Satin is characterized by long floats in its weave, explains textile expert Kelly Reddy-Best. Long floats occur when the warp (vertical) yarns cross over four or more weft (horizontal) yarns in ...

It’s these horizontal “floats” on the face of the fabric that give sateen its signature sheen and heft. (Sateen is actually a variation of satin weave, but uses cotton rather than silk.) ...