what fabric test?

Don't know, but if it isn't synthetic, it's most likely silk. Find a piece you know is silk and press with a really hot iron. Sniff -there's a characteristic scent. A bit like wool -they are both protein fibers. Then try your unknown fabric. (If you press with a really hot iron and it's poly, it will stink of plastic and likely stick to the iron :-) Roberta in D

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Here's a site that gives descriptions for identification of different fibers using the burn test.

Cut a small sliver of the fabric and put it in a small dish with some bleach. Silk and wool do not like bleach and will dissolve/get "mucky" in it. Same thing happens with enzyme cleaners (like Biz or Oxyclean) which work on proteins to get the stains out.

Pati, > I picked up some fabric at a thrift shop today that I think might be raw

How long will it take? Roberta in D

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I can't remember.... will have to go find the text book from on of my textiles classes. But you should be able to tell a bit in 10-15 minutes or so. If you check the bleach bottle/Oxyclean or Biz box they warn you about using it on wool or silk. (yes I read most anything if I need something to read. )

Pati, > How long will it take?

It happens occasionally that something sílk or wool gets washed in the wrong stuff (DH's wool socks being a prime example), and a single trip through the machine cycle doesn't make any immediately-apparent difference. I ask myself sometimes whether the socks would hold up longer if somebody took more trouble washing them. Roberta in D

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