Silk fibre is the most beautiful natural fibre to be found by the human civilization. Well speaking of the history of this special fibre, all credit goes to the Chinese Empress three millennia before when she thought of doing some good for her people. Her act of doing well for the Chinese has blessed the world with such a wonderful fibre. Silk Yarns and apparels are in good demand all through out the year producing good textile business. China is the largest producer and exporter of silk globally. The silk produced in china is popular by the name ‘China Silk’ prefixes to all products.
Now let’s look at the traditional production process of the cultivated silk fibre. The natural habitat for a silk worm is the mulberry tree which id cultivated in large numbers for the breeding of the silk worm. The production of cultivated silk is known as sericulture.
1. Hatching of Eggs: The silk moth lays eggs. When the eggs hatch the caterpillars are fed mulberry leaves. When the silkworms are about 35 days old they are 10,000 times heavier than when they hatched. They are now ready to spin a silk cocoon.
2. Silk production by worm: The silk is produced in two glands in the silkworm’s head and the forced out in liquid form through openings called spinnerets. The silk solidifies when it comes in contact with the air. The silkworm spins approximately 1 mile of filament and completely encloses itself in a cocoon in about 2 or three days.
3. Transition of the worm: The silkworm then goes through stages and changes into a moth; however, the silkworm is usually killed with heat before it reaches this stage. The silkworms are killed because once they reach the moth stage; the moth secretes a fluid to dissolve the silk so it can emerge from the cocoon. This damages the cocoon and the silk and the silk then becomes a lower quality. Some silkworms are allowed to live to be used for breeding.
4. Raw Fibre Obtained: The silk is obtained from the undamaged cocoons by brushing the cocoon to find the outside ends of the filament. The silk filaments are then wound on a reel. One cocoon contains approximately 1,000 yards of silk filament. The silk at this stage is known as raw silk. A yarn can now be formed by combining several filaments of silk.
How to: Spinning Silk Hankies
 |
RARE HAND SIGNED DISNEY MICKEY MINNIE MOUSE CEL SERICEL ART WAYNE ALLWINE | US $119.99 | 39m |
 |
Amazon Kindle Fire 8GB, Wi-Fi, 7in - Black Brand New & Sealed | US $171.85 | 2h 32m |
 |
Press Photo Silk worm rearing room at Lullingstone | US $9.99 | 2h 33m |
 |
LOT 2 NWT MEN'S UNDERWEAR MODAL BRIEFS SIZE L(W30"-33") | US $9.99 | 3h 14m |
 |
Pair of Pieced Silk Windsocks Tibetan Buddhist - Nepal | US $14.00 | 4h 25m |
 |
Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama (1993, Paperback, Reprint) | US $.99 | 9h 3m |
 |
God Bless the Go-Go's * by Go-Go's (The) (CD, May-20... | US $3.00 | 10h 14m |
 |
Entertainment Weekly-May 31-1991-Luther Vandross-Sue Sarandon-Dr.Seuss-Ice T-#68 | US $2.99 | 13h 8m |
 |
CRAZY 50/50% Cashmere & Mulberry Silk Combed Top Roving Luxury Spinning Fiber | US $9.25 | 14h 13m |
 |
CRAZY 100% Mulberry Silk Hankies Fun to dye spin nuno felt paper making 4 oz | US $22.50 | 14h 13m |
 |
CRAZY 100% SILK CARRIER RODS Spin Dye Paper Felting & other craft projects 14 gr | US $3.00 | 14h 13m |
 |
CRAZY Silk N Soft 18.5 Micron MERINO & WHITE CASHMERE 50/50 combed top spin felt | US $5.50 | 14h 13m |
 |
VINEYARD VINES Red Silk Football Theme Tie/Made in the US/Cool+Handsome--NR | US $17.49 | 14h 32m |
 |
Handspun yarn. Pure Bourette Silk. 1sk. Summer Day. RARE . | US $5.99 | 14h 33m |
 |
A144 The Feifei silk cotton spinning black and white silk fabrics in fashion | US $6.99 | 14h 42m |
 |
AMAZON KINDLE FIRE MULTI TOUCH 7" ANDROID COLOR TABLET | US $187.98 | 23d 20h 36m |
 |
2D33 - Versatile Silk Multi Wear Scarf Long Maxi Dress, Skirt, Maternity | US $38.90 | 17h 12m |
 |
Reversible Vintage Silk Magic 30" Length Wrap Skirt Halter Tube Dress +Bonus DVD | US $29.90 | 17h 16m |
 |
Vintage Silk Magic 34" Length Reversible Sarong Pareo Wrap Skirt Tube Dress +DVD | US $24.90 | 17h 17m |
 |
Bohemian Vintage Silk Halter Tube Smock Broomstick Dress - XS to XL | US $29.90 | 17h 18m |
 |
PLUS SIZE Vintage Silk Magic 36" Length Wrap Skirt Halter Tube Maxi Dress + DVD | US $59.90 | 17h 21m |
 |
Vintage Silk Magic 36" Length Sarong Pareo Wrap Skirt Tube Dress + Bonus DVD | US $34.90 | 17h 21m |
 |
Sons of Soul by Tony! Toni! Toné! (CD, Jun-1993, Wing) Like New! | US $1.99 | 17h 42m |
 |
Bebe Sheer by Bebe | US $48.21 | 18h 13m |
 |
BRITISH TRAVELERS IN NEW YORK 1815-1845 - GREAT HISTORY | US $9.95 | 18h 25m |
 |
Shimano Zerus 4000 F, Shimano Zerus, Shimano Spinning Reel, Shimano Reel,Shimano | US $34.99 | 18h 38m |
 |
Addiction * by Jaared (CD, Feb-2008, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records) | US $9.99 | 18h 44m |
 |
Vintage Silk Magic 34" Length Reversible Sarong Pareo Wrap Skirt Tube Dress +DVD | US $29.90 | 19h 14m |
 |
Reversible Vintage Silk Magic 30" Length Wrap Skirt Halter Tube Dress +Bonus DVD | US $24.90 | 19h 14m |
 |
1D80 - Versatile Silk Multi Wear Scarf Long Maxi Dress, Skirt, Maternity | US $38.90 | 19h 16m |
 |
Shimano Sienna 4000 FD, Shimano Sienna, Shimano Spinning Reel, Shimano | US $27.99 | 19h 19m |
 |
Knitter's #50 Spring 1998 Wedding Lace Faroese Shawl Sweater Angel Doily Afghan | US $8.50 | 19h 29m |
 |
HOGARTH; Derby silk making; astronomy & time - 1835 | US $8.95 | 19h 35m |
 |
Ladies Short Slv Vanilla Faux Wrap, Krinkle Silk Top, J. Jill, XL 1X? | US $13.49 | 19h 41m |
 |
Sunshine at Midnight by Sunshine Anderson (CD, Jan-2007, Music World... | US $.99 | 19h 53m |
 |
BRAND NEW!!! STIHL MS250 CHAINSAW 16"!!! | US $227.50 | 20h 40m |
 |
Stitches in Time by Barbara Michaels 0061092533 | US $5.47 | 20h 43m |
 |
German Bavarian Oktoberfest Flag, New w/o Tags | US $9.99 | 21h 33m |
 |
German Bavarian Oktoberfest Flag, New w/o Tags | US $9.99 | 21h 34m |
 |
The Complete Spinning Book | US $8.25 | 21h 36m |
 |
2012 New 8050 Chiffon skirt sleeve chiffon collar dress | US $4.75 | 21h 47m |
 |
2012 New 8050 Chiffon skirt sleeve chiffon collar dress | US $8.20 | 21h 47m |
 |
2012 New 8050 Chiffon skirt sleeve chiffon collar dress | US $5.00 | 21h 47m |
 |
SILK CAP Hand Painted 4.0 oz. Mellow's Mix | US $9.99 | 22h 17m |
 |
ORIGINAL VINTAGE 1960-1962 BARBIE LET'S DANCE OUTFIT #978***WOW!!!! | US $39.99 | 22h 33m |
 |
Sons of Soul by Tony! Toni! Toné! (CD, Jun-1993, Wing) | US $.49 | 22h 39m |
 |
House of Flying Daggers (DVD, 2005) | US $.99 | 23h 3m |
 |
PLUS SIZE Vintage Silk Magic 36" Length Wrap Long Skirt Halter Tube Dress + DVD | US $39.90 | 23h 5m |
 |
Old Sheet Music HUGE Lot 250+ Sinatra disney 50's 60's Signed Vintage books | US $75.00 | 23h 22m |
![This Is Not a Test! [PA] by Missy Elliott (CD, Nov-2003, Elektra)](http://www.craft-faire.com/images/e/110882404504_0.jpg) |
This Is Not a Test! [PA] by Missy Elliott (CD, Nov-2003, Elektra) | US $.01 | 23h 32m |
 |
NWT WOMEN's BAMBOO FIBER SEXY LINGERIE LOW RISE THONG PANTIES SIZE XL FOR 27-29 | US $.99 | 23h 33m |
 |
Spin-Off Magazine 4 Issues 1989 Interweave Press~Handspinners | US $24.99 | 23h 33m |
 |
Sons of Soul by Tony! Toni! Toné! (CD, Jun-1993, Wing) | US $4.99 | 23h 37m |
 |
Caliber Press Kabuki Fear the Reaper Act 1 Great Condition New Low Price | US $9.99 | 23h 52m |
 |
NWT - TOMMY BAHAMA Men's HOUSE of the RISING SUN T33751 S/S SHIRT Size - XL | US $49.95 | 23h 58m |
 |
Heddon T130 7' L Fiber Glass Fishing Rod - Sleeve and Tube | US $39.00 | 1d 50m |
 |
'Til Shiloh by Buju Banton Cassette | US $1.89 | 1d 1h 27m |
 |
VOGUE KNITTING Holiday 2004 Metal Sweaters Corset Floral Scarf Poncho Felted Hat | US $10.99 | 1d 2h 33m |
 |
The Decemberists Austin, TX '11 AP by Todd Slater rare and trippy A+ eye candy | US $109.00 | 1d 2h 44m |
 |
GO-GO'S God Bless The Go-Go's (2004) Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Gina Schock | US $.23 | 1d 2h 50m |