True Fibers

The first step is to pick the best cocoons. The most desirable cocoons in the photo below would be the two cocoons on the left, the muga and the cultivated silk cocoon.

(click to enlarge)

When cut, the inside of the cocoon should look like the picture below

The second step is to remove the outer fluffy silk from the inner papery silk. You do this by grabbing the inner layer with one hand, and the outer with the other, and simply pulling them apart.

When the cocoons have been separated, take the outer layer of silk that you have collected and boil them in a mild soap to remove the sericin (or the binding glue). When the silk starts to look like a giant mass of fiber, CAREFULLY drain the silk and rinse it. Allow the silk to dry by air. Do the same with the inner papery silk. You must do these separately because the inner layers have more sericin than the outer layers. The fiber should look like the picture below.

Once the silk is cleaned, you can begin to work the silk to prepare it for spinning. This silk makes lovely yarns, and those yarns make lovely scarves and such. To purchase silk yarns please go to Aurorasilk.