Silk @ MindSay

Everything has pros and cons, never absolutely good and bad, so does silk blankets, and what cons it has?
First, it takes much cost. There is no getting around the fact that a high quality silk comforter and cover is doing to be an investment. The manufacture of silk is a time consuming, exacting, and demanding process.
Second, the caring process. Though we have already said it is not hard to care for, but it, after all, not the same with others, so it also cannot be treated like other comforters. Silk batting does not like to be laundered. An occasional airing out is all that is required. For that reason an  http://www.ellesilk.com/ silk is a necessity. But, what happens if something is spilled on a silk comforter? It will need to be cleaned – professional cleaning is best. If things get spilled on it often, the frequent cleaning required will shorten the life of the silk sets. That’s it. Those are the only two negative things it comes to silk comforters.

Under the silk, I transform, become liquid, breathe like the wind, fade and appear in and out of view, with colors changing in the light and dark.  Who am I?  Would you know me at night?  I express myself back and forth out of body, shifting my face, pinching closed my eyes, my cheeks always swollen with lost delight.  Today I wept as if I lost everything.  I just let myself drown in my tears.  Cried insane, howled, barked, cracked.  Used a whole box of tissue and wiped my face hard to remove the stains of panic and remembered disaster.  I wept like a widow contemplating the death of all men.  I cried like the Goddess in a pit of empty, hungry for lovers who have long forgotten me.  As I stretched out of bed, I reached for the camera and draped on the silk scarf, the watercolor flowers called to me, an invitation to dance, to transmit my grief and make it somehow unreal, pretended, til I can look back at myself -- the clown -- and feel the fool no more.

Finding quality can be a daunting taks. There is a vast amount of silk bed linen on the market today ranging hugely in both quality and price. Knowing what to look for can be a daunting task. Here are a few tips that if followed will ensure you buy a quality silk bedding product that will last for many years.

1. Insist on 100% mulberry silk. There are many varieties of silk on the market. When purchasing silk bedding insist on 100% mulberry silk. Only 100% mulberry silk consists of a continuous strand of silk. Wild silk, commonly known as Habotai silk is often passed off as mulberry silk but is never of the same quality as mulberry silk. Habotai or China Silk as it is sometimes called is often made up of broken strands of silk and non-silk fibres and is more suited for silk scarves and items requiring shorter fibres. Habotai silk does not have the same durability as 100% mulberry silk. Only 100% mulberry silk can offer the consistency and durability required in quality silk bed linen.
2. A thread count of 400 or more. When considering making a purchase of silk linen, always check the thread count. The higher the thread count, the tighter the silk is woven. An ideal thread count for silk linen is above 400. Anything lover than 400 will not be as durable and not last as fine silk linen should.
3. Momme weight explained. You may have heard of momme when purchasing silk items. Momme is the gauge used to determine the physical weight of silk. The basic measurement for momme is weighing a piece of silk that is 100 yards long and 45 inches wide. If the total weight comes to sixteen pounds then the silk will be graded as 16 momme. If the silk is heavier then a higher momme grade will be given and visa versa. Silk with a lower momme number will have physically less silk in the item than one with a higher number. Your silk bedding should have a high momme number, at the very least above 12. Traditionally silk with a momme of fewer than 12 has been reserved for light silk clothing, while a momme of 12-19 is used for silk bedding. A momme of 22 would be durable enough for a tailored suit. Silk bedding with a momme of 19 will be more durable and easier to care for than a say a momme of 14.
4. Beware of a false economy. Silk sheets and bedding sets are often offered at hugely discounted prices. Although at the time of purchase the price may seem a bargain, be sure the bedding meets the above criteria. If not, the bedding will not last like 100% mulberry silk bedding. When properly cared for 100% mulberry silk bedding with a momme weight of 19 and a thread count of 400 will far outlast cotton bedding and prove to be a sound investment.

Osteoarthritis - Silk bedding and duvets drape over us, moulding around our bodies which eliminates single points of pressure. Conventional duvets and blankets do not drape over our bodies but rather from a heavier barrier that can cause pain and irritation to sensitive joints. Eliminating single points of pressure can greatly increase the quality and comfort of sleep.
Shingles - Significant relief from Shingles can be gained by using silk bedding. Silk being soft and light creates less pressure, this combined with tightly woven silk sheets enables easier movement and less resistance on the bed sheets. Silk filled duvets can also be of help to shingle sufferers as like silk top sheets, they drape over the body eliminating single points of contact.
Dry skin - Silk has an amazing ability to help our skin reabsorb moisture through the natural occurring amino acids within silk. Absorbing moisture that has been lost during the day while sleeping will aid in rejuvenating the skin throughout the night. This is hugely beneficial to sufferers of both Eczema and dry skin.
Overheating - Silk has the amazing ability to keep us cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool. It does this be allowing our body heat to dissipate. Conventional (down, feather and polyester) duvets work in a similar way to a pressure cooker. As we sleep our body heat is reflected back to us from the duvet and we are kept warm. This however continues to happen throughout the night which causes overheating. Long fibre mulberry silk duvets are manufactured using a layering grid technique which places layer upon layer of silk in a criss cross pattern. This design allows some of our body heat to escape through the duvet, leaving us warm but not hot. Being a more constant temperature throughout the night allows our bodies to have a more relaxing and rejuvenating sleep.