All silk will readily take and retain colour if the correct medium is used .The lustre of the material adds a further dimension in that it reflects light and appears to make the colours really glow.White silk will take bright dye colour and make it appear more brilliant.Cream or coffee coloured tsilk will alter the tones of the colours in suttle ways.
Many legends surround the invention of Sericulture.
One of these legends suggests that a Chinese Princess while taking tea under a mulberry tree, saw a cocoon drop into her tea cup .The hot liquid softened and loosened the cocoon fiber.When the princess,in her curiosity,pulled on the end of a fiber ,which had appeared ,she discovered it to be one long,silken thread.
This legend provides us with the basic information about silk production(Sericulture).
The Bombyyx Mori, is a silk worm which thrives on mulbery leaves.It developes silk glands on the underside of its body at maturity.
This legend provides us with the basic information about silk production(Sericulture).
The Bombyyx Mori, is a silk worm which thrives on mulbery leaves.It developes silk glands on the underside of its body at maturity.
The rich diet of mulberry leaves,caues these glands to become engorged with a fluid which is injected through a spinneret in the lower lip of the worms mouth.Spinning a single thread causes a cocoon to be formed for protection during the pupa stage.This thread hardens and dries as it is exposed to the air.The colour of the silk depends on the genetic back ground of the silk worm.
the silk can be white, creamish,or deep yellow.
the silk can be white, creamish,or deep yellow.
Traditionally the pupa were killed by exposure to very hot sun or immersion in boiling water ,or placing in hot ovens.
Now days they are killed by ultrasound: which has the advantage of killing the pupa instantly and does not affect the silk.
On an average the silk thread harvested from a single cocoon of the Bombyx mori is between 800-1200yrds(730 to 1100 meters)
On an average the silk thread harvested from a single cocoon of the Bombyx mori is between 800-1200yrds(730 to 1100 meters)
The cocoons are immersed in boiling water,which dissolves the substance which hold the silk threads together.When.the cocoon softens , the long continuos silk thread loosens and floats in the water were it can be collected and reeled.It is then spun ,and subsequently woven, to produce a fabric of un parralled beauty and rich diversity.
There are many different types of silk all with different of characteristics,ranging from the finest diaphanous fabrics,georgette, chiffon, habbotai,to quite course ,slubby silks
My preference is to paint on habbotai silk,which has a flat even surface,and an amazing bright lustre
