First published in 1979 as an "Artist's Book" and reprinted in paperback by Interweave Press in 1985, this classic silk book is being reprinted as an archival quality hardbound edition. This book is a reproduction of the original Artist's Book, complete with seven tipped-in fabric swatches and over 30 photo plates. This edition is printed on acid-free recycled paper.

In addition to the original text, this edition includes an extra 20 pages on bleaching, knitting, dyeing, and therapeutic aspects of silk, as well as a list of reputable suppliers and further reading on the subject of silk.

A Silkworker's Notebook represents the culmination of Cheryl Kolander's lifetime of experience working with silk as a professional textile artist and a Master Natural Dyer.

Table of Contents

• 1. History - The history of silk cultivation, from its origins of China to it's present situation as a textile fibre.
• 2. The Fibre - A detailed accounting of the characteristics of the silk fibre, including strength, elasticity, and durability. The different kinds of silk, including raw silk, wild silk, and spider silk. Silk raising methods. Silk worms of the world. Identification of silk fibre: the burn test, the lye test, by sight, and by feel.
• 3. Reeled & Spun - A documentation and comparison of the two major methods of silk production.
• 4. Fibre & Form - Discussions of appearance & quality, hand & drape, testing yarns, fibre quality, fibre length, noil, and reprocessed silk.
• 5. Twist, Ply, & Function - Discussions of elasticity and strength, sparkles & lustre, ply, choosing yarns and best yarns for knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, and lace, weft, and pile.
• 6. Handspinning - Includes degumming cocoons, silk caps, cut fibre, spindle spinning, noil, reeling.
• 7. Fabrics - A comprehensive and detailed glossary of different types of silk fabric.
• 8. Care & Handling - handwashing, soaps, delicates, drying, cleaning old silks, ironing, shrinkage & pre-shrinking, dyed silks, spot cleaning, dry cleaning, bleaching, weighting, display & storage, degumming, yarn handling, and sizing.
• 9. Handweaving notes, Glossary, Full Bibliography, and Index

Additional Appendices:

• * Home Bleaching of Silk
• * Knitting Notes
• * Natural Dyeing of Silk
• * Peace/Vegan Silk
• * Therapeutic Aspects of Silk
• * More Good Books and Relevant Articles
• * Suppliers

140 page, hardbound, signed and numbered, 10.5" x 7", with silk samples