Working with Natural Silk / Rayon

Dear users, dear authors,
What is the difference between natural silk and artificial silk? Do you like silk? Is silk / silk yarn easy to work with?

Silk is a wonderful material and can be used in many different ways. It also pairs beautifully with other types of fabric; silk is cool and very soft against the skin, and the best thing about silk is that it’s a natural product through and through. Silk also requires special care—if you take good care of it, you’ll enjoy it for a long time—but it doesn’t like rough handling at all.
Artificial silk isn’t really my thing because it’s often made from polyester fibers and therefore isn’t very breathable. Artificial silk was used a lot in parachutes and such.

Best regards, Inge

I don’t have any personal experience with silk as a fabric, yarn, or in the form of a purchased garment, although I’ve heard a lot of good things about it.

So far, I’ve been put off by the care requirements and, of course, the price—especially since I’m not at all sensitive to synthetic fibers against my skin, so maybe it’s just my “plastic conscience” that would appreciate it^^
But ever since a sewing friend told me that she washes her silk clothes on the delicate cycle at 30° in the washing machine, I wouldn’t rule out gaining some hands-on experience with the material myself.

Maybe there are “silk for beginners” project ideas that require only a small amount of fabric? The bare minimum that comes to mind right now—and something I’d actually wear—would be a nightgown sewing pattern requiring 1.2m (provided the fabric has crosswise stretch).
For just trying it out, that could still be something a bit more economical...

As for working with it, I’ve been told that silk is particularly dense, so you have to replace your sewing needles more often than with other projects.
Silk is also apparently popular for hand-sewn buttonholes—that sort of thing doesn’t really appeal to me; I’m just glad I have a sewing machine to help me out.

I find that knitting with silk isn’t very pleasant… it squeaks!
But the knitted fabric is very even, and the finished piece “drapes” beautifully. I also like the sheen of the knit. I’ve knitted shawls and a summer sweater out of silk and rayon... one shawl is still on “hold”... We’ll see when it’s time to let the squeaking start again here.