Medieval silk qualities.

[Anders L]

Right now I´m trying to investigate the different types of silks and its modern counterpart. At my work we are going to purchase a new range of silkqualities and I want it to be quite near historical original. We will probably go with a plain weave and perhaps a twill.

As far I understand there are many, many types of silk and I have read a interesting article about different grades of qualities in the middle ages. The article refers to the situation in Venice and Italy. It´s good reading.
http://www.festiveattyre.com/research/silk.html

In this article there are three qualities:
1. "True silk" made from the whole fibre, like filament silk. No scraps or slobs in the fabrics. This is also the biggest quantiy made.
2. Second choice silk, "double-silk". This quality is a form of filament silk but is made from two coocons that have grown into one. This results in small scraps in the fabric.
3. Spun silk and scrapsilk. Made from the restmaterials from the above, maybe like rawsilk.

What should I go for? Silk of the first quality is nice, shiny but also a little bit boring. The second quality is more linen-like but still shiny. Should we have both? Are the second quality good for historical reproduction?

What do you all have to say, I´m do know alot about fabrics, but silk is difficult.

[Anders L]

This was a deadend? No one dares to answer the dangerous silkquestion....

[Martina]

Jag är för stressad för att fatta engelska just nu. Återkommer typ till semestern eller nåt...

/Martina