How to Spin the Silk From a Cocoon

Contributor

By Susan King
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(0 Ratings)

Silkworm cultivation began in China over 5,000 years ago. Today, commercial cultivation is found in Japan, China, Spain, France and Italy. It takes 3,000 silk worm cocoons to make only 1 pound of silk. Modern silkworm moths can only live in captivity since domestication caused them to lose the ability to fly. Wild populations are extinct. Silkworms feed on a natural diet of Mulberry leaves but artificial silkworm food is commercially available.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

silk worm cocoons
water
dishwashing liquid
strainer
towel
pencil or small dowel
tweezers or small crochet hook

Processing the Cocoon

Step 1

First, the cocoons need to be de-gumed. This means removing the natural stickiness that holds them in the cocoon shape. Add 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to a quart of warm water for 10 cocoons. Simmer gently for 20 minutes.
Step 2

Rinse the cocoons in a strainer. Place in a clean towel and fold. Squeeze the cocoons tightly in the towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Spread the cocoons out uncovered to dry thoroughly.
Step 3

Using a tweezers or tiny crochet hook, begin to pick at the strands of the dry cocoon until you find one that comes off easily.
Step 4

Wind the strand around a pencil or small dowel rod. The thread should come off in one continuous piece.

Tips & Warnings

A cocoon is made of one single continuous thread and it can be as long as 914 meters! Silkworms are quite easy to raise and are great for teachers to grow in their classrooms.