Silk Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is silk?
Silk is a fine thread from which a silkworm spins its cocoon. The thread produced by the spinning glands of the silkworm is one of the finest and strongest natural fibers in the world.
2. How is silk made?
Sericulture (silk production is an exacting and demanding process. The most prized silk is obtained from a special type of silkworm, the Bombyx mori moth. It takes approximately 30,000 worms to produce twelve pounds of raw silk. Those 30,000 worms will eat about 2,000 pounds of chopped mulberry leaves from birth to the time they weave their cocoons which is about a month after they are born. Unlike the silk that comes from wild moths who eat whatever food is available to them, the silk thread filament, the Bombyx mori moth produces is a much higher quality. It is finer, smoother and rounder than the silk from the wild moths. After the cocoons are steamed, they are placed in water to loosen the silk thread filament. Then the filaments from between four and eight cocoons are twisted together to make one silk thread that can be as long as 1,600 yards. Finally, there is one strand of silk thread. Is it any wonder that silk is expensive? The process of making it is painstaking yet amazing. The next time you run your fingers over a luxurious piece of silk think about the amazing process and workmanship that turned the cocoons of the silkworm into such a wonderful piece of fabric.
3. Silk Terms Defined?
Silk is of high value and since produced by silk worms, of naturally limited availability; only two percent of the world's textiles are silk. There are many grades and quality levels of silk based on the length of the thread and other factors of harvesting and finishing.
Mulberry Silk – a cultivated silk and the highest quality silk available. It comes from silkworms produced from the Bombyx mori moth. The silkworms are fed an exclusive diet of mulberry leaves. The resulting silk that is harvested is of a uniform light color, is rounder than wild silk, more uniform in size than wild silk, and finer than wild silk.
Charmeuse – high quality silk that can be either satin charmeuse or crepe charmeuse depending on how it is woven. It drapes well and is renowned for its luster, softness and beauty making it a popular choice for silk bedding.
Habotai Silk – is wild silk and is a lower quality silk. Although it is widely available in silk bedding it is not as durable as mulberry silk but is much more affordable.
Duppoini Silk – it is fairly coarse to the touch but is strong and lustrous. Its coarseness does not make a good choice for silk sheets but its interesting texture makes it a popular choice for draperies.
Satin – a confusing term at best. Technically "satin" refers to the weave of a fabric and not to the fabric itself. But satin is a term often use to define a smooth shiny fabric made of acetate, polyester and rayon. "Satin silk" is an ultra-luxurious silk.
Momme Weight – this refers to the weight of a piece of silk fabric and is a standard measurement for silk. Momme weight calculates the weight of a piece of silk that is a standard 100 yards long and 45 inches wide. The weight of the piece of fabric that size is its momme weight. A piece of silk weighing 12 pounds has a momme weight of 12. When purchasing silk bedding look for a momme weight of 12 or higher. If you are looking for the best quality silk bedding, choose products made with mulberry or cultivated silk and with a momme weight of at least 16.
Ref: http://www.silksheetsguide.com
