Silk Worm Cocoons

Because I have been curious about how the silk threads are taken from the cocoons so when I went to the Hamilton Fiber Festival I purchased about twenty of them.  I read on-line a few blogs about how to take the silk threads from the cocoons.  I dropped a couple of them in warm water and then gently rubbed one of the cocoons when very fine threads began to come off into my hands.  I wrapped the threads onto a bobbin and collected what threads I could from the cocoon.  The cocoon is created totally from the silk threads down to the very tiniest piece.  Its amazing.  Once the cocoon begins to dry, the threads do not loosen as easily as when it is wet.  It is laborious work.  The small amount of silk on my bobbin is from four cocoons.  The lifeless silk worm was inside the cocoon and disposing of it made me sad.   

 

Off of the Hook - Cashmere and Silk Fingerless Gloves

While traveling by car Tuesday to Nashville, Tennessee for a family road trip, I took along a crochet project that I had just started; a 10/J bamboo crochet hook and a muffin of some light blue recycled sweater cashmere and silk yarn (see 70% Cashmere post).  Off of the hooks came two fingerless gloves, a matching set.  I added matching motifs to the back of each (top of hand) with a big eyed plastic needle and the same cashmere and silk yarn.  There is much more yarn, so there may be a matching scarf in the very near future. I have been collecting glove molds for some years now, and they are the perfect models for my fingerless gloves don't you think? They were very cooperative! 

Merino and Silk

What a beautiful spun yarn.  I really love the way only 2 ounces of merino and silk spun for me.  It's the first silky roving I have spun and it was easier than I thought it would be.