Students, teachers: Science Fair projects? Check out our new Peace Silk Collection. It contains cocoons, moths, information, and samples of silk fibre and yarn.
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Degummed peace silk fibre from cocoons organically raised in the Bangalore area of India. Cocoons were boiled in pure soap to remove sericin gum. Pull open the degummed cocoons into a soft mass and spin directly, or pull out into a long roving. No cutting or carding is needed. This is the easiest spinning because the long semi-continuous fibres can't slip away. The resulting yarn is soft, lofty, very light weight, and cloud-like. A small weight of silk goes a long way.
Approximately 250 home raised cocoons produce 1 oz finished silk.
Aproximated 100 Bangalore India raised cocoons produce about 1 oz finished silk.
RECIPE FOR DEGUMMING:
100 cocoons, home raised
6 cups water
1 cup Dr. Bronner's liquid soap
boil GENTLY for about 30 minutes, or until the cocoons seem to colapse, and a cocoon taken out to test rinses white and feels soft.
add more soap if not softened in 30 minutes
drain the cocoons and:
SAVE THE SOAPY DEGUMMING WATER = this is an excellent hair shampoo and conditioner!
rinse well in running cold water - takes a lot of rinsing!
soak in water with a tablespoon of white vinegar added
squeese out excess water and leave to air dry
to spin, pull out each cocoon into a fluffy ball. spin directly, or pull out into a long "rolag", than add twist.
FOR DENSER COCOONS, like the BANGALORE, double the soap and water.
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