silk from moth to cloth. the legend xi-ling-shi, wife of the yellow emperorxi-ling-shi, wife of the...
TRANSCRIPT
SILK
From Moth to Cloth
The Legend
The Legend
• Xi-Ling-ShiXi-Ling-Shi, Wife of the Yellow Emperor, Wife of the Yellow Emperor
The Legend
• Xi-Ling-ShiXi-Ling-Shi, Wife of the Yellow Emperor, Wife of the Yellow Emperor
• 2672 B.C. – Neolithic, or New Stone Age, 2672 B.C. – Neolithic, or New Stone Age, nearly nearly five thousand yearsfive thousand years ago ago
The Legend
• Xi-Ling-ShiXi-Ling-Shi, Wife of the Yellow Emperor, Wife of the Yellow Emperor
• 2672 B.C. – Neolithic, or New Stone Age, 2672 B.C. – Neolithic, or New Stone Age, nearly nearly five thousand yearsfive thousand years ago ago
• Cocoon dropped into tea cupCocoon dropped into tea cup
Simple Silkworm FactsSimple Silkworm Facts
Simple Silkworm Facts
• Silk comes from silkworms, which are larvae of the silk moth, Bombyx mori.
Simple Silkworm Facts
• Silk comes from silkworms, which are larvae of the silk moth, Bombyx mori.
• Each caterpillar spins a single cocoon – it can be up to 1500 meters of unbroken thread – nearly a mile!
Simple Silkworm Facts
• Silk comes from silkworms, which are larvae of the silk moth, Bombyx mori.
• Each caterpillar spins a single cocoon – it can be up to 1500 meters of unbroken thread – nearly a mile!
• The caterpillars only eat mulberry leaves, and they eat so much they increase their body weight by up to10,000 times over four weeks.
Silkworms hatch from tiny eggs the size of poppy seeds.
This little guy is only a few hours old.
They eat a LOT of leaves.
They eat a LOT of leaves.
By the time they’re ready to spin cocoons, they will be as big as an adult’s finger.
The caterpillar starts to spin by putting down a silk web.
The caterpillar will spin for three days, until the cocoon is very solid.
The caterpillar will spin for three days, until the cocoon is very solid.
The caterpillar will spin for three days, until the cocoon is very solid.
Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar changes its skin and becomes a pupa.
After about three weeks, the pupa will turn into a moth, and hatch from the cocoon.
After about three weeks, the pupa will turn into a moth, and hatch from the cocoon.
First, the moth squirts an enzyme on the silk to soften it.
After about three weeks, the pupa will turn into a moth, and hatch from the cocoon.
Then, the moth digs its way out through the silk.
After about three weeks, the pupa will turn into a moth, and hatch from the cocoon.
Its wings are soft and limp.
Even when their wings are dry, domesticated silkmoths cannot fly.
This is a male moth.
This is a female moth. She will lay 200 - 500 eggs.
The moths have no mouths, and they cannot eat or drink. They live usually four or five
days.
If the moth hatches, it breaks the cocoon into many short pieces of silk. To turn
cocoons into silk thread, they are stifled, or baked, to kill and dry the pupa.
Silk Reeling
Silk Reeling
• Each silk cocoon is a single thread – but it is as fine as a spider web.
Silk Reeling
• Each silk cocoon is a single thread – but it is as fine as a spider web.
• The threads from several cocoons are wound together – this is called reeling.
Silk Reeling
• Each silk cocoon is a single thread – but it is as fine as a spider web.
• The threads from several cocoons are wound together – this is called reeling.
• A set of pulleys, called a croissure, helps to strengthen the thread.
Silk Reeling
• Each silk cocoon is a single thread – but it is as fine as a spider web.
• The threads from several cocoons are wound together – this is called reeling.
• A set of pulleys, called a croissure, helps to strengthen the thread.
• Twenty cocoons makes a strand as fine as a hair.
Silk Reeling
A brush helps to find the ends of the cocoons.
Silk Reeling
At first, there is a tangled mess.
Silk Reeling
But after a while, there is one end for each cocoon.
Silk Reeling
This is the croissure - a set of pulleys
that squeezes the thread to help
make it strong and remove moisture.
Silk ReelingThis is a silk reel - it winds the silk from the
cocoons.
Dyeing
Dyeing
Dyes make silk different colors.
Dyeing
First, the white yarn is soaked in water.
Dyeing
The dye liquid looks like kool-aid.
Dyeing
The silk is dipped until it soaks up the color.
Dyeing
After they dry, the threads are ready to use.
Things I make with silk
I like to weave with silk.
Things I make with silk
I make ribbons for prizes and awards.
Things I make with silk
And fancy silk bookmarks.
Things I make with silk
And fancy silk bookmarks.
Things I make with silk
I like to embroider with silk, too.
Things I make with silk
Light shines beautifully on the silk threads.
Some Silk Facts
Some Silk Facts
• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.
Some Silk Facts
• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.
• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.
Some Silk Facts
• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.
• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.
• Silk is stronger per weight than steel wire.
Some Silk Facts
• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.
• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.
• Silk is stronger per weight than steel wire.
• Silk can be made into a wide range of fabrics - everything from bridal veils to bullet-proof vests.
Some Silk Facts
• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.
• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.
• Silk is stronger per weight than steel wire.
• Silk can be made into a wide range of fabrics - everything from bridal veils to bullet-proof vests.
• Silk can be used for sutures - threads to stitch closed wounds and incisions.
Some Silk Facts
• Silk can hold up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels damp.
• Silk is an excellent electrical insulator.
• Silk is stronger per weight than steel wire.
• Silk can be made into a wide range of fabrics - everything from bridal veils to bullet-proof vests.
• Silk can be used for sutures - threads to stitch closed wounds and incisions.