Silk conjures up the exotic, the luxurious, the timeless. It's natural luster is brought out anew with each washing. It is the strongest of all the natural fibers by weight, and its ability to "breathe" in clothing fabric & to keep you warm when it's cold, cool when it's warm – is unrivaled. Whatever you make with silk will be a very special piece indeed, treasured for a long time to come. Keep in mind when using silk that it has almost no elasticity and minimal shrinkage, and that it will not full or "bloom" in finishing. In weaving, your warp sett should reflect this and be closer than for wool. Blending with worsted wools, such as Merinos, works beautifully. Just finish by dry cleaning or hand washing and, if desired, pressing while barely damp. In knitting the luster is lovely but the inelasticity presents a bit more challenge which can be helped by choosing textured stitches, and patterns which feature hems, picot or crocheted edges rather than ribs. Chelsea overcomes these with the addition of some wool and the use of a wild silk look fiber. It is a beautiful yarn for exciting hand-dyed effects using Our Country Classic or Wash-fast Acid Dyes.>