So! I decided that an easy way to get my hands on a nice range of hair-safe pillow cases was to make my own! At 7 to 14 dollars a yard for silk, or 4 to 8 dollars a yard for polyester, it seemed more economical to me. I know from reading here that it is generally accepted that silk and satin are the best materials to be up against your hair.

Unfortunately, my local fabric shop only seems to carry polyester based satins (no silk!  :'(). The "silky" fabrics in a fairly wide array of what I like to term "slipperiness", "smoothness" and "softness".

So, in the range of satin available, most seem to be "smooth and soft" or "slippery, but rough". The fabrics available don't quite match any of the actual silk fabrics I have at home, smooth, soft, AND slippery.

So, given the choices, is slippery with a slightly rough weave (when you rub it together, it goes zip zop zip zop) better than smooth and soft (when you rub it together, there is no sound, but it has almost a suede-y feel, at any rate, not nearly as "slick")?

Lastly, are the only choices satin and silk? For instance, would it be bad to use velvet ribbon in your hair? Or to use velvet pillow cases?

Thanks!

You definitely don't want to use velvet, velour or the like. They catch hair and can work it into a rat's nest or pull it out.

Do you not have a Bed, Bath & Beyond or a JC Penney in your area? Both places sell fabulous satin pillowcases for about as much as it would cost you to make them.

I only have silk pillow cases from www.dreamsacks.com.  I even travel with one.  I bought a two pack years ago and they're still in perfect condition.

If you want to wear a velvet ribbon, I suggest gluing one to a hair friendly clip and then applying that to your 'do.  Also, you could glue one to a hair safe elastic.

Ebay sometimes has fabric for sale.  I'm sure there's other websites that would sell silk.

Go to www.fabrics.com  This is one of the sites I buy my fabric from when I'm making something.  I've been very happy with their fabrics!

Thank you all for your responses.

I just got one of BB&B's 20% off any one item coupons yesterday in the mail after catching up on my messages.
It must be sign!  :D

I guess I'll have to hit up my BB&B today after work.  :P

kns,
p/m me when you get a chance! thanks