These wool pile rugs often have “silk touch,” meaning that there is artificial silk inlay in the pile (often outlining part of the design). This artificial silk is almost invariably ivory in color, and is made of mercerized cotton.
Tests for Silk
OK, you’re looking at a nicely woven, nicely patterned, closely clipped “silk” rug with what appears to be real silk fringe. You still might be looking at a rug made of artificial silk. Here are three field tests that might help you distinguish real from fake. No guarantee; your mileage may vary.
Rub it! It is sometimes claimed that you can tell real silk from artificial silk by vigorously rubbing the pile with your open palm. The real silk rug feels warm, the artificial silk rug stays cool to the touch. We sometimes think we have felt this difference. Of course, it helps to have a real silk rug with you so that you can compare a known quantity!
Burn it! This test is at least good theatre, and actually can be helpful. Clip off a small piece of the fringe, or pull a knot out of the rug from the back (why should the owner object?). Burn it. Look at the ash and smell the smoke. If the material was cellulose (rayon), the ash should be soft and chalky, and the smell should be like burning paper (most paper is made of cellulose). If the sample is real silk, the burning sample should ball to a black, crispy ash, and the smell should be of burning hair (you’re burning protein, the same stuff your hair is made of). You’ve got to be a little careful with this test to avoid smelling the smoke from the match (and to avoid igniting yourself or the rug dealer’s shop).
Dissolve it! The most accurate test is one that chemically differentiates protein from cellulose or petrochemicals. One such test: at room temperature, mix a solution of 16 g copper sulfate (CuSO4) in 150 cc of water. Add 8-10 g glycerine, then caustic soda (sodium hydroxide: NaOH) until a clear solution is obtained. This solution will dissolve a small sample of natural silk, but will leave cotton, rayon, and nylon unchanged.
About the Author
David ZHENG is the CEO of China Topwin Industry Co., Ltd rc car, rc helicopter, nitro rc car, rc gas boat, remote control helicopter, remote control car, Topwin hobby a specialty trader of a variety of toys and hobby items, such as rc car, rc helicopter, nitro rc car, rc gas boat, remote control helicopter, remote control car etc
http://www.chinatopwin.com
Coreless Rug Yarn
|
|
Clover Extra Large Pom Pom Maker $6.31 Now you can make perfectly shaped and sized pom poms with little work and loads of fun. Pom-Pom Makers can be ideal for decorating scarves, socks, hats, scrapbooks, home decor, and much more. Create a wide variety of decorative pom poms by using a Pom-Pom Maker, yarns, ribbons, and/or fibers. It is as easy as 1-2-3: wind, cut, tie, and remove! This package contains 1 maker. Finished pom pom size i… |
|
|
Royal Elegance Shag Rug 6′ x 9′ – Oat, Extra Thick Twisted Acrylic Yarn, Hand Tufted, Cotton Backing $179.00 Extra Thick Rich Pile and Feels Remarkably Soft. Our shag area rugs will add comfort to your living area with their plush fibers, and natural beauty. These modern shag rugs from Natural Area Rugs shed less than other shag carpets and are more durable than wool rugs. We use hand-tufted high quality yarn that is appealing to the eyes, and soft to the touch. Our discount shag rugs feature a shag pile… |
|
|
Euro Shag Rug – Ice, Soft and Extra Thick Twisted Acrylic Yarn, Hand Tufted, Cotton Backing Made of 100% Acrylic Yarn with Cotton Canvas Backing. Decorate your home with the softest touch with our Euro Shag Rugs. Crafted using only the finest hand tufted thick and twisted acrylic yarn that is both soft and sleek. The sheen of these gorgeous modern shag rugs looks great in nearly any room in the home, especially the living room areas. Professional cleaning recommended. Use an upright vacu… |
|
|
Rug Weaving: Block Weaving and Shaft Switching $23.95 This comprehensive video workshop covers all information needed to weave a successful weft-faced rug. Jason Collingwood teaches you to make a durable rug beginning with how to warp the loom. He shows how to create blocks of color using a standard threading and then how to change the placement of blocks to alter the design. This method of manipulating the warp threads allows almost unlimited possib… |
|
|
One Skein $7.87 INTERWEAVE PRESS-Everyone has the time to spend on projects requiring only 1 skein of yarn! More than 30 knitting and crochet projects that range in size and experience level provide both beginning and experienced knitters a variety of projects. The stitch patterns and instructions are easy-to-follow and quick to use. Quickly create a felted purse, a crocheted bag, cozy scarves, a pretty tank to… |
|
|
Punch Needle Rug Hooking: Techniques And Designs (Schiffer Book for Designers and Rug Hookers) $18.08 Learn to make beautiful punch needle hooked rugs with veteran instructor Amy Oxford. A complete “how to” photo essay walks you through every stage of rug making. Never dry, Oxford entertains as she teaches. A question and answer section, fascinating interviews with professional punch needle rug hookers, a look into the origins of the punch needle technique, and exciting photographs of work from so… |
|
|
Hook, Loop ‘n’ Lock: Create Fun and Easy Locker Hooked Projects $12.15 Not your grandma?s locker hooking.(Unless Gram is one hip chick!)Hook, Loop & LockCreate Fun and Easy Locker Hooked ProjectsGo ?loopy? for locker hooking – a fun, easy-to-learn method for turning strips of fabric or yarn into fabulous home decor, stylish fashion accessories and one-of-a-kind gifts. In this book, traditional locker hooking breaks out of its homespun country image, showing that it c… |
|
|
DOSCH Textures: Carpets $109.00 Seamlessly tileable multi-layer textures for 3D-design, animation, CAD or print applications. All textures (depictions) which can be applied to 3D models in order to lend them an individual appearance. The textures can readily be used for 3D-visualization, animations, and for all kinds of computer graphics and web-design uses. This product line got DOSCH DESIGN started in the 1st half of the 1990s… |
|
|
HEAVY RUG YARN 3PLY STEEL GRAY 60YD $2.79 HEAVY RUG YARN 3PLY STEEL GRAY 60YD… |
|
|
Harrisville Designs Traditional Rug Hooking $29.99 A great way to discover the wonderful world of rug hooking! Create a primitive, pastoral setting of three sheep. Kit contains: *100% Virgin Wool Yarn * Reusable Wooden Frame * Beautifully made Metal Hook with smooth Hardwood handle * Burlap with Printed Pattern * Illustrated Step-by-Step Instructions * Finished size: 5″ x 7″ * Recommended for ages 8+ It’s surprisingly easy and the results are very… |
