Home Page
Product Index
Acrylic
100% Alpaca
100% Angora
100% Bamboo
100% Camel
100% Cashmere
100% Cotton
Lambswool
linen and blends
Llama
100% Merino Wool, Australian Merino, Merino extra fine
Microfiber
100% Mink and Natural Blends
Mohair
Rayon
100% Silk
100% Soy Silk
100% Sugarcane
100% Wool
100% Yark Hair

Organic Yarns
Un-dyed Yarns
Novelty Yarns

Artisanal and Artisan-Style Yarns
Yarns with Beads, Beaded Yarns
Luxury Blends
Boucle Yarns
Brushed Yarns
Chenille Yarns
Fancy Yarns
Fine, Lace Weight Yarns
Frill, Mesh Tape Yarns
Faux Fur Yarns
Hand Painted and Paints, Jewels, Hand Dyed, Deep Dyed Yarns
Metallic Yarns
Quick Knit Yarns
Ribbon Yarns
Sequin Yarns
Sheen Yarns
Stretch Yarns
Thick-and-Thin Yarns
Textured Yarns
Slubbed, Thick-and-Thin Yarns
Tweed Yarns
Yarns for machine knitting
Superwash and machine wash yarns
Sock Yarn
Felting Yarns
Final Sale
Crochet Room
Knitting  Needles
Woolwash Eucalan
Magazines
Leaflets
Books
Patterns
Baghandles, Bag Handles: Leather, Abaca, Wooden, Metal Frame, Bamboo, Plastic
Fashion Accessories
Specialty Items
Knitwear
Kits, Gifts
Wise Tea Garden, Tea Shop

Gift Certificates
Surveys
Public Programs
News
Things for free
Customers' Comments
Current Price List
shipping information
how to order
our policy
site map
about us
Frequently Asked Questions
contact info
border3
Help for Knitters
knitting resources
Toronto, Canada
Last modified on
February 8, 2012

 

100% Silk: Mulberry, Tussah, Spun-Silk, Stretch Silk
Spider Silk, Natural Blends


Silkworms, Wild Fibers Magazine Spring 2010
Silkworms, photo © Linda N. Cortright, Wild Fibers Magazine, Spring 2010.

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 releed or spun. Because of its long length, a yarn can be spun very fine if desired. - Reference: Peace of Yarn
Tussah (Tasar) 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, 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 SericultureHistory of SilkSericulture in picturesIndia 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).

 
Silk Knits, 20 Designs in Fabulous Fibers, Elaine Eskensen


100% MULBERRY SILK, Releed 70/30 SILK-Cotton Ribbon 100% SILK TOP, Soft Spun 100% Stretch SILK 100% TUSSAH (Tasar) SILK


100% Soft-Spun Silk, Makalu
100% Silk Bourette, Estelle
Baby Silk Lace, Estelle
Baco, Lana Grossa
Merino Seta, Lana Grossa
Mulberry, Louisa Harding new item
Mulberry Hand Beaded new item
  Mulberry Merino, Diamond
Seta, Lang
Silk, Lang
Silk Boucle, Makalu
Silk Dream, Lang
Silky Cashmere, Makalu
Yuzen, Noro
Luxury with content of Silk ≤ 23%:

Cadenza Paint, Estelle
Mohair Luxe, Lang
Nadeshiko, Noro
Paca de Seda, AYCo.
Silk Road Aran, Jo Sharp

1 | 2 ...next »
Bamboo Silk »
Sugarcane Viscose »
Artificial Silk »

100% Mulberry, Schappe

Silk yarn
  100% SILK by Makalu
FIBRE: 100% Mulberry Silk Top, Soft Spun
YARN WEIGHT: Aran
TENSION: 16 sts / 20 rows
NEEDLES: knit tight on 4 - 4.25 mm (US No.6)
LENGTH: approx. 142 m / 157 yds
HANK WEIGHT: 100g (3.5oz)
* hand wash | made in China natural

Lang Seta
  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 natural

Lang Silk
  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 natural

100% Silk Boucle
  SILK BOUCLÉ by Makalu
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 natural

100% Tussah, Blends

Estelle Cadenza
  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 natural

1 | 2 ...next »

 

Copyright © 2012 Irene & Mr.Sheep Co.
All rights reserved. Website comments to webmaster.
How to order - Shipping - Index - Programs - Help - About us - Customer Service
Information is updated daily.