The presented illustration depicts different stages that a silkworm experiences during its lifespan as well as demonstrates the silk cloth production procedure. Overall, it is evident that there are 4 main steps in the life cycle of a silkworm, beginning with eggs and concluding with a mature moth. Additionally, the process of generating silk cloth consists of 5 primary steps, commencing with collecting cocoons and ending with the final products.
To begin with, eggs are laid on mulberry leaves by a mature moth during its breeding period. Then, it takes around 10 days until those eggs hatch into silkworm larvae, which mainly use mulberry leaves as their food. A silk thread starts to appear and wraps around the silkworm larvae over the next 4 to 6 weeks, moving them into a pupal phase. The development of the larvae continues for the next week, as the thread around them becomes intense and converts into a cocoon. The life cycle then repeats itself when a fully-grown moth emerges within 16 days.
Moving to the production of silk cloth, cocoons are extracted before being boiled in hot water to make them tender. After being soaked in boiling water, the threads are unwound and extended to about 300 to 900 meters. The process continues with the twisting and weaving phase. Each single thread is bent to form a thicker thread; then, a circular rotation is used to roll these twirled threads. Finally, the threads are dyed with colorant and transformed into cloth.