Silk Yarn

The production of silk yarn is very green and environmentally friendly since no pesticides or insecticides are used, and it involves sustainable trees that keep growing year after year.

Silk cloth has always been associated with nobility and wealth. You probably knew that, but did you know these interesting facts?

• Muslim men are not allowed to wear silk for religious reasons, but it's ok for women to wear.
• Silk thread is popular in silk ribbon embroidery and bunka embroidery.
• It takes 2500 to 3000 cocoons to produce 1 yard of woven fabric.

I have a true appreciation for silk yarn now that I have danced around a mulberry bush collecting leaves for silkworms and seen how the silk fiber is extracted from cocoons.

Care

Hand wash silk in cold water and lay it flat to dry. Do not iron.

Silk can shrink some initially, but it will not shrink over time like cotton. It will actually stretch over time since it has no elasticity or memory. Softer yarns stretch more, so use tighter stitches for knitting and crochet.

Perspiration turns silk yellow and damages it over time, so it's important to keep silk clean. It's susceptible to insect damage from the carpet beetle, especially if it's dirty.

History

Silk was developed in ancient China with the earliest examples dating from 3500 BC. Some ancient textiles have been preserved remarkably well in Chinese tombs.

There was ancient trading with many countries, including Egypt. The famous Silk Road trade routes ran between Europe and Asia.

The Chinese emperors tried to keep the silk production methods a secret, but it was established in India by 300 AD. Silk is still popular in India for use in saris.

Silk production did not reach Europe until 550 AD. There is a legend that monks smuggled the worms and mulberry seeds into Constantinople.

Western trade with Asia was interrupted during World War II, so a synthetic fiber imitation called nylon was developed. It is similar to silk, but not the same. Viscose rayon is another type of artificial silk.