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Fabric Fibers: Cotton | Linen | Silk | Synthetic | Wool

silk fabric and silkworm cocoon Silk is a natural filament fiber.  This luxury fiber was initially cultured and woven into fabric by the Chinese as early as the 27th century BC.  However, silk production didn't spread to Japan and Korea until about 300 AD.

Silk fiber is the result of unwinding the cocoon of the silkworm.  Sericulture, or the cultivation of the silkworm, is carefully monitored from the egg to the larva, the chrysalis, and lastly the adult moth.  Most of the cocoons are not allowed to progress to the moth stage, but are soaked in hot water to release the filaments from the sticky "glue" that holds them together.  These filaments are reeled off the cocoons, and strands of raw silk are made from a number of filaments wound together.  Silk yarn is produced by twisting two or more strands together.  Then silk fabrics are woven from these yarns.

Silk fabrics are comfortable to wear; they are warm in winter and cool in summer.  They resist wrinkling, and they dye and print well.  There are a number of different silk fabric types, from soft and fragile to heavy and stiff.  Silk gazar is crisp and of medium weight, while silk organza is thin and uniquely sheer.  Raw silk, or noil, has a dull finish; sand-washed silk appears brushed; and shantung silk is crisp with a sheen and slubs in the woven fabric.  Tussah silk, made from wild silkworms whose filaments are coarse and uneven, has a rough, nubby appearance.  Dupion is a crisp fabric, with irregular slubs in the yarn.  Thai silk is similar to dupion, but finer and lighter in weight and bulk.  Sometimes silk yarns are even woven into tweed fabrics.

Silk fabrics can shrink, and most require dry cleaning.  Some can be slippery to sew with.  Silk fibers can be combined with other fibers such as cotton or wool.  While the silk fiber is produced mostly in China, India, and Japan, some of the best silk fabric is woven in France and Italy.  Luxury silk fabrics can be quite costly.

silk fibers and cocoons silkworm moth
weaving silk cloth

Silk Resources

  • History of Silk
    This informative article reviews the history of silk from its ancient Chinese origins to modern day production methods.
    www.Silk-Road.com
  • Exotic Silks
    This wholesale silk distributor offers a wide range of silk fabrics, scarves, and gift items.
    www.ExoticSilks.com
  • Aurora Silk
    This Oregon-based designer offers silk fabrics and fibers, as well as silkworms and natural dyes.
    www.AuroraSilk.com
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