Cultivated Silk Sliver
This silk comes from the Bombyx Mori silkworm. These silkworms are raised
in captivity and fed exclusively on Mulberry leaves. The top is made
from silk cut to a uniform length which is then combed. This silk is
very fine, 10 to 15 microns, takes dye well and can be blended with other
fibers. This particular batch is a little softer in color, not quite
the bright white of the Mulberry Silk Top.
*Spun fiber not included and is shown for reference only.
FAQs
What is top?
Top is made by a combing process that removes the short and noiled fibers leaving the longer fibers in a parallel alignment. The result is the highest quality of the fiber or "top of the line". Spinning from top using a short draw will produce worsted yarns. These are smooth and less likely to pill than woolen yarns (produced from spinning carded fiber or sliver). Combed top is a continuous roving.
What is a micron?
It is the actual measurement of the fiber's diameter. The smaller the number the finer the fiber. One micron is equivalent to 1/25, 400th of an inch.
What is staple length?
This is the length of the fiber from butt to tip. The general rule is that the shorter the staple length, the finer the fiber. Please note that there are exceptions to this rule!
Still have a question? See our fibers FAQ page for more definitions.
