I recently was gifted with some black satin sheets, and I am trying to figure out if the smooth and shiny material I am now sleeping on is a natural fabric or some kind of petroleum derivative. Does the word satin refer to the weave only, despite the actual fabric, or does it indicate the fabric as well? Silk, nylon, rayon, cotton?
You probably mean you were given satin sheets. Originally satin was made with silk but now it is also made with rayon and other fibers.
You probably mean you were given satin sheets. Originally satin was made with silk but now it is also made with rayon and other fibers.
Just to clarify, yes satin is a weave. YOu can have satin made of silk, polyester, rayon, etc. Silk-satin is really very expensive though. For example at this website a set of satin silk sheets costs $433 for a Full sheet set.
http://www.englishsilksheets.com/Pure%20Silk%20Colour%20Prices.htm
Whereas, Satin sheets made from acetate cost $115 from Vistoria’s Secret.
Probably you have polyester, unless you were gifted by a very well-off friend.
I was given them, and they were a gift. So I don’t see why “gifted with” is incorrect usage. Can you enlighten me?
“gifted” is perfectly normal usage in standard american english as far as I am aware.
Strunk and White uses it as a specific “bad example” when discussing “Noun used as a verb”. Of course, I’m looking at a 1979 edition of S&W, and this particular verbification may have achieved some acceptance. It has made it to the AHD. To me, it just sounds like pretentious ad copy, and I wouldn’t use it for that reason.
Well, just by idle googling, I see thousands of daily usages of “gifted” as a verb. He gifted, I gifted, they gifted, etc. That may not make it proper, but it sure is mainstream.
Will this hijack never end?
Not if I won’t leave it alone, I guess.
Gift as a verb has a history going back at least to the early 17th century. The American Heritage Dictionary says
And if we were speaking German, I would be wondering who would be sending toxic sheets around.
Some Satinist in a blood ritual, perhaps.
[continuing hijack, because the OP has been answered]
I hate the use of gift as a verb, unless god is involved – “She was gifted with an amazing talent”.
Otherwise is sounds too precious.
[/end hijack]
Does that make you god’s gift to linguistics?
Okay, if we’re done with all of that, may I add to the OP and ask how much of a difference there is, in terms of tactile sensation, between, say, polyester satin and silk satin?
The satin sheets I was “presented with” 
as a gift is, as it turns out, acetate satin, and I have never to my knowledge felt silk satin. But I will now go off in hunt of silk satin sheets and duly report back when I have laid my body against said fabric.
The acetate satin feels smooth against skin, and visually the black satin visually highlights certain–let us say–caucasian female bodily features quite nicely. But I have to say that I myself so far prefer the feel of cotton sheets.
I have some silk-satin evening gowns made in the early 1930s. Bliss. Acetate satin has a slippery feel to it, but silk satin . . . It’s almost impossible to describe. It’s like the difference between real, home-made ice cream and that fat-free stuff. When you wear one of these gowns, it’s like it’s melted onto you (especially if the fabric has been cut on the bias!).
Silk satin feels much, much nicer than polyester or acetate. It also breathes and is absorbent, and manmade fibres don’t usually do either. Possibly cheaper: go to a fabric store. Buy several yards of silk. Make sheets, or get a sewing friend to make them. Wonderful.
Brilliant brilliant idea, I am heading off to my local fabric shop asap to do this. Why did I never think of this before…
How much do they charge for silk sheets anyway? I’m guessing $500-plus. Hm… probably need about eight yards if you want to do top and bottom sheets for a twin, maybe ten for a double. At maybe $25.00 a yard… well, $250. Give silk sheets as wedding presents! To me! 
Yup, just checked prices. They ranger from $170 (for very poor quality silk) to $780 for good stuff. Make your own.
So, can silk satin sheets be tossed into the wash, or are we looking at dry cleaning bills, here?
Yllaria