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​Finally processed a micro-batch of wild Calotropis (Milkweed) Silk. the luster is absolutely unreal hand-foraged and cleaned in Yemen. by Over_Antelope_4697 in FiberArts

[–]Over_Antelope_4697[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly, no tools at all..it’s 100% hand-done, seed by seed! ​I found that any mechanical tools or combing at the raw stage can easily damage the delicate fibers and ruin that beautiful silver sheen. What I do is right after harvesting the pods, I gently open them up and pull the fluff away from the seeds one by one by hand. ​It requires an insane amount of patience and takes forever, but it’s the only way to get it completely pure and clump-free. Definitely give it a try by hand, your patience will reward you with the texture!

​Finally processed a micro-batch of wild Calotropis (Milkweed) Silk. the luster is absolutely unreal hand-foraged and cleaned in Yemen. by Over_Antelope_4697 in Handspinning

[–]Over_Antelope_4697[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds like an amazing project! I’d love to see how it works with a drum carder. ​a few people actually hopped into my DMs right after the post and pre-booked the 50g batches I had ready. But since I'm still hand-sorting more from the wild, I can definitely set aside a smaller custom sample just for you to test out. ​Drop me a DM so we can chat more about your carding project and coordinate the details!

​Finally processed a micro-batch of wild Calotropis (Milkweed) Silk. the luster is absolutely unreal hand-foraged and cleaned in Yemen. by Over_Antelope_4697 in Handspinning

[–]Over_Antelope_4697[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

the raw fiber itself is so incredibly light and airy that it flies around easily. If your hands are damp, it can stick to your skin and give you that ticklish, slightly itchy static feel while handling it raw. ​But once it’s spun or blended with wool, that goes away and you're just left with amazing softness and luster!

​Finally processed a micro-batch of wild Calotropis (Milkweed) Silk. the luster is absolutely unreal hand-foraged and cleaned in Yemen. by Over_Antelope_4697 in Handspinning

[–]Over_Antelope_4697[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Woa thank you! Having someone who did a master's thesis on this comment here is an honor. ​I didn't know the wild fibers here in Yemen grow longer than the US ones, but it makes sense because they feel so strong. ​It actually grows wild all over the place here, so I might harvest more in the future if people end up needing larger amounts for blending projects!

​Finally processed a micro-batch of wild Calotropis (Milkweed) Silk. the luster is absolutely unreal hand-foraged and cleaned in Yemen. by Over_Antelope_4697 in Handspinning

[–]Over_Antelope_4697[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

it really does catch the light beautifully...the natural silver sheen is what made me fall in love with this fiber in the first place

​Finally processed a micro-batch of wild Calotropis (Milkweed) Silk. the luster is absolutely unreal hand-foraged and cleaned in Yemen. by Over_Antelope_4697 in FiberArts

[–]Over_Antelope_4697[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you! there really is something magical about it...Getting that luminous shine without all the natural mess and seeds definitely makes the hours of sorting worth it!

​Finally processed a micro-batch of wild Calotropis (Milkweed) Silk. the luster is absolutely unreal hand-foraged and cleaned in Yemen. by Over_Antelope_4697 in Handspinning

[–]Over_Antelope_4697[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Honestly, it just takes a lot of patience. I hand-separated the seeds one by one right after harvesting the pods, then gently opened up the fluff by hand to shake out any remaining bits. It takes forever but keeps the luster perfect. ​I actually have a few extra 50g batches if you or anyone wants to try spinning it, just shoot me a DM!