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[elko]

I was in China last month and I believe that one of the most useful items I ever bought was a silk quilt.

When I was a child I remember my auntie rearing silk worms and making her own silk.

For those who know very little about these things let me sum it up. The tiny powder like silk worm eggs hatch and they feed on mulberry leaves. It is a joy to watch them grow daily. The Worms grow to a length of a few centimeters and then they begin to spun their homes so to speak. They make their cocoons and seal themselves inside. After a short time the silk worm inside the cocoon become a butterfly, pierce the cocoon and get out. I think it lays eggs and dies.

The cocoon is thrown into hot water and then they start pulling the odd end of silver thread. It is one continuous piece of thread about 1200 metres long. This is how they obtain silk thread and wove silk cloths. However sometimes two worms start spanning the same cocoon and both of them end up in it. This is double cocoon and it is impossible to obtain silk thread from it because it is impossible to separate the two silk threads from each other. hence it is of no use for obtaining silk thread from a double cocoon.

Double cocoon is used to make silk quilts. They throw it into hot water and then stretch it over a small glass pyramid. Then they stretch the same cocoon over a bigger pyramid. Then four people hold the cocoon, one at each end and pull it until it stretches to the side of a king size bed. They put layers and layers on top of each other and then put it into a linen over, then into a silk cover. Very light and very soft. I think it is possible to use single cocoons too. No stitches or anything to hold it in place, it simply stays stretched. So now you can make your own. I am sure cocoons are available from villages
ismet

[doglover]

That was very educational! Thanks for that.

[andri_cy]

I used to have the worms when I was a kid. it was fun.


Moderator's note; Did you not seek medical help?

[elko]

Are silk cocoons available in south Cyprus and how much a kilo? I need 2-3 kg. to make a quilt.
ismet

[kuchan]

Elko

I bought a silk duvet 2 years ago from china with silk quilt cover. It is the most wonderful quilt to sleep. It would be cheaper to buy it in China or have it shipped than making it yourself. I bought mine during the tour in China in a silk factory costing RMB780 ( £45) for double size of probably 2 kgs wt ( the heaviest one). then I found it cheaper to buy at airport duty free and a lot cheaper in a small private shop on you r own free time. The quilt cover is a lot more expensive, but I found using cotton quilt cover is more comfortable in cold weather and silk is good for summer. A half silk and half cotton is probably a good buy.

A thinner silk quilt would be sufficient in Cyprus weather

Spreading the cocoon into quilt needs 4 or more strong people which is of no problem. May I of any help if you find any cocoon in Cyprus.

Ku

[elko]

Thank you for your input. Indeed the cover was more expensive so I bought 8 meers of silk cloth from a government run shop in Beijing and had it sewn in Cyprus. I worked out cheaper.

I bought a silk duvet 2 years ago from china with silk quilt cover. It is the most wonderful quilt to sleep

I could not agree more.

Spreading the cocoon into quilt needs 4 or more strong people which is of no problem

Actually I saw four young Chineese ladies doing it. I tried a couple myself, not difficult at all.

I think I will be back in China next month, this time I will get one duty free
ismet

[andri_cy]

I used to have the worms when I was a kid. it was fun.


Moderator's note; Did you not seek medical help?

AAaaaaah someone is being mean to meeeee. Lana tell them to stop. Oh wait it's probably you.
And I DID mean the little worms that make the cocoons but I know you knew that and you are just trying to make me tell you to go home or call you a bad british name or something and I will resist...

[kuchan]

Elco

The duty free shop at the airport quoted me RMB 600 for the same density quilt yet I paid 780 in the government run shop. I bet you can knock it down to RMB 400.

I went to Beijing two months ago on holiday, I leant how to haggle.

Beware of the crook if buying from small stores, they will tell you porky pie that the material is of good silk yet made of synthetic fibre. I was done once when I bought several clothes of which a couple were not of silk. After all, they were fairly cheap.

Also beware of leather goods too, most are made of leather pieces chemically bonded together looking and smelling as good and as real as leather. In fact, they are leather but not made from a single piece leather as in the old day. So they will not charred when testing with a lighter. All carry branded names with stainless steel logos on them e.g. Samsonite. Don't get me wrong, they are of good modern leather but don't be rip off paying for high price thinking you have a good bargain. They are imitation.

I paid 180 RMB (about $11) for a Samonite ( imitation) leather notebook travel bag with wheels, yet another shop prepare to sell me for less than 120. The bag has a price tag of over RMB 1200. The seller asked for 350 at the beginning.

Several days later, I bought a leather cabin baggage for RMB 140. His asking price was 400. Experience taught me how to haggle technically this time. He still made profit, but a lot less this time.

They are massive imitation goods out there to fool even experience bargain hunters. Don't be fool thinking that you get a bargain buying from auction place like EBAY. Most are not genuine especially if they are shipped from abroad.

I have seen memory sticks or cards with Kingston logos on them and Sony headsets selling in Computer shops in Beijing. It was the shop keeper telling me so as genuine goods can not be sold so cheap even in China.

Buying from government shops are too expensive. A guide tour will not let you have time to shop locally. So enjoy your holiday next time in China.

Ku

[elko]

Thank you Ku for the warnings. Last time we had a couple from Turkey who really know how to haggle and the Chinese were really fed up

I bought a couple of memory sticks from Shanghai and both turned out to be fakes.

At the great China wall, I wanted to buy a paper hat, the asking price was 80 RMB. I got it down to 20 RMB and thought I was smart. Farther up the wall a boy was selling them at 5 RMB as the asking price
Unless you know the real price, you are bound to get cheated.
This time I am more experienced!!!
ismet

[Aiolos]

the same product (eg: 250 pounds) has maximum 100 pounds price difference in china.