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Post by angie on Jan 21, 2015 18:23:24 GMT
The silk that is produced naturally, meaning the silk worm is allowed to hatch from the cocoon as a moth is called Peace Silk. This is the site I had mentioned in my previous post. www.aurorasilk.com/silkworms/cocoons.html
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Post by koffipot on Jan 21, 2015 18:25:26 GMT
Angie's right, Mulberry silk is reeled from the cocoon with the worm still inside. If you've ever bought raw carrier rods you will no doubt have found a few boiled 'worms' amongst them. Actually this blend looks rather like my hair. I'm having it cut on Saturday. Any takers??
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Post by Teri Berry on Jan 21, 2015 21:27:45 GMT
Thanks Angie, its a little bit gross (boiling caterpillars in their cocoons) but interesting to know.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jan 21, 2015 21:40:18 GMT
Thanks for finding that site Angie. Very interesting and expensive -- but then they are for medical research -- no wonder our medical costs are so high. :-)
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Post by zed on Jan 22, 2015 10:52:02 GMT
Wow, can you really say that shit on sites in the US and get away with it? Especially without citing sources for proof? Maybe they have more ethical farming practises than most, but their business 'skills' could do with a bit of polish.
I'd be wary of saying 'all overseas business people will tell you what you want to hear, regardless of the truth' even in private, let alone as some kind of testimony on a site.
I don't see anything about medical research.
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Post by Frances on Jan 22, 2015 14:44:54 GMT
www.aurorasilk.com/silk_fabrics/mocha.html (Example) This site has quite a few silk fabrics with great descriptions of where the cocoons were raised, weight of fabric, shrinkage, etc. Would the illusion be suitable for felting?
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Post by Pandagirl on Jan 22, 2015 15:33:54 GMT
I don't see anything about medical research. It's in the first paragraph on the right side.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jan 22, 2015 16:57:04 GMT
Free speech in the USA can get very complicated.
I don't think I would buy form them just because they seem to feel they need to bash the competition to get business. I never trust companies that do business that way. why would give caterpillars hormones and antibiotics? the cocoons look the same size to me. GMO mulberry trees? seems a little far fetched. dead bug bodies can ruin the silk? the Chinese have been reeling the silk cocoons for centuries without damage form the dead bugs. I am left wondering where all the moths go after hatching? There would be so many. perhaps they let them go to be eaten by birds. I think its funny that they don't mind using cochineal to dye but want to let the moths live. It is one of the dyes you use itn their 2 day dye class. after taking it you can continue dying as a professional dyer.
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Post by zed on Jan 22, 2015 17:11:10 GMT
Thanks, Marilyn, I just couldn't see that.
They don't mind selling fabric made from silk produced in China or India with all their dodgy GMO, hormone riddled silk worms, though 'Naturally, they are in the silk and would interfere with cell growth-migration' must be low quality silk fabric then, better avoid it.
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Post by Frances on Jan 23, 2015 5:03:02 GMT
This commentary got my curiosity up so I started reading about how silk is grown, harvested, etc. The boiling of the cocoons really does not bother me (I fish with live bait night crawlers - worms bred for bait and crickets. The "bug" left in the cocoon is used as fertilizer or as a protein in some diets. This article www.takepart.com/article/2013/09/20/paralyzing-silk-worms-humane-treatmentchinese-mulberry-bombyx-mori gave me a bit of a giggle. The information here fascinated me - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombyx_mori the life cycle and why they are killed – if allowed to grow into a moth they make a hole in the cocoon breaking the silk fibers – examples of how the larvae is prepared for eating and other interesting information. We have made butterfly boxes and raised caterpillars into butterflies. We plant dill, fennel and parsley just for them. I noted that the silkworm eggs are marketed to schools so children can experience the process. I am going to suggest that to our Master Gardener Youth program - we made worm composting bins for the classroom and they are a big hit. One last comment - Cochineal dyeing - I could not find anything relating to it being harmful and is used as a coloring in foods. Why was the comment made about it - as if it was bad?
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Post by koffipot on Jan 23, 2015 7:54:13 GMT
Zed - There is medical research going on in US; into producing silk screws to repair fractures. So far only tested on rats. www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26438497Frances - re. Cochineal - I suppose it's because it's made from crushed cockroaches. I wouln't mind crushing a cockroach except that by doing so, you're likely to spread the maturing eggs they may be carrying around! Yuk!
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Post by zed on Jan 23, 2015 13:39:32 GMT
Aaw, tiny screws for rat bones! I knew cochineal was from beetles, I didn't know it was cockroaches!
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Post by angie on Jan 23, 2015 15:19:42 GMT
Cochineal dye doesn't come from cockroaches. It does come from the Cochineal bug which is a beetle.
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Post by Frances on Jan 23, 2015 16:23:51 GMT
Angie guess I should have put your comment in my answer - when I was doing my research I noted they are beetles.
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Post by koffipot on Jan 23, 2015 17:06:57 GMT
Angie - I apologise stand corrected! Cochineal is not from cockroaches, but the Cochineal beetle as you say.
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