intro | embroidery samples | silk threads & ribbons | silk fibres | needle arts
All of our silk threads and ribbons were carefully chosen for their quality, sheen and lustre. Most of our silks come from China in natural colour. Our six dyers work magic in their cauldrons to produce 100 luscious solid colours and 74 dazzling variegated colourways (Montano Series).
We hope you find this information about Treenway silks helpful.
We have four types of threads wound into 10 yard skeins for embroiderers, quilters, mixed media artists and embellishers of all types.
- 20/2 Spun Silk (equivalent to #8 Perle Cotton)
Used with 30 count linen – approx. 1 ½ yards to cover one square inch
Used with 18 count aida cloth – approx. 2 ¾ yards to cover one square inch - Fine Cord Reeled Silk (equivalent to Buttonhole Twist)
Used with 18 count canvas – approx. 3 ¼ yards to cover one square inch - 8/2 Reeled Silk (equivalent to #3 Perle Cotton)
Used with 13 count canvas – approx. 2 ½ yards to cover one square inch
Used with 14 count canvas – approx. 2 ½ yards to cover one square inch
Used with 18 count aida cloth – approx. 2 yards to cover one square inch - 6 Strand Floss
Used with 30 count linen – approx. 1 ¾ yards to cover one square inch
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The 20/2, Fine Cord, 8/2 and 3.5mm Ribbon are available in 100 solid colours. The Fine Cord, 8/2*, 6 Strand Floss* and 3.5mm Ribbon are available in 74 variegated hand–painted colourways in the Montano Series. The 3.5mm ribbon is available in all the 100 solid colours and all the Montano Series in 5 yard skeins. * Available in limited colourways only We have worked with our stitching threads and ribbon on a variety of canvas and linen with our consultant Diana Caleb. The following information is the result of our work and a starting point for your projects. One should make a test sample to ensure the finished piece will look as intended. |
Hints for working with our silk threads:
- Open the skein and cut the threads at both ends — it makes a perfect stitching length of 18". You can keep the threads tidy by loosely knotting them.
- Fine Cord (Buttonhole Twist) is tightly spun and twists as you work with it. Hold your work up often and let the thread dangle and untwist itself.
- Press ribbon.
- Paint canvas with silk paints — paint must not clog holes. Diluted acrylic paints may also be used but care must be taken not to clog holes. Iron after paint has dried.
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Auckland 
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Cozumel 
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St. Thomas 
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Daylily 
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Seaweed 
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Eden Valley 
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La Veta 
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Reeled (Filament) Silk Thread
Reeled or filament silk is the highest quality thread and is very shiny. Reeling is the process of unwinding the mile long filament spun by the silkworm to form its metamorphosis chamber, a cocoon. Silk is comprised of two proteins: fibroin, the thread and sericin, the gum or glue. Cocoons are soaked in warm water to soften the gummy sericin. The silken strand from a single cocoon is too fine to use alone. Individual filaments of 6–40 cocoons are unraveled together, traveling through a very small eye as the thread is wound onto a reel. During this process, the softened sericin dries, hardens and binds the strands together as one thread, the size of a human hair.
- Fine Cord – equivalent to Buttonhole Twist
A tight twist gives texture and a crisp edge to the thread. - 8/2 – equivalent to #3 Perle Cotton
A looser twist gives optimum sheen.
These two threads used together create an intriguing contrast.
Spun Silk Thread
The silk remaining from the reeling process and the damaged or imperfectly shaped cocoons become the raw material for the lustrous, creamy coloured spun silk thread. All this material must have the sericin removed (degummed) with soap and water. Once dried, the silk is carded and combed, laying the fibres parallel, ready to be spun into thread.
All of our spun threads are gassed. This is a finishing process of running the spun yearn through a series of spikes which creates static. This pulls any loose fibres or debris to the surface. The thread continues through a hot flame at a very high speed to singe off the fluff produced during the spinning process, which helps prevent pilling.
- 20/2 – equivalent to #8 Perle Cotton
A medium twist and beautiful thread to work with. - 6 Strand Floss
A beautiful quality with each strand having a good twist.
Wild Silks
Nearly 500 varieties of silk–producing caterpillars live all over the world. Their size and appearance is variable and always beautiful. Only the fibre from a few wild silkworms is used commercially. People have tried to cultivate many types of wild silkworms, but the rebellious creatures refuse to carry out certain stages of their life cycle under captivity. The vigilant caretakers live out in the forests with their brood so they can protect them 24 hours a day. The colour of the cocoons varies from beige to brown to grey due to the tannin in their diet of leaves.
- Tussah – the thread is a little finer than #8 Perle Cotton
The thread is made by plying four finer strands together giving an interesting, slightly corded look and a litter firmer feel. Tussah caterpillars are raised partly in the wild in China, India, Korea and Japan. The cocoons and yarn are a warm, honey–beige colour. The majority of wild silk on the market is tussah. - Muga – the thread is equivalent to #8 Perle Cotton
The thread is handmade so expect those wonderful irregularities of such a yarn. Muga caterpillars live primarily in the Brahamaputra River valley in
Assam, India, and sparsely in other north–eastern states of India. The silk released from these cocoons is shimmery and golden.
Silk Ribbon
All of the ribbons are woven using fine reeled silk which still has the sericin in it. This acts as a natural sizing. The warp threads are two strands of fine silk which are twisted together. There are 300 fine warp threads per inch. The weft is a single silk strand. The ribbon is woven in plain weave, where the weft goes over one warp thread and under one warp thread all the way across.
The loom is set up to maximize efficiency in weaving the narrow ribbon bands. Three layers of ribbons are woven at once. Approximately 14 ribbons are woven simultaneously across the loom with another layer of 14 ribbons above that and another 14 above that. There are 42 tiny shuttles and bobbins carrying the weft back and forth at one time.
Observing the winding of all those thousands of fine threads into numerous layers and sections onto the loom, was akin to watching an orchestra of spiders building a massive web.
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Dyed Silk Threads & Ribbons
Colours appear differently on the different types of 100% silk threads and ribbons. Each one has varying levels of twist and sheen affecting its reflective capabilities. The apparent colour difference is due to the nature of the thread which determines the amount of reflected light.
At right, St. Thomas (Montano Series) dyed on various threads and ribbon illustrates the variation.
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Fine Cord, 8/2, 6 Strand Floss and 3.5mm Ribbon
Colourways
100 Hand–Dyed Colours
A fabulous collection of 100 hand–dyed colours available in 3 types of threads as well as silk ribbons.
Montano Series
74 brilliant hand–painted variegated colourways. Available in three types of silk threads as well as 3.5mm silk ribbon.
Canadiana Series
30 delicious colour schemes! For all types of embellishing, gift wrapping, hair adornment, stitching, tassels and more. Each colourway consists of six different colours and comes in packages of 3.5mm silk ribbons or mixed threads.
Gulf Island Series
17 fresh colour schemes! Available in silk threads. Each colour combo includes one variegated colourway in 6 Strand Floss and 3 solid colours in Fine Cord, 20/2 spun silk and 8/2 reeled silk. 10 yards each colour for a total of 40 yards.
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Stitchers, quilters, mixed media artists and doll makers are all discovering the texture and fun of working with the various unspun silk fibres. They are used as texture, hair, clouds, tree trunks and wherever your imagination leads you. We have these funky fibres available in natural or hand–dyed and packaged individually or assembled together in the amazing funky fibre box for the playful at heart. We dye all these fibres in a kaleidoscope of colours and package them in a mix and match spectrum.
Carrier Silk Rods
These slit tubes are the by–product of reeling silk from the cocoon and still contains sericin. As the silk filament is unraveled from the cocoon into skein form, some of the filaments get wound around the 
machinery. This silk is then slit and removed. The rods are 5" – 5 ½" (13–14cm) long when whole and unscrunched.
There may be some short pieces and partially wound cocoons in the mix. They are wonderfully textural for stitching, silk fusion and any application needing depth. They can be pressed flat or pulled apart to reveal the interesting crisscross of the fibres. These rods have so much personality, you won't know what you can do with them until you try.
Degummed Throwsters Silk
Thrown silk waste is a by–product of the twisting of filaments in the reeled silk industry. There are many different types of thrown silks that have been twisted with low, medium or high twist, depending on their intended use. When things go wrong in the throwing mill and fibres tangle around the machine or are otherwise unable to be used for finished yarns, they become 
thrown silk waste. It is unlike any other fibre on the market and an inexpensive source of high quality, long silk fibre.
We have the sericin removed from the fibre (known as "degumming") to make working with it a little easier. There are a few distinct characteristics of thrown silk waste you will notice right away when you purchase this fibre. The package may contain threads, tightly bound fibres, kinky fibres and fibre that resembles stiff, straight hair. Sometimes the tighter areas will need to be gently coaxed to separate.
Natural Silk in Sericin
Natural silk in sericin is another by–product of the reeling process. The silk still has the sericin in it. A package contains an assortment of straight fibres which are shiny, long and smooth as well as some curly fibres that may be a bit more tangled.
Cocoon Strippings
Cocoon strippings come from the first silk extruded by the silkworm. It looks like slightly disorganized puffs of carded fibre. The fibres are textural with little neps blended in.
Multicoloured Silk Fibre Blend
The fibre is very short with a mixture of qualities and some threads mixed in. It is wonderful for subtle colour effects.
Cocoons
The cocoon is the metamorphosis home of the silkworm. It is spun in one continuous thread almost a mile long.
The cocoons vary in size. Most of them are an oval shape. They can be cut, dyed, painted and sewn.
Silk Fusion
This unique and innovative process bonds a spectrum of silk fibres into a kind of "felt" which can be gossamer and transparent or opaque and thick like leather. The silk fibres are unspun, capturing silk's rich lustre and texture in this exciting and new medium. It is a perfect canvas for machine or hand stitching, printing, quilting, wearable art, book coverings, collages and much more. Learn more about this inspiring technique Making Silk Fusion.
See how these Funky Fibres are used in the Needle Arts work below!
Silk Fusion
Rain
This piece incorporates whole and stretched carrier rods that are fused into silk fusion and then embellished with silk threads and ribbon as well as beads. (Karen Selk)
Enter My Heart
Enter my Heart uses carrier rods stitched onto a silk fusion background. The silk fusion and carrier rods are hand–painted and embellished with silk ribbon, cocoon strippings, beads and charms. (Karen Selk)
Fuzzy Flowers
Fuzzy Flowers uses dyed degummed throwsters silk fused into silk fusion. The piece is then stitched with 3.5mm silk ribbon and silk threads (8/2 reeled, fine cord and 20/2 spun). (Karen Selk)
Low Tide
Low Tide incorporates cut cocoons and multicoloured silk fibre that are fused into silk fusion. Degummed throwsters silk is fused in and stitched on to the silk fusion. The piece is embellished with 20/2 silk thread as well as metallic thread and beads. (Karen Selk)
My Garden, My Prayer
My Garden, My Prayer uses degummed throwsters silk, which is fused into silk fusion. It is embellished with 3.5mm silk ribbon and silk threads (8/2, fine cord and 20/2). (Karen Selk)
Rose Petals Forever
Rose petals and natural silk in sericin are fused into cocoon strippings silk fusion. (Karen Selk)
Gaillardia
Multicoloured silk fibre blend and degummed throwsters silk were fused into a background of silk fusion to create this landscape. Gaillardia flowers, trees and mountains were embroidered using buttonhole, cretan and straight stitch with 8/2 and fine cord silk threads.
(Silk fusion – Karen Selk; Stitching – Diana Caleb)
Cocoons
Tassels
20/2 silk thread was used for the body and the cords of these tassels along with 3.5mm silk ribbon. Each is capped with a hand–dyed cocoon and embellished with beads and charms.
(Feathers & Rings – Sue Earle; Stars & Tassels – Karen Selk)
Earrings
Teri cut open hand–dyed silk cocoons to create these fantastic earrings. She painted the interior of the cocoons then added her own selection of beads and charms.
(Key to my Heart and Ruby Tuesday by Teri Shaw)
Skunk Cabbage
The flower and leaves are molded silk fusion. The centre spath was created by cutting seven cocoons in half, stacking one on top of the other and embellishing them with beads. (Karen Selk)
Napkin Rings
Trish embellished hand–dyed silk cocoons with paint and beads and threaded the wire through the cocoons for these funky napkin rings. (Trish Murrary)
Other Needle Arts
Art Quilts
Treenway Silks is synonymous with exquisite embellishments for quilting, stitching, mixed media, book arts and more.
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Diversity Log Cabin This traditional log cabin cushion cover has silk ribbon outlines and French knots and a variety of stitches in silk threads highlighted with beads and charms to give it the richness of diverse cultures. (Susanna Kong) |
Diversity Squares & Triangles A blanket from India inspired the geometric shapes on this cushion cover, which is embellished with luxuriant tassels and simple stitches using silk threads and beads. (Karen Selk) |
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Kids Korner Krazy Quilt This cushion cover is cheerful, fun and crazy! It is embellisehd with silk ribbons and threads as well as beads and charms. (Diana Caleb) |
Asian Flavour Photo Album Jacket Alternating, patterned fabric and sashiko stitching give this elegant project an Asian flavour. (Karen Selk) |
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Holiday Cheer Trees A holiday tree with garlands of ribbons, tassels and beads commands the scene of this wall hanging. A winter pear tree and the moon enhance the applique landscape. (Diana Caleb) |
Jitter Bug Fancy This wall hanging features a ladybug, dragonfly, butterfly and bees that are brought to life with stitches, beads and tassels. (Diana Caleb) |
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Summer Garden Houses This wall hanging features a traditional house pattern blooming with flower pots, rose trellises and window boxes filled with daisies all created with stitches and beads. (Diana Caleb) |
Sea Dream Fishes 
Playful fish swim above an ocean floor littered with shells, pebbles, weeds and sand in the wall hanging. An artful use of stitches, ribbons and beads draws you in. (Karen Selk) |
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Celestial Night Sky Paint a lively night sky with stitches, beads & charms! Stars, planets, comets and the moon sparkle above the applique landcape of rolling hills and rising sun in this stunning wall hanging. (Karen Selk) |
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Mobile
This mobile was created for the birth of Rachel's first baby by everyone at Treenway. Each of these fantastic insects was made with silk fusion, stuffed with silk fibre and embellished with silk threads and ribbons, beads and metallic threads.
(Bee: Karen Selk; Butterfly: Sue Earle; Ladybug: Susanna Kong; Worm: Trish Murray).
Eclipse
This piece is made from silk fusion which has been stitched together with silk threads (20/2 and fine cord) and bone buttons. (Karen Selk)
Daisies
To create this fantastic piece, first the background was painted onto brown paper. The daisies are embroidered using twisted ribbon stiches and french knots. (Diana Caleb)
Stones
The rocks are enclosed in chiffon bags. The French Knots were stitched onto dissolvable film using 8/2 silk thread then attached to the chiffon bags. (Diana Caleb)
Spheres of my Life
Each sphere represents a segment of Diana's life. The spheres are made of silk fusion. Each sphere is embellished with a variety of silk ribbons and threads using a number of stitches including ribbon, cretan, chain, feather and straight stitch and french knots. (Diana Caleb)
My Backyard
The scene was initially painted with acrylic paints. The plants and flowers were then added using a variety of silk ribbons and threads. The flower pots and garden bench were also embellished with silk threads. (Diana Caleb)
Silk Spinner Hand Scrub
New & Improved! Now more emollient with cocoa butter and carrot tissue oil. Works wonders for smoothing your hands for working with silk.
Silk Spinner contains only natural ingredients: sugar, pure olive oil, cocoa butter, meadowfoam oil, carrot tissue oil, hand made silk soap and fragrance.
Hand made here on Salt Spring Island by dermalove.
5.5oz – $12.00 ($11.50 US)
RESOURCES
Embellishments & Kits
→ Art Quilt Kits see these inspirational projects
→ Embellishment Kits fun little packs filled with silk threads and ribbons, beads and charms
→ Burmese Embellishments 6 delightful hand–stitched creatures with bronze sequins
Silk Stitching Threads & Ribbons
→ Silk Embroidery Threads & Ribbons 100 hand–dyed colours in threads and ribbons
→ Montano Series 74 fabulous variegated colourways in silk threads & ribbons
→ Canadiana Series 30 vibrant colour schemes in silk threads & ribbons
→ Gulf Islands Series 17 fresh colour schemes in silk threads
Learn More
→ learn more about making silk fusion (also known as silk paper or silk felt)