How was silk made in ancient China

Silk making begins with the adult silk moth, which is raised solely for reproduction. Batches of moths are kept in special houses where temperature, light and air are controlled by brazier, air vents, and blinds. This is to control reproduction so that the moths in each batch will mate at the same time. Since the moths’ lives are controlled so they will mate at the same time, the eggs also are produced and hatch at roughly the same time. Once the silkworms hatch from their eggs, they are kept on bamboo trays and fed fresh mulberry leaves to store fat while they mature. As the silkworms mature, they spin cocoons from a jellylike substance in their silk glands. After about a week, some cocoons are steamed or baked to kill the worms inside. Some of the cocoons are left to nurture and release moths to reproduce. The cocoons are then plunged into boiling water to unravel the silky fibers. each cocoon consists of a thread about half a mile long. Once the cocoon fibers are unraveled, several are reeled together on a spool to make a thread strong enough for spinning. The fine silk fibers are woven into different types of cloth, from filmy gauze to heavy brocades.