SILK

From Moth to Cloth

The Legend

The Legend

• Xi-Ling-ShiXi-Ling-Shi, Wife of the Yellow Emperor, Wife of the Yellow Emperor

The Legend

• Xi-Ling-ShiXi-Ling-Shi, Wife of the Yellow Emperor, Wife of the Yellow Emperor

• 2672 B.C. – Neolithic, or New Stone Age, 2672 B.C. – Neolithic, or New Stone Age, nearly nearly five thousand yearsfive thousand years ago ago

The Legend

• Xi-Ling-ShiXi-Ling-Shi, Wife of the Yellow Emperor, Wife of the Yellow Emperor

• 2672 B.C. – Neolithic, or New Stone Age, 2672 B.C. – Neolithic, or New Stone Age, nearly nearly five thousand yearsfive thousand years ago ago

• Cocoon dropped into tea cupCocoon dropped into tea cup

Simple Silkworm FactsSimple Silkworm Facts

Simple Silkworm Facts

• Silk comes from silkworms, which are larvae of the silk moth, Bombyx mori.

Simple Silkworm Facts

• Silk comes from silkworms, which are larvae of the silk moth, Bombyx mori.

• Each caterpillar spins a single cocoon – it can be up to 1500 meters of unbroken thread – nearly a mile!

Simple Silkworm Facts

• Silk comes from silkworms, which are larvae of the silk moth, Bombyx mori.

• Each caterpillar spins a single cocoon – it can be up to 1500 meters of unbroken thread – nearly a mile!

• The caterpillars only eat mulberry leaves, and they eat so much they increase their body weight by up to10,000 times over four weeks.

Silkworms hatch from tiny eggs the size of poppy seeds.

This little guy is only a few hours old.

They eat a LOT of leaves.

They eat a LOT of leaves.

By the time they’re ready to spin cocoons, they will be as big as an adult’s finger.

The caterpillar starts to spin by putting down a silk web.

The caterpillar will spin for three days, until the cocoon is very solid.

The caterpillar will spin for three days, until the cocoon is very solid.

The caterpillar will spin for three days, until the cocoon is very solid.

Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar changes its skin and becomes a pupa.

After about three weeks, the pupa will turn into a moth, and hatch from the cocoon.

After about three weeks, the pupa will turn into a moth, and hatch from the cocoon.

First, the moth squirts an enzyme on the silk to soften it.

After about three weeks, the pupa will turn into a moth, and hatch from the cocoon.

Then, the moth digs its way out through the silk.

After about three weeks, the pupa will turn into a moth, and hatch from the cocoon.

Its wings are soft and limp.

Even when their wings are dry, domesticated silkmoths cannot fly.

This is a male moth.

This is a female moth. She will lay 200 - 500 eggs.

The moths have no mouths, and they cannot eat or drink. They live usually four or five

days.

If the moth hatches, it breaks the cocoon into many short pieces of silk. To turn

cocoons into silk thread, they are stifled, or baked, to kill and dry the pupa.

Silk Reeling

Silk Reeling

• Each silk cocoon is a single thread – but it is as fine as a spider web.

Silk Reeling

• Each silk cocoon is a single thread – but it is as fine as a spider web.

• The threads from several cocoons are wound together – this is called reeling.

Silk Reeling

• Each silk cocoon is a single thread – but it is as fine as a spider web.

• The threads from several cocoons are wound together – this is called reeling.

• A set of pulleys, called a croissure, helps to strengthen the thread.

Silk Reeling

• Each silk cocoon is a single thread – but it is as fine as a spider web.

• The threads from several cocoons are wound together – this is called reeling.

• A set of pulleys, called a croissure, helps to strengthen the thread.

• Twenty cocoons makes a strand as fine as a hair.

Silk Reeling

A brush helps to find the ends of the cocoons.

Silk Reeling

At first, there is a tangled mess.

Silk Reeling

But after a while, there is one end for each cocoon.

Silk Reeling

This is the croissure - a set of pulleys

that squeezes the thread to help

make it strong and remove moisture.

Silk ReelingThis is a silk reel - it winds the silk from the

cocoons.

Dyeing

Dyeing

Dyes make silk different colors.

Dyeing

First, the white yarn is soaked in water.

Dyeing

The dye liquid looks like kool-aid.

Dyeing

The silk is dipped until it soaks up the color.

Dyeing

After they dry, the threads are ready to use.

Things I make with silk

I like to weave with silk.

Things I make with silk

I make ribbons for prizes and awards.

Things I make with silk

And fancy silk bookmarks.

Things I make with silk

And fancy silk bookmarks.

Things I make with silk

I like to embroider with silk, too.

Things I make with silk

Light shines beautifully on the silk threads.

Some Silk Facts

Some Silk Facts

• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.

Some Silk Facts

• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.

• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.

Some Silk Facts

• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.

• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.

• Silk is stronger per weight than steel wire.

Some Silk Facts

• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.

• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.

• Silk is stronger per weight than steel wire.

• Silk can be made into a wide range of fabrics - everything from bridal veils to bullet-proof vests.

Some Silk Facts

• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.

• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.

• Silk is stronger per weight than steel wire.

• Silk can be made into a wide range of fabrics - everything from bridal veils to bullet-proof vests.

• Silk can be used for sutures - threads to stitch closed wounds and incisions.

Some Silk Facts

• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.

• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.

• Silk is stronger per weight than steel wire.

• Silk can be made into a wide range of fabrics - everything from bridal veils to bullet-proof vests.

• Silk can be used for sutures - threads to stitch closed wounds and incisions.