Honestly, for rectangular veils, I *love* China Silk. I think maybe the warning comes from the fact that it's a misnomer - it's not actually silk. But it's very floaty & has a nice weight to it. And usually pretty cheap too, so you can buy a few yards of it & try it out, and if you don't like it, you're not out too much.

For circular veils, however (which require more speed and therefore even more weight for me), I like the liquid foil stuff. That's what these veils are made out of: people.tribe.net/524bcd6f-...7a8247819d

Actually I've seen 8mm refered to as China Silk. The faux silk that some people call China Silk is actally a Silkese or Silk essence.

A lot of people like 5mm, so I make veils in this weight, but I find it very floaty. I prefer 8mm and make most of my veils in this weight, both for sale and for personal use. It has a great whip effect. I also like Silk Charmouse, but it takes muscles and practice to move around.

Hope this helps

My absolute favorite veil (for which I paid a price!) is 3 yards of moderately heavy silk that was hand beaded completely around the edges. So it floats like silk, but the heaviness of the beads give it the heft and control needed for more powerful moves.

The beading isn't straight, I can't draw, but it's alternating red and gold rocailles in a wavy pattern; that is, they loop slightly off the veil every two. It's amazing! How patient are you?

My favorite veil is a heavier silk. I don't know what weight, or even who manufactured it. I bought it second hand off Ebay a decade ago.

"China Silk" and "India Silk" are both kind of misleading. These could be thin, low quality silk, or a faux silk made out of polyester, like the Silkessence that Jo Ann sells now. My first veil from like 1980 was Silkessence from JoAnns, but it is much more like the silk charmuses than the Silkessence you find there today. If you're interested in a China Silk or India Silk item, I suggest asking the vendor exactly what the fabric content is.

Poly chiffon is not as "floaty" as silk chiffon. Tissue lame veils were super popular back in the 80s, we often used tissue lame and poly chiffon together.

Lightweight fabrics sometimes "collapse" on themselves when whipped around in veil work. Beading at the edges and appliques in the corners add weight, but helps the fabric keep it's shape. I do NOT suggest experimenting on your favorite or only veil, but if you have a second super light weight silk you might try adding a single row of sequins around the edges.

Amber amber amber.... Ladysilk right here in Southern Oregon ! And yes silk. You've seen me veil dance, always silk. Outside I go 8 inside 5 ladysilkdesigns.com/

Here is a quote from the site "about silk"
There is nothing like silk. No other fabric feels and moves like silk. The silk used for veils is soft and sensuous but very durable. Silk comes in many weights and weaves. At Ladysilk the standard silk used for veils is 8mm habotai , otherwise known as china silk. The "mm" designation means mumme (pronounced "mummy") and signifies the weight of the silk. The higher the number the heavier the silk. The 8mm silk seems to be the favorite of most dancers, especially dancers with less experience dancing with silk. At Ladysilk, however, we also offer the lighter, airier 5mm china silk and for half circle veils we offer 12mm silk charmeuse - a truly sumptuous fabric. The charmeuse allows the circular veil to "plane" in the air. For example you can start a turn, then let go with one hand and the veil will lie out horizontally in the air as you turn. The charmeuse veil behaves more like a cape than a veil.

So maybe a 12 is what you are looking for.