Yesterday, I wrote about sericulture and silkworms. Today, I am writing about one of their by-products. Here it is! Silkworm droppings—in other words, poop 💩‼
You may react with a loud “Eww‼”, but they do not smell bad at all. Rather, they have a pleasant fragrance like concentrated mulberry leaves. These nutrient-rich silkworm droppings are called “sansha” and have long been used in traditional herbal medicine for joint pain, neuralgia and conjunctivitis.
▼ At Hitotsuya, we are also working on sericulture.
Silkworm droppings are also said to have been used in deodorizers, hair products, toothpaste and pencil leads. Even today, searching online for “silkworm droppings” produces results for foods such as ice cream, cookies and tea.
I had also heard that silkworm droppings had been used as a dye. So, without delay, I tried dyeing wool with sansha.
How to Dye Wool with Silkworm Droppings
① The method follows a basic natural dyeing process. First, I simmered the sansha to prepare the dye bath. Because the silkworm droppings could break apart while boiling and become troublesome to strain, I placed them inside a nonwoven drain strainer bag before simmering.
② I placed wool that had been pre-mordanted with iron into the sansha dye bath, heated it gradually and allowed it to dye slowly.
③ Next, I allowed the wool to cool slowly, rinsed it thoroughly and left it to dry.
④ I then carded the wool and spun it into yarn using a wool spinning machine.
The wool took on such a beautiful, deep colour that it was difficult to believe it had been dyed with silkworm droppings. Of course, there was no unpleasant smell or discomfort associated with the fact that it had been “dyed with droppings.” Now, what shall I weave with it⋯I am already looking forward to it.