How much is silkworm cocoon per jin? A detailed explanation of the silk quilt making process

Silkworm cocoons are the sac-shaped protective layer formed during the pupal stage of the silkworm (Bombyx mori). They are produced in all silkworm-raising regions nationwide and contain the pupa inside. The protective layer consists of the cocoon floss, the cocoon shell and the pupal lining, among other parts. The cocoon shell can be reeled into silk, while the cocoon floss and the waste silk after reeling can be used as silk wadding and raw material for silk spinning. So how much is silkworm cocoon per jin? How is it made into a silk quilt?

1. How much is silkworm cocoon per jin

The price of Grade A dried cocoons is about 58 yuan/jin, and fresh cocoons are about 17 yuan/jin, but these are average prices across the country; prices vary from place to place. At the same time, prices also vary according to the quality of the cocoons. Generally, cocoons with a high rate of reelable cocoons and traits such as good reelability, long silk length and a high silk yield rate are all considered superior cocoons and fetch higher market prices. In addition, traits such as pure white cocoon color, normal luster and uniform cocoon shape are also important standards for high-quality cocoons.

2. How silkworm cocoons are processed into silk quilts

1. Selecting silkworm cocoons

After about 30 days of rearing, the silkworm spins silk to make a cocoon and becomes a pupa, then metamorphoses into a moth inside the cocoon. To prevent the silkworm from turning into a moth and affecting silk quality and later processing, a drying method is generally used to prevent the cocoons from becoming moths or spoiling. High-quality double cocoons are selected; the silk drawn from double cocoons with tangled thread ends interlocks in all directions, making the resulting silk quilt more firm;

2. Hand-peeling the cocoons

Put the dried cocoons into water and boil them thoroughly, generally boiling for another 15 to 40 minutes after the water comes to a boil, then let them cool. Open the cocoons by hand and shape them into cocoon caps, while separating out the pupae. Generally, 4 to 5 cocoons make one small cap. Stretch the cocoon caps open over a parabolic bamboo bow; generally 4 cocoon caps are placed one by one onto the bamboo bow and stretched open. The main purpose is to facilitate drawing the silk for the quilt. When stretching, the force must be even to prevent uneven thickness in the finished product later, and the remaining pupae are cleaned out at the same time;

3. Drying the cocoons

After the opened cocoons are spun dry, bundle them in groups of 10 to 12 and hang them in a cool, ventilated place. Once completely dry, they are the raw material for making silk quilts. High-grade silk quilts generally require raw material with few impurities, long fiber length, naturally pure white color, uniform thickness, and a natural silkworm fragrance and lustrous sheen;

4. Drawing the quilt batting

The fully dried cocoon caps are gradually stretched apart by a team of four people into the required specifications for the quilt core. Each single sheet of netting must be stretched and layered with uniform thickness, then layered one by one to the required weight; this is called net stacking. Because the friction between the silk layers of the net-stacked silk batting is strong, the finished product does not shift easily, and it is also uniform in thickness, breathable and comfortable;

5. Turning the silk and quilting

Place the silk batting inside an outer cover sewn on three sides, and adjust its position so that the edges of the silk batting fit against the four sides of the outer cover, to avoid exposed edges, especially corners with no core. Fix the outer cover and silk batting together lengthwise by quilting. Generally, because silk quilts use the net-stacking process, the silk batting does not shift easily, so “dot”-style fixing is usually sufficient, which is both attractive and comfortable. There are two forms: hand fixing and quilting machine fixing. Finally, sew up the opening;

6. Making the finished product

The finished silk quilt is soft and close-fitting, breathable and comfortable, with good warmth retention. The product is light, soft, supple, does not attract dust, is healthy and eco-friendly, and its basic composition is similar to human skin. It is rich in amino acids needed by the human body and can promote cell vitality, and is hailed as the human body's second skin.

The above is Tuliu.com's related introduction to silkworm cocoons, and the above processing steps can serve as a reference.