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 This
reeled
silk is the finest quality filament silk, containing
25% sericin and suitable for silk papermaking or couching.
After degumming, the silk fibre can be dyed and spun to a
lustrous yarn.
The Silk Throwsters Waste, Carded Cocoon Strippings, Silk
Carrier Rods and Cocoons all contain the naturally occuring
sericin which is the ‘glue’ (gum) that maintains
the structure of the cocoon.
The gum can be left on the fibre which spins to a hairy,
coarser yarn. It is then better protected from abrasion during
weaving. The woven fabric is then degummed to reveal the high
sheen and soft handle.
- Simmer (do NOT Boil) the complete hank of silk in soap
flakes solution (e.g. Lux) for up to 90 minutes at a ratio
of about 8gm per litre of water. A little washing soda may
be added but the pH must be kept below 10 as strong alkalinity
damages the silk, use a test
paper if in doubt.
- The 10-denier filature silk can contain up to 25% of sericin
and therefore needs a lot of washing. Ideally, a very large
vessel is needed to give plenty of volume of water to dissolve
the gum and provide free circulation.
- Unwind the hank and place about 4 very loose ties round
the hank and suspend it in the liquor from sticks across
the pan. Lift the hank on the sticks every few minutes and
“dunk” it a few times to rinse off the gum.
When you change the liquor, move the ties to new positions
as the area round the ties gets less circulation. We found
that it was worth letting the bath cool until you can handle
the hank and then running the hank between two fingers to
scrape off the softened gum as a jelly.
- After the second simmer, lift out the hank on the sticks
and allow it to cool naturally (the shock of sudden quenching
in cool water may shrink the silk); rinse several times
in large quantities of water until the hank no longer feels
sticky. Hang up to dry.
If you want to use the silk in cut lengths, tie round the
hank tightly with fine string at whatever intervals you want
and cut with good scissors beside the ties.
Browse catalogue for: undyed
silk fibres or hand-dyed
silk fibres
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