This luxurious fibre is available in a variety of forms
and each is the result of different stages in the silk production.
The silk fibres can be dyed to vibrant colours using Acid
dyes and the reflective light qualities of the
fibre add further dimensions. These silk tops have been hand-dyed
and are available in 8 colour ways.
The following silk fibres are available from Fibrecrafts
as undyed
or hand-dyed
and can all be used effectively in spinning, feltmaking,
silk papermaking and embroidery techniques (browse
hand-dyed silk fibres
or
undyed silk fibres).
Sericin
The Silk Throwsters Waste, Carded Cocoon Strippings, Silk
Carrier Rods and Cocoons all contain the naturally occurring
sericin which is the ‘glue’ that maintains the
structure of the cocoon. The ‘glue’ can be activated
by spreading the fibres onto baking parchment, spraying with
water, covering with another sheet of parchment and then ironing
on a medium setting until the fibre is dry to make a highly
textured silk paper.
 Cocoons
The domesticated silk worm, used for the finest silk, is
cared for and fed throughout its life in open trays. As it
readies to change first into a chrysalis and then the silk
moth, it is placed in open boxes rather like egg cartons.
There it builds a protective support of silk fibres within
which to spin the cocoon.
The unreeled white and cream coloured tussah silk cocoons
contain sericin glue, this binds them into shape and is unique
to this fibre. In the wild, the silk worm prepares to form
a chrysalis by folding a leaf around itself, pulling the leaf
into shape with the first silk fibres it creates.
Silk fibre is taken from the cocoons by unreeling them in
hot soapy water, catching the fibre of spun silk and then
pulling off as much filament silk as possible. Each strand
of silk is joined with 10-15 more cocoon strands to form the
glossy reeled fibre. Papers can be made from the gummy reeled
silk, which comes in hanks. The hanks can be cut up and the
fibres used to create a well organised fabric.
Feltmaking with Silk Fibres
As silk fibres do not have the characteristic
barb along their length, it is not possible to felt them
together using the traditional technique of making felt.
However, they can be used trapped in the surface after being
sandwiched between thin layers of wool or they can be felted
effectively with the help of a felting needle.
You can learn how to unreel a cocoon by visiting www.wormspit.com.
The web page will open in a separate window.
 Carded
Cocoon Strippings
Cocoon strippings are the silk fibres that hold the cocoon
in place as it changes into the silk moth and they contain the
most sericin. The fibres are soft and fluffy with
a matt finish and can be sprayed with
water, placed between two sheets of baking parchment and
ironed to make silk paper. |
 Silk
Throwsters Waste
Throwsters is a by-product of
unravelling the cocoon
such as when the fibres get tangled in the machinery.
It is a high quality silk fibre which retains the sericin
making the fibres feel coarse to the touch. |
 Silk
Carrier Rods
 These 10cm (approx.)
silk carrier rods resemble long split tubes
and are wonderful for textured embroidery and paper
fibre work. They are a ‘woven waste’ product
of the silk winding process, contain sericin and have
a high sheen. The image shows how the rod has been pulled
apart to separate the fibres. |
 Gummy
Reeled Silk
This is finest quality filament silk, containing 25%
sericin and suitable for silk papermaking or couching.
After degumming, the fibre can be dyed and spun to a
lustrous yarn. Click
here
for degumming recipe. |
|  Tussah
Noil and White Noil Silk
The characteristics of this short silk fibre are very similar
to those of cotton. The image shows white noil (top)
and Tussah Noil (bottom). The short and broken noil
fibre is gathered from the inner part of the cocoon
and can add interest to papers, felt and spun yarn.
It is necessary to add a lot of twist while spinning
to ensure strength in the yarn and it can be combined
with other fibres to help the spinning process. |
 Silk
Hanky
A hanky is created by piercing a hole in the cocoon,
opening it out from the hole and then stretching it
out over a frame. This creates a square shaped ‘cobweb’
of fibre with a denser frilly edge of fibres.
The squares can be easily pulled and teased out from
the centre to create a roving ready for spinning (see
how). They can also be used to add interest
in silk papermaking and embroidery. |
 Mawata
Caps
These are created by pulling out the cocoons over
a former creating a silken web pocket. It is possible
to knit straight from the prepared cop, giving a slight
twist to the fibres as you stitch. As the fibres have
not been broken from piercing the cocoon, as in the
hanky, it is possible to wind a continuous fine thread
from the Mawata Cap. You can learn how to make a Mawata
Cap by visiting www.wormspit.com.
The web page will open in a separate window.
|
|  Italian
Silk Waste
This fibre is the textured version of silk tops. It
is soft, degummed, curly and has a high sheen. The name
does nothing for its reputation, it is a truly
sumptuous
fibre and once carded spins to an interesting textured
yarn. |
 Silk
Tops/Brick
Soft and lustrous, A1 quality mulberry silk fibre.
The brick is a hand wide length of sliver and the top
a more manageable width for spinning. The carded, long
fibre lengths make this an excellent fibre for spinning
as well as for use in silk papermaking. |
 Tussah
Silk Tops
Still providing a high sheen with less slip than the
Mulberry silk, this high quality sliver is a pale golden
colour which can be dyed using Acid dyes. |
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