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June 5, 2013
100% Silk: Mulberry, Tussah, Spun-Silk,
Stretch Silk
Spider Silk, Natural Blends
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Silk fiber is the protein excretion of silkworms, spiders, or other insects. It is used by them to build their cocoons, webs, etc. The silk's amino acids composition is close to that of human skin. Pure silk is time-resistant, smooth unlike wool or cotton, hygienic, non-allergenic. As all luxury fibers, it is produced in very small quantities (less than 0.2% of overall textile fiber production). In general, silk fiber can be divided in two categories: domesticated and wild. Domesticated silk is produced by the Bombix mori moths, which feed on mulberry trees.
Wild silk is usually considered as the excretion of an Antheraea moth fed on oak and other trees. India is the wold's largest producer of wild silk.
According to Confucius, the discovery of silk goes back to 2640 BC: "A Chinese princess was drinking tea in a mulberry garden when a cocoon dropped into her cup. The hot tea dissolved the hard outer layer of the cocoon. In trying to extract it with her long fingernails, she discovered that the cocoon contained a continuous filament." - Reference: Robert R. Franck, "Silk, Mohair, Cashmere and Other Luxury Fibres". Silk production, or Sericulture, has a long and colorful history unknown to most people. Pliny, the Roman historian, wrote in his Natural History in 70 BC: "Silk was obtained by removing the down from the leaves with the help of water." The first description of silk making in Europe was printed in the 35 volumes of Denis Diderot's Encyclopédie.
For more than two thousand years the Chinese kept the secret of silk - it was the most zealously guarded secret in world history. The key to understanding the great mystery and magic of silk, lies with one species: the blind, flightless moth, Bombyx mori. The silkworm of this particular moth produces a thread whose filament is smoother, finer and rounder than that of other silk moths. Today, a single silk cocoon can yield up to 1600 m of continuous filament (from 100 to 150 m - in ancient times). Silk yarn can be either releed or spun. Reeled silk, or filament silk, is the highest quality yarn, it is very white and shiny.
• Mulberry Silk (Mullabary) is a very luxurious, domesticated silk fiber. It makes a very strong and lustrous yarn with a wonderful drape. Silk is very receptive to dyes and will retain its luster after dyeing. It can be either reeled or spun. Because of its long length, a yarn can be spun very fine if desired. - Reference: Peace of Yarn
• Tussah (Tassar) Silk is a thread from wild silkworms. There are many indigenous varieties of wild silk moths found in a number of different countries. Whether or not they are reared in the tropics, the leaves they eat contain tannin - the ingredient in tea that leaves a stain in your cup. The natural colour of Tussah silk is a warm honey beige, and "..silk produced by wild silkworms is stronger than steel..". Tussah is a coarse silk, and is mainly used for furnishings and interiors. Oak Tasar is a finer variety of Tussah silk.
• Golden Muga or Assam silk production is centered in Sualkuchi, and is a labor intensive industry. The detailed information about Muga and Eri Silks, including history and step-by-step production, is available in Fall 2009 issues of Wild Fibers Magazine.
• There are also Pat Silk, Spider Silk or Gossamer, Thai silk, Anjali Silk, Ghicha Silk, Katie Silk, Kosa silk, Rajshahi silk, etc. Art silks or " fake silks" are used in mass knitwear and yarn production: viscose, tencel, rayon and other varieties.
For more information about sericulture, please follow the links:
• History of Sericulture • History of Silk • Sericulture in pictures • India Silk
• Department of Sericulture, Shivaji University, India
Silk Knits or 20 Designs in Fabulous Fibers », including Möbius, lace shell, shell with sequins, eyelet-yoke pullover, Sicilian pullover, vests, a circle vest, shawls, jackets, a shrug, poncho, a scarf and hat, as well as a Short History of Sericulture, and swatching with different types of silk (sizes S - XL).
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| Did you know? Silkworms can live and feed only on chemical-free mulberry trees. If silkworms ate leaves from the mulberries, which have been treated with agricultural chemicals, they die. |
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100% Raw Silk, Estelle
100% Soft Spun Silk, Makalu
Baby Silk Lace, Estelle
Baco, Lana Grossa
Maharashtra Silk, Diamond 
Merino Seta, Lana Grossa
Mulberry, Louisa Harding
Mulberry Hand Beaded
Mulberry Merino, Diamond
Seta, Lang
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Seta Tweed, Lang
Shirakaba, Noro
Silk, Lang
Silk Boucle, Lotus
Silk Dream, Lang
Silk Garden Light, Noro
Silkpaca, Malabrigo
Silky Cashmere Aran, Lotus
Silky Cashmere HP, Makalu
Yuzen, Noro
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Luxury with content of Silk ≤ 30%: ‹ Cadenza Paint, Estelle ‹ Jguazú, Grignasco ‹ Mohair Luxe, Lang ‹ Mohair Luxe Lamé, Lang ‹ Nadeshiko, Noro ‹ Paca de Seda, AYCo. ‹ Party Angel, Debbie Bliss ‹ Shiro, Noro ‹ Silk Blend, Manos del Uruguay ‹ Silk Road Aran, Jo Sharp |
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Artificial Silk, Bamboo, Sugarcane »
100% Mulberry, Schappe
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MULBERRY by Louisa Harding FIBRE: 100% Mulberry Silk YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit TENSION: 22 sts / 30 rows NEEDLES: 4 mm (US No.6) LENGTH: approx. 124 m / 136 yds HANK WEIGHT: 50g * hand wash | made in Italy 
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MULBERRY Hand Beaded by Louisa Harding FIBRE: 60% Mulberry Silk, 33% Glass Beads, 7% Polyester YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit TENSION: 22 sts / 30 rows NEEDLES: 4 mm (US No.6) LENGTH: approx. 65 m / 71.09 yds HANK WEIGHT: 50g * hand wash | made in Italy
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MAHARASHTRA SILK by DiamondFIBRE: 100% Mulberry Silk YARN WEIGHT: Lace TENSION: n/a NEEDLES: n/a LENGTH: approx. 731 m/ 800 yards HANK WEIGHT: 100g * hand wash | made in Italy
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SETA by Lang FIBRE: 100% Mulberry Silk YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit TENSION: 25 sts / 36 rows NEEDLES: 3.5 - 4 mm (US No.5-6) LENGTH: approx. 120 m / 132 yds HANK WEIGHT: 50g * machine wash | made in Italy
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SILK by Lang FIBRE: 98% Mulberry Silk, 2% Elité YARN WEIGHT: Aran or Fancy TENSION: 22 sts / 28 rows NEEDLES: 4.25 - 5 mm (US No.7-8) LENGTH: approx. 78 m / 83 yds HANK WEIGHT: 25g * machine wash | made in Italy
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SILK BOUCLÉ by Lotus FIBRE: 100% Mulberry Silk YARN WEIGHT: Heavy Worsted TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 22 sts / 28 rows NEEDLES: 4.25 - 4.5 mm (US No. 6-7) LENGTH: approx. 176 m / 184 yds SKEIN WEIGHT: 100g * hand wash | made in China
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Ultra Precious, Exotic
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SILKY CASHMERE ARAN by Lotus FIBRE: 55% Mulberry Silk, 45% Mongolian Cashmere YARN WEIGHT: Aran TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 16 sts / 22 rows NEEDLES: 4.5 - 5 mm (US No.7-8) LENGTH: 90 m / 104 yards HANK WEIGHT: 55g * hand wash | made in China
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SILKY CASHMERE Hand Paints by Makalu FIBRE: 55% Mulberry Silk, 45% Tibetan Cashmere YARN WEIGHT: Aran TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 16 sts / 22 rows NEEDLES: 4.5 - 5 mm (US No.7-8) LENGTH: 40 m / 44 yards HANK WEIGHT: 25g * hand wash | made in China
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100% Tussah, Blends
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CADENZA Paint by Estelle FIBRE: 20% Tussah Silk, 80% Superwash Merino Wool YARN WEIGHT: Sport TENSION: 10x10 (4"): 30 sts / 36 rows NEEDLES: 2.5 - 3.5 mm (US No.0-1) LENGTH: approx. 350 m / 409 yards BALL WEIGHT: 100g * machine wash | made in Peru
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100% Bombyx Noil Silk
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SETA TWEED by Lang FIBRE: 75% Silk, 25% Cotton YARN WEIGHT: Sport / Light Double Knit TENSION: 22 sts / 28 rows NEEDLES: 3.5 - 4 mm (US No.4-6) LENGTH: approx. 100 m / 109.4 yds HANK WEIGHT: 25g * hand wash | made in Italy
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SILK by Estelle FIBRE: 100% Silk YARN WEIGHT: Aran TENSION: 18 sts / 24 rows NEEDLES: 4.25 - 4.5 mm (US No.6-7) LENGTH: approx. 95 m / 106 yds HANK WEIGHT: 50g * hand wash | made in Italy
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