Natural Silk Fibres

Please see the main Fibres> Silk category page for descriptions of the two types of silk, Cultivated and Tussah.

Silk takes colour readily with either acid dyes or fibre reactive. It is considered a protein fibre, being from an insect, but the structure of it allows it to be dyed either way. Natural dyes and silk get along very well too, using the usual mordanting techniques used for wool. Nearly all references mention that silk fibres are damaged above 185 degrees F. This is apparently one of the biggest dye myths out there and has absolutely no evidence to support the claim.

We carry silk in several forms. In silk TOP the fibres have been cut to workable length, then combed into a fairly narrow preparation ready for spinning. HANKIES are thin and filmy layers of silk that have been stretched over a square form, layer upon layer. They are carefully taken apart, a hole poked in the centre and then drafted out before spinning. Silk hankies are often handpainted with dye before being taken apart and spun. NOILS are curd-like bits of silk considered to be waste by the textile industry. They are most often carded into blends to provide a bumpy, tweedy texture to a yarn, either in their natural state or dyed ahead of time. THROWSTER SILK is a byproduct of reeling silk into thread from the cocoons. These are blobs that have amazing luster and can be spun or used in blends. COCOONS are the egg-shaped silk capsules that the silk worm spins, and can come in different preparations.

Quick Metric Conversion:
1 oz = 28.35g, 2 oz = 56.7g, 4 oz = 113.4g, 8 oz = 226.8g, 1 Lb = 453.59g

Cultivated Silk Cocoons, Degummed

Silk cocoons come as natural (usually with a dead worm inside), which are sort of firm and egg-shaped, or degummed, which have had the seracin (i.e. silk worm spit/glue) removed. Most common are Bombyx (Cultivated, Mulberry) cocoons, but sometimes other kinds of silk are available as well, though we have yet to locate a source. Cocoons are adored by makers of Novelty/Art yarn, by felters, and sometimes by spinners. Degummed Bombyx or Mulberry/Cultivated silk cocoons. These can be used for spinning directly, as a textural component in needle or Nuno felting, in paper making or added for texture to novelty yarns. They dye up just like regular silk top or roving, using either acid or fibre reactive dyes. PRODUCT of CHINA

$4.50 – $9.00 Select options

Silk Hankies, Natural

100% cultivated (aka Bombyx or Mulberry) silk. Much like silk caps, hankies contain many layers of tissue-thin silk that are stretched out and stacked together into square shapes, but flat rather than dome-shaped. This makes them easier to deal with than caps when hand-painting with dye. You can use either acid or fibre reactive dyes, or even natural dyes. Spinners take the individual layers apart, poke a hole in the centre and then draft them out as thick or as thin as they need for their particular yarn. Felters find these interesting to use for embellishment on nuno-felted, wet-felted and needle-felted projects. PRODUCT of CHINA

$13.25 – $26.50 Select options

Silk Noils, Cultivated

100% silk. Bits and pieces of off-white cultivated silk, also known as Mulberry or Bombyx silk. These are waste from the textile industry, and therefore sometimes have debris (like bits of silkworm poo) and could use a good shake before spinning. Noils are easy to dye. We find it's best to take the extra few minutes to tease them open before presoaking (with hot water and soap), to allow for maximum colour penetration. Spinners love to use noils to provide bumpy texture to a spin, carding them in with the fibre of choice. Felters also make use of them for embellishment.

$8.00 – $16.00 Select options

Silk Top, Cultivated

100% silk. Combed top, pearly off-white in colour. Staple length is about 7 to 8 inches. Also called Mulberry or Bombyx silk. Silk top is easy to dye, using either acid dyes, fibre reactive dyes, or natural dyes. For spinning, silk top may be spun all by itself or used for blending with a myriad of other fibres. Silk does not felt but is beautiful as a felting surface embellishment on top of a wool foundation. PRODUCT of CHINA

$14.75 – $113.84 Select options

Silk Top, Muga

100% Muga silk. This also goes by the name Assam silk, and it's from a worm native to India rather than further east. The colour is a glorious tan to almost caramel-golden-brown with a wonderful sheen. Apparently it is a myth that Muga silk cannot be dyed, though we have never tried to do so. Usually difficult to find, and always expensive. PRODUCT of INDIA

$21.00 – $42.00 Select options

Silk Top, Tussah (Bleached)

100% silk. Combed top, bleached but still an ivory-cream colour. Staple length is about 6 to 7 inches. If you plan on using your silk for blending, Tussah silk is nearly always a better value fibre than Cultivated silk. Silk top is easy to dye, using either acid dyes, fibre reactive dyes, or natural dyes. For spinning, silk top may be spun all by itself or used for blending with a myriad of other fibres.

$8.25 – $63.67 Select options

Silk, Red Eri (Sliver) – 50g

100% Eri Silk. A less common silk for spinners but widely cultivated in India and also known as Endi, Errandi or Peace Silk. Because the cocoons are not harvested until after the moth emerges, this is considered to be an acceptable fibre by some vegans. Used for all kinds of fabrics for garments as well as bedding, pillows, etc. This is in beautiful combed top, our current supply is MUCH redder than this photo, a stunning cinnamon red. Eri silk comes in several natural shades. PRODUCT of INDIA

$15.00 Read more

Silk, Throwster Bleached

100% Mulberry silk An unusual product, this is degummed silk that's a byproduct of the reeling process. It's like curly soft blobs of silk fibre that can be drafted and spun, but most people probably use it as a textural embellishment for all types of felting. The sheen is wonderful, and it takes dye beautifully in a delightful irregular way. Our supply is AA grade, which is also carded to make Silk Laps. PRODUCT of INDIA

$6.00 – $27.00 Select options

The Fibre Garden : Natural Silk Fibres