Textile Science

Many fibers can be identified quickly by burn-testing them.  This video offers a quick run through of the burn-patterns of the major fabric groups.

Please Explain: Silk   
The Leonard Lopate Show (WNYC radio) | February 25, 2011

"The first silk textiles were created some 5000 years ago. This week's Please Explain is all about silk, and how fibers made by worms create versatile fabrics and have helped shape the culture of much of the world. Mark Norell, Chair of the Division of Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, who is currently finishing a book on the Silk Road, talks about the history of silk; Ingrid Johnson, professor of Textile Development and Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology; and Rebecca Robertson, Decorating and Home Editor for Martha Stewart Living join us to discuss how silk is produced, processed, used, and how it should be cared for."