Silk Threads
Today in gardens throughout England, plaques reside next to mulberry trees:
"This is a genuine James I mulberry tree"
James I of England at the beginning of his reign in the 17th century
enthusiastically promoted the development of the silk production in England.
In fact, some historians have described his interest in the silk worm as excessive.
"He appointed special attendants as well as a Governor of the Chamber whose duty
it was to carry the insects 'withsoever his Majesty went'.
One can imagine the kings entourage complete with guardians of the silk worms."
Proclamations were issued promoting sericulture,
mulberry tree seedlings were planted at his insistence
and experiments with silk were funded from the royal purse.
Excerpted from 'The Story of Silk' by Dr. John Feltwell
FILAMENT SILK
The long, unbroken lengths of silk as it is unwound from the silk cocoon have the maximum amount of shine.
Older pieces of embroidery using filament silk, even several hundreds of years old, still glow and twinkle in the light.
SPUN SILK
This is the term given to the shorter pieces of silk left after the filament ha been unwound from the silk cocoon.
This silk possesses a subtle gleam, and wehen it is next to a filament silk,
makes the filament even brighter and more lustrous.
It is the contrast of the different lustre of silk threads and their light reflection that makes an ordinary piece of needlework extraordinary
Soie d'Alger : Spun Silk - 7 ply - 5 metres per skein - $8.00 per skein - over 600 colours