Commercial silk kills the silkworm. Conventional silk is made by boiling the intact cocoons and unwinding the single silk strand onto reels. Only a few moths are allowed to emerge to continue the population of silkworms. The rest are killed by being boiled in their cocoons. This is done so the silk fibres are not broken and can be reeled off in a continuous strand. However, the silk can still be spun like other fibres if the moths are allowed to emerge.

"Peace Silk" lets the silkworm live out its full life cycle. "Peace silk", also known as "vegetarian silk" is raised and processed differently. The moths are allowed to emerge from their cocoons to live out their full life cycle. The silk is degummed and spun like other fibres, instead of being reeled. The resulting yarn is soft, fluffy, and light like a cloud. This is the best silk for warmth and therapeutic use. Peace silk is rare, but Aurorasilk carries a selection of Peace Silk fabrics, yarns, and threads.

Therapeutic qualities of Peace Silk.

There is nothing like silk for warmth. Spun soft and lofty, silk is as insulating as the finest down. Knit body warmers are available widely in Northern Europe, using camel, alpaca, or commercial silk fibres. Making these of organic Peace Silk would be the most therapeutic possible. When they were available, Aurorasilk dyed and sold thick silk gloves knit from noil yarn. Many arthritis sufferers bought them to wear at night for pain relief to their hands, and there is no question they were useful and effective. Peace Silk could be used to make night caps, mufflers, cowls, and knee, elbow, and wrist warmers.

Wrist and Foot warmers made from wild Tussah Peace silk are available from Aurorasilk.

Raising Peace Silk

For information on how to raise your own "Peace Silk", check out Aurorasilk's Raising Silkworms article.Their eggs are hand raised by Cheryl Kolander at her cottage in Portland, Oregon. All care is lavished on her little pets, which she has raised and selected for hardiness and diversity, each summer for over 15 years. All mulberry leaves fed to the caterpillars are completely organically raised, with lots of used-dye-wood compost, and the caterpillar’s castings going back to the earth. Nothing but fresh mulberry leaves are fed to these hand tended caterpillars, all of whom emerge from their cocoons as lovely white moths, mate, lay eggs, and die happy. Peace Silk Cocoons are available at Aurorasilk, and the amazing Peace silk hair conditioner, too.

Educational collection:

The Peace silk collection available at Aurorasilk is an excellent display for guild meetings, museums, and science fairs.

Copywrite Cheryl Kolander