WONDERFUL WILD SILKS

WONDERFUL WILD SILKS Instructor: Esther Peregrine Date: Saturday 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Max: 15 Min Age: 12 Class Fee: $45 Materials fee payable to instructor: $30

Many moths throughout the world produce silk besides Bombyx mori (mulberry silk). Explore the wonderful world of wild and semi-wild silk. Sample Cecropia, Polyphemus, Prometheus, Calleta, and more from North America; Ceranchia and others from Madagascar; Cricula from Indonesia; semi-wild Eri, Muga, and Tropical Tussah from India; and Chinese Oak Tussah from China. Learn about the species of moths that produce each of these silks and many other species that have been used historically on almost every continent. Some wild cocoons will be degummed (softened) before class and students will prepare the fibers with handcards for spinning. There will also be commercially prepared samples of semi wild silks to try. Some species are not usually spun; learn how these can be incorporated into fiber art. Materials fee includes samples of various species of silk cocoons, handout of world silk species, and fiber used in class.

Students should bring: Spinning wheel or drop spindle, hand carders, scissors. Students are welcome to bring their own cocoons that they may have found to experiment with. (Cecropia, Polyphemus, Prometheus, Luna, etc. Make sure they are empty – most native species overwinter as cocoons.)

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