What was Silk used for in ancient china?

Answer 1

Silk making begins with the adult silk moth, which is raised solely for reproduction. Batches of moths are kept in special houses where temperature, light and air are controlled by brazier, air vents, and blinds. This is to control reproduction so that the moths in each batch will mate at the same time. Since the moths' lives are controlled so they will mate at the same time, the eggs also are produced and hatch at roughly the same time. Once the silkworms hatch from their eggs, they are kept on bamboo trays and fed fresh mulberry leaves to store fat while they mature. As the silkworms mature, they spin cocoons from a jellylike substance in their silk glands. After about a week, some cocoons are steamed or baked to kill the worms inside. Some of the cocoons are left to nurture and release moths to reproduce. The cocoons are then plunged into boiling water to unravel the silky fibers. each cocoon consists of a thread about half a mile long. Once the cocoon fibers are unraveled, several are reeled together on a spool to make a thread strong enough for spinning. The fine silk fibers are woven into different types of cloth, from filmy gauze to heavy brocades.

Answer 2

The cocoons or pupa are put into ovens to kill any insects on them, this way the

silk is protected. Silk workers are now ready to reel the threads of the cocoon. The

reeling is done in a factory called a filature. The cocoons are first soaked in hot water to

remove the sericin. While they are soaking and the threads are coming apart, the threads

begin to be pulled by a pulley. The pulley is made of porcelain and is like the eye of a

sewing needle. The silk from many cocoons are wound together onto one reel. The silk

is so fine and delicate that it takes several cocoons to fill one reel. These reels are then

shipped to be weaved. This silk is called raw silk, because nothing has been done to it.

The raw silk will go through a lot, before it is strong enough for cloth.

It will go through a stage called throwing. Throwing means to twist. The raw silk

will be twisted and strands will be added and twisted together once again. This makes

the silk stronger than it was when it came off the cocoon. Depending on the fabric to be

made, determines how the silk will be thrown and reeled, or if it will be thrown at all.

After the throwing of the silk is done, it then goes through a process called boiling

off. It is boiled in soap water to remove any left over sericin on it. The removal of all

sericin finally allows the beauty of the silk to show through.

The silk then goes through the process called skein dyeing. The silk yarn is dyed

before it is weaved.

After dyeing, the silk is finally ready for weaving. Looms are used to weave the

silk yarn. Almost all silk producing countries have replaced hand weaving with power

looms. Jacquard looms are used to weave the heavier and fancier fabrics. The Jacquard

looms can create beautiful designs and patterns
The ancient Chinese made silk from silkworm's cocoons. They put the cocoons in warm water and they unravel it. Then the unraveled cocoon is used as thread to make the silk. The first step is reeling, then throwing, then boiling and weighting, then dyeing (that is optional) and then finally weaving it all together.

Answer 3

The business of raising silkworms and unwinding cocoons is now known as silk culture or sericulture. It takes an average of 25-28 days for a silkworm, which is no bigger than an ant, to grow old enough to spin cocoon. Then the women farmers will pick them up one by one to piles of straws, then the silkworm will attach itself to the straw, with its legs to the outside and begin to spin.

The next step is unwinding the cocoons; it is done by reeling girls. The cocoons are heated to kill the pupae, this must be done at the right time, otherwise, the pupas are bound to turn into moths, and moths will make a hole in the cocoons, which will be useless for reeling. To unwind the cocoons, first put them in a basin filled with hot water, find the loose end of the cocoon, and then twist them, carry then to a small wheel, thus the cocoons will be unwound. At last, two workers measure them into a certain length, twist them, they are called raw silk, then they are dyed and woven into cloth.

Answer 4

According to legend, the Chinese empress the lady of Si-Ling began the cultivation of silkworms in 2640 BC. To make silk, silk farmers use a complicated method of checking, transferring & feeding. The method then spread to other regions.

Answer 5

It was woven into fabric, and used for clothing and other textile and also into book marks and shoes.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

You make silk by silkworms.