Most of us are most familiar with silk after it has been woven into fabrics. Silk fabric is well known for not only its beauty, but also its incredible insulating properties and strength. Silk itself, though, is a filament that is secreted by silkworms.
Despite their name, "silkworms" are not actually worms at all, but rather are Bombyx mori caterpillars. These are the caterpillars of the silk moth and they are used in the production of silk.
The process of manufacturing silk is complicated and rather tedious. Not only that, but it requires a large amount of work to produce even the smallest amount of silk fiber, which is why silk is one of the more expensive fabrics on the market.
Silk production is done on silk farms and begins when a female moth lays her eggs. Each moth lays hundreds of eggs which are incubated until they hatch grow into caterpillars, or "silkworms". The caterpillars are kept warm and fed for about 4-6 weeks until they have grown enough to pupate. It is during this phase of the caterpillar's life that silk production takes place.
Each caterpillar attaches itself to a branch and spins a cocoon. To make their cocoon, the caterpillars excrete a continuous thread of fluid that is high in protein. This thread is wound around and around to form the cocoon where the caterpillar can mature and grow into a moth. However, most caterpillars don't make it past this point of their lives since this is the stage at which silk is harvested.
Some of the caterpillars are allowed to continue their lives and grow into moths to continue the lifecycle and lay more eggs. The other caterpillars, however, are not so lucky. The cocoons that are to be harvested for silk are first heated to kill the caterpillar inside them.
The cocoons are held together by a gooey substance called sericin (also known as silk gum). To separate the silk fibers, the cocoons are soaked in both hot and cold water to soften the sericin. Once the sericin has been softened, the silk fibers are unwound to produce a continuous thread.
The process of manufacturing silk is complicated and rather tedious. Not only that, but it requires a large amount of work to produce even the smallest amount of silk fiber, which is why silk is one of the more expensive fabrics on the market.
Silk production is done on silk farms and begins when a female moth lays her eggs. Each moth lays hundreds of eggs which are incubated until they hatch grow into caterpillars, or "silkworms". The caterpillars are kept warm and fed for about 4-6 weeks until they have grown enough to pupate. It is during this phase of the caterpillar's life that silk production takes place.
Each caterpillar attaches itself to a branch and spins a cocoon. To make their cocoon, the caterpillars excrete a continuous thread of fluid that is high in protein. This thread is wound around and around to form the cocoon where the caterpillar can mature and grow into a moth. However, most caterpillars don't make it past this point of their lives since this is the stage at which silk is harvested.
Some of the caterpillars are allowed to continue their lives and grow into moths to continue the lifecycle and lay more eggs. The other caterpillars, however, are not so lucky. The cocoons that are to be harvested for silk are first heated to kill the caterpillar inside them.
The cocoons are held together by a gooey substance called sericin (also known as silk gum). To separate the silk fibers, the cocoons are soaked in both hot and cold water to soften the sericin. Once the sericin has been softened, the silk fibers are unwound to produce a continuous thread.
Many people who create flower arrangements with silk flowers use the bunches of silk flowers in their arrangements as they purchased them. That is where many people go wrong with silk floral arrangements.
By Karen Barnes | Published 3/16/2007 | Read more »
Proper care of silk is simple, but requires some forethought. Dry cleaning or hand washing, gentle stain treatment, pressing on low heat without steam, and storage in cotton or other loose-weave material will keep silk garments looking their best.
By M. Langton | Published 7/29/2005 | Read more »
This article offers unique ideas for 12th wedding anniversary gifts using the traditional material of silk.
By Angela Epps | Published 2/14/2008 | Read more »
A look at using silk flowers for a wedding, both in the chapel and at the reception, from a groom's perspective.
By W Thomas Payne | Published 1/31/2008 | Read more »
Sericulture, the production of silk fiber, originated in China and was a closely guarded secret for more than 1,000 years. Eventually, though, it spread to the rest of the world, mainly through smuggling by everyday travelers-including monks.
By Peggy Adamik | Published 8/30/2006 | Read more »
Sericulture is the process of raising silk moths and then harvesting their cocoons in order to obtain silk fiber. It takes only about two months, but can be very tedious.
By Peggy Adamik | Published 8/31/2006 | Read more »
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