How to Silk Reeling from Fresh Cocoons

Carefully examine and categorize cocoons based on size, color, texture, and integrity to ensure optimal silk quality during reeling process. Example: Select cocoons that are firm, oval-shaped, and cream to pale yellow in color indicating healthy silkworm development, discard any cocoons with dark spots, holes, or soft areas that suggest disease or premature pupae emergence, separate double cocoons (created by two silkworms) as these produce inferior silk with tangled fibers, weigh individual cocoons selecting those between 1.5-2.5 grams as optimal size for quality silk production, check for proper cocoon density by gently pressing - good cocoons should feel firm and resilient without denting, examine outer surface for uniform silk layer thickness and absence of loose or flaky outer fibers, sort cocoons into grades with Grade A (perfect specimens) for finest silk, Grade B (minor imperfections) for standard silk, and reject poor quality specimens, and store sorted cocoons in breathable bamboo trays away from moisture and direct sunlight until ready for reeling process.

Heat water to precise temperature and prepare reeling basin with proper setup for softening cocoon outer layers and making silk fibers pliable for extraction. Example: Fill reeling basin with clean, soft water (distilled or filtered preferred) to depth of 4-6 inches allowing room for cocoon movement, heat water gradually to 85-90°C (185-194°F) using controlled heat source while monitoring with digital thermometer, maintain steady temperature as fluctuations above 95°C will damage silk proteins while below 80°C won't adequately soften sericin gum, add small amount of sodium carbonate (1-2 grams per liter) to help dissolve sericin binding agent that holds silk fibers together, test water pH ensuring slightly alkaline conditions (pH 8-9) optimal for silk fiber separation, prepare stirring tools and mesh spoons for gentle cocoon handling during softening process, position reeling wheel or winding device within comfortable reach of the basin, set up adequate lighting for clearly seeing fine silk fibers during extraction, and ensure workspace ventilation as steam and slight chemical odor will be present during process.

Immerse selected cocoons in prepared hot water to dissolve outer sericin layer and make silk fibers accessible for reeling while monitoring timing and temperature carefully. Example: Gently place 10-15 cocoons into hot water bath using mesh spoon to avoid temperature shock that could tangle fibers, stir cocoons slowly in circular motion for 3-5 minutes allowing hot water to penetrate outer layers evenly, observe cocoons as outer fuzzy layer (floss silk) begins to loosen and float away from main cocoon body, remove loose floss silk with fine mesh spoon as it separates to prevent tangling with main silk fibers, continue heating for 8-12 minutes total until cocoons feel soft when gently pressed and outer sericin layer appears dissolved, test softening by gently brushing cocoon surface - properly softened cocoons will release individual fiber ends easily, maintain water temperature consistently during process adding hot water as needed to compensate for evaporation, watch for over-softening indicated by cocoons becoming mushy or silk fibers becoming sticky and difficult to separate, and work in small batches to ensure each cocoon receives proper attention and optimal softening treatment.

Carefully find the beginning of continuous silk fibers on softened cocoons and prepare them for reeling by gently separating from surrounding material. Example: Take softened cocoon in palm of non-dominant hand and gently brush surface with natural bristle brush using light circular motions, look for fine silk fiber ends that begin to lift away from cocoon surface - these appear as gossamer-thin strands, grasp 3-5 individual fiber ends together between thumb and forefinger being extremely gentle to avoid breakage, slowly pull fiber ends upward while cocoon remains in warm water to keep remaining silk pliable, test fiber strength by applying gentle tension - properly prepared fibers should stretch slightly without breaking immediately, remove any remaining floss silk or broken fiber pieces that could cause irregularities in final silk thread, twist the 3-5 fiber ends together very lightly to create single composite thread for reeling process, ensure continuous fiber length by maintaining cocoon in warm water throughout extraction process, and prepare multiple cocoons simultaneously to have backup fibers ready when one cocoon's thread breaks during reeling.

Start winding extracted silk fibers onto reeling device using consistent tension and speed to create uniform silk thread while monitoring fiber quality continuously. Example: Attach combined silk fiber ends to starting point on reeling wheel or spindle using gentle pressure to secure without crushing delicate fibers, begin turning reel at slow, steady pace (approximately 30-50 RPM) allowing silk to wind evenly without excessive tension, guide silk thread with light finger touch to ensure proper alignment on reel and prevent overlapping or bunching, maintain cocoons in warm water bath during reeling to keep remaining silk fibers pliable and prevent breakage, adjust reeling speed based on silk quality - finer silk requires slower speeds while thicker silk can handle slightly faster winding, watch for fiber breaks and immediately join new fiber ends by overlapping 2-3 inches and allowing twist to naturally combine threads, count reel rotations to estimate silk length as each cocoon typically yields 600-900 meters of continuous silk fiber, monitor thread thickness consistency by visual inspection and gentle finger testing for uniformity, and continue process until cocoon is completely unwound leaving only pupal casing behind.

Monitor and adjust temperature, tension, and environmental factors throughout reeling process to ensure consistent silk quality and prevent fiber damage or breakage. Example: Check water temperature every 15-20 minutes maintaining 85-90°C range by adding hot water or adjusting heat source as needed, observe silk thread formation for consistency in thickness and avoid areas where thread becomes thick or thin indicating tension problems, adjust reeling wheel tension by tightening or loosening drive mechanism to accommodate different cocoon silk strengths, maintain steady hand movement guiding silk thread to prevent sudden jerks or stops that cause fiber breakage, keep backup cocoons prepared in warm water ready to splice in when current cocoons are exhausted, watch for signs of over-heating such as sticky or gummy silk indicating sericin is being damaged by excessive temperature, ensure proper humidity (60-70%) in work area as dry air can make silk brittle while excessive moisture causes handling difficulties, clean reeling equipment periodically during long sessions to remove accumulated silk residue that could cause snags, and work in 2-3 hour sessions maximum to maintain concentration and prevent quality degradation from fatigue.

Finish silk extraction process by properly securing thread ends and organizing reeled silk into manageable skeins for drying and storage. Example: Secure final thread ends to reel using loose tie or tuck method preventing unraveling while allowing easy access for future use, carefully remove completed silk from reeling wheel by sliding off spindle or unwinding from drum maintaining thread organization, create skeins by winding silk around niddy noddy or similar tool in figure-eight pattern to prevent tangling during storage, tie skein ends securely with contrasting thread at multiple points (every 12-18 inches) to maintain organization during handling, label each skein with production date, cocoon source, and quality grade for inventory tracking and quality control, hang skeins in well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight allowing 24-48 hours drying time for residual moisture evaporation, inspect dried silk for consistency, strength, and color uniformity documenting any variations for future process improvements, calculate total silk yield from cocoon batch noting average meters per cocoon for efficiency analysis, and store properly dried silk skeins in breathable cotton bags or wooden boxes protecting from dust, moisture, and pests until ready for further processing or sale.