Silk Workers Notebook

The history of silk cultivation, from its origins of China to its present situation as a textile fibre Chapters include: The Fibre A detailed accounting of the characteristics of the silk fibre, including strength, elasticity, and durability. The different kinds of silk, including raw silk, wild silk, and spider silk. Silk raising methods. Silk worms of the world. Identification of silk fibre: the burn test, the lye test, by sight, and by feel. Reeled & Spun A documentation and comparison of the two major methods of silk production. Yarns 1 - Fibre & Form Discussions of appearance & quality, hand & drape, testing yarns, fibre quality, fibre length, noil, and reprocessed silk. Yarns 2 - Twist, Ply, & Function Discussions of elasticity and strength, sparkles & lustre, ply, choosing yarns and best yarns for knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, and lace, weft, and pile. Handspinning Includes degumming cocoons, silk caps, cut fibre, spindle spinning, noil, reeling. Fabrics A comprehensive and detailed glossary of different types of silk fabric. Care handwashing, soaps, delicates, drying, cleaning old silks, ironing, shrinkage & pre-shrinking