Silk production

• The rearing of silkworms for obtaining silk is called sericulture.
• It is a very complex and lengthy process.
• The first step involves washing the silkworm eggs that had been stored over the winter.
• Under natural conditions, the eggs hatch only once a year in spring when the mulberry trees begin to leaf.
• After the eggs hatch, the larvae are spread out on trays to grow. They are fed chopped mulberry leaves for 20-35 days.
• Racks or twigs are placed on the trays where the worms spin the cocoons.
• Spinning may take about a week, after which the cocoons have to be unraveled.
• The cocoons are put in hot water, which kills the worms as well as loosens the filaments.
• The filaments are taken out from the cocoons by the process called reeling or filature.
• Filaments from several cocoons are twisted together to make a strong thread that is wound on a reel.
• The threads are then dyed and woven into silk fabric.
• There are different types of silk which differ in quality and texture.
• The differences are due to different varieties of silk moths.
• Tassar silk, mooga silk, and kosa silk are some of the different types of silk.

Summary of the Process of Silk Production:

• The healthiest moths are chosen for breeding and laying the eggs.
• The larvae that emerge once the eggs hatch are fed mulberry leaves. They continue feeding for 3-4 weeks.
• When the silkworm is about 35 days old it starts spinning a cocoon around itself.  This process takes about 3-7 days to complete.

• The pupae inside the cocoons are killed by putting the cocoons in hot water, which kills the worms as well as loosens the fibres.
• Single filaments are washed, dried, and twisted to form yarn. The texture of the fabric depends on the manner of twisting.
• One end of the silk thread is passed through an eyelet and the thread reeled on to the wheel.

Discovery of Silk:

• According to an old Chinese legend, the empress Si-lung-Chi was asked by the emperor Huang-ti to find the cause of the damaged leaves of mulberry trees growing in their garden.
• The empress found white worms eating up mulberry leaves.
• Silk industry began in China and was kept a closely guarded secret for hundreds of years.
• Later on, traders and travelers introduced silk to other countries.
• The route they travelled is still called the ‘silk route’.