Keep Yearning for this Yarn!
Meghalaya is one of the most beautiful states of North-east India. And the gifts that this state has are endless!
Apart from being the epitome of ethereal scenic beauty, guess what is super special?
Yes, you guessed it right. It is Eri silk or the Eri silk yarns, which is really precious to us.
Agriculture is the basic occupation of the people in Meghalaya, which includes sericulture. Sericulture is the production of raw silk by raising silk moths. And here is where the role of Eri silk moths fascinates us!
What is Yarn?
A yarn is a spun thread used for various crafts like knitting, spinning, weaving, sewing etc. So, if it is any of these crafts mentioned above, Eri silk yarns for knitting and crochet are your must-haves!
The process of Knitting involves continuous interlocking and interlinking a series of loops of yarn with the usage of a pair of needles, specially designed to weave long strings of fabric.
Crochet is an art where textile is created by using a crochet hook to interlock loops of yarn or thread. The entire crux of crocheting is the creation of chains of fabric which in turn creates a beautiful piece of clothing.
You can also use Eri silk yarns for tapestry weaving! Here’s how!
So, are you waiting for a heads-up? Click here to begin!
How is Eri Silk made into Yarn?
The production of silk and its conversion into yarns is not so complicated. But it takes a lot of effort to produce it in sustainable ways!
The star of silk production process is the silkworm, which is the caterpillar of the silk moth Samia cynthia ricini. It feeds solely on the leaves of Castor leaves.
The intricate cultivation of silkworms for the purpose of producing silk is called sericulture.
The few steps towards silk production are-
- Breeding of the silkworms
- Feeding the larva
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Spinning the cocoon
- Degumming the cocoon
- Spinning
You know what? Eri silk production is natural in a very unique way!
There is no pollution involved in our eco-friendly ways of production.
The castor shrub that produces the leaves fed to our Ricini silkworms is a self-propagating perennial.
The village and family production tend to reinforce the preservation of a traditional, natural system existing in Meghalaya’s culture since generations.
Why choose Eri silk Yarns?
There is so much about Eri silk to make us want more and more of it. It is especially because of the way it is produced by Muezart.
Here is a sneak-peek at why you should choose Eri silk yarns again and again-
- Ever heard of a no-itch silk? Well, Eri silk is! It is because no toxic chemicals are used during its production. The only chemical that comes in touch with it is alkaline soap which is used during the degumming process. The fiber holds on to its natural properties, making it a no-itch silk.
- Doesn’t it feel precious when you can hoard something that you treasure, to pass it onto your kids and the generations to come? Eri silk is known to be an heirloom silk and is also the strongest and the sturdiest!
- Why is it so strong? Eri silk is high in crystals- crystals are molecules that makes up a fiber to increase the fiber strength.
- An all-season yarn Due to its unique properties, Eri silk can be worn at any time of the year, be it summer or winter. It’s non-itchy and breathable characteristics definitely makes it a preferable choice.
Ahimsa Eri Silk?
The word- Ahimsa means non-violent.
The cycle of the Eri silk moth from its egg to the cocoon takes about 40 days. When the Eri caterpillar reaches full size, she is ready to spin her cocoon.
The non-violent peace story takes place when the moth evolves and breaks out of the cocoon, leaving a hole to show that a new life has entered the world.
When the Eri Silk moth is extracted from the cocoon, it is not killed, since the cocoon is already open at both its ends.
But in case of other silk extractions like Mulberry, Muga, and Tasar, the moth is killed in order to extract the fibre.
So now do you realise why Eri silk is called Ahimsa silk?
Have you ever wondered how Eri silk yarns are woven in the state of Meghalaya?
What makes Eri silk yarns and its production special is the story behind it. Eri silk reminds us from time to time to hold onto our roots, no matter what.
Here are bits and pieces of how weaving is done in Meghalaya-
- Spinning and weaving in Meghalaya is done predominantly by the women
- Apart from all the household chores, weaving is an integral part of their lifestyle
- The traditional loom- the ‘floor loom’ is mostly used by weavers to weave their handspun yarn
- The weaving designs are mostly such, where the traditional motifs are recreated
Dyeing Straight from Nature
Muezart stands true to the ethics of sustainability and hence we use dyes which are made of 100% plant-based ingredients and various minerals.
Meghalaya has a wide range of plants and minerals, thus raising the scope for natural dyeing with each passing day.
The Muezart team had spent a few days in the Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya and were trained in natural dyes; and every day they were intrigued and amazed by the number of shades that can be produced from plants and minerals!
So yes, we care about the environment and we care about you. Not only are we concerned about today, but tomorrow concerns us equally.
What matters for Muezart is ethics in whatever we do.
And that is the main reason why we decided to nurture the beautiful gift which our states is bestowed with, along with spreading the love for Eri silk worldwide.
If is this does not make you yearn for this amazing, gifted yarn called Eri silk, I don’t know will!
Click on this link to fetch yours today!
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