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Greetings,
Since this subject has spilled over the two lists I decided
to cross post. I apologize in advance for those of us that are in
the two lists.
I am Carla, also known in the SCA as Caterina, indeed last
year I was the proud mom of a couple of hundred silk worms. To be
precise I raised the mulberry silk worm Bombyx mori, from egg to
moth. That is to differentiate from the other dozens of silk worms in
existence. The US has three species of silk producing moths, which
on occasion can be raised in captivity. This is what I remember,
since at present I am at work I do not have all the information with
me. I fed them exclusively leaves of the black mulberry tree as the
leaves from the white do not lead to production of good silk. The
silk worms grew to about 2.5 inches long and 1/2"diameter (about 4
weeks) before it was time to puppate. I had very little deaths
during the caterpillar stage, but as they got ready to spin their
cocoons they started dropping like flies. I estimate I lost 40% of
my worms for assorted reasons. Some were "lazy" and did not produce
a cocoon. Some died a couple of days after producing a cocoon. I
found out as they rot really fast and I could see a wet brown spot on
those cocoons, they are afterall mainly leaf juice... I washed and
saved those cocoons. I also saved all the silk some of them managed
to spread in my laundry room. One week after my worms had spun
their cocoons I placed them in a baking sheet and cooked them for
45min on a warm oven (200F). I promptly removed them from oven to
avoid scorching. To reel the silk, the recipe I have is to simmer
the cocoons in water with a bit of washing soda (in medieval times I
understand they used wood ashes, i.e. a base like washing soda). I
put 6-10 cocoons and after they simmer I found the tips/ends of the
silk and reeled them all together in this little gizmo I made from
two pieces (12" long) of 1/4" dowel and two pieces (6" long) of 1"
square molding. I drilled one hole at each end of the molding pieces
and glued the dowels to it. Making a rectangular frame, the long
sides being the dowels and the short sides being the molding. If I
had a yarn blocker I could've used one. I decided to use an Indian
technique called "thigh reeling'. After I had drawn a length of silk
filament from the cocoons I gave them a slight twist by rolling
against my leg, and winding this silk into my gizmo. After reeling
all the silk, you'll have some left over on the cocoons, that along
with all the ugly, misshapen cocoon, can be degumed stretched into a
roving and spun with a drop spindle or wheel. The silk will need to
be left to air dry and than can be wound into a ball.
Part of my information comes from the magazine Spin OFF they
had a two part article on wild silks. I believe they were the 1999
Winter issue and 2000 Spring issue, Check the Interweave website
(http://www.interweave.com), for further info on the correct issues,
and if you decide to purchase them. Part from a book, on silk
production> I have to check the name at home.
One suggestion, as the caterpillars start to feel the urge to
spin cocoons they will start migrating upwards. Make sure you
provide them with a clean place and cozy corners. Egg cartons are
nice for that, place one caterpillar per egg spot. You still may
end up with cocoons in all sorts of interesting places :-)
Finally as a justification for having taken so much
bandwidth. Part of the reeled silk is destined to be plied with
some finely spun wool for a gossamer shawl but most of it is
destined for Tabletweaving!! But first I need to dye it. :-)
Carla/Caterina
Send private reply to Carla Calvi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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