Reeling of silk is the process of drawing silk fibre from the cocoon. In the process of reeling of silk, a number of cocoon baves are reeled together to produce a thread.

Reeling: Process of Obtaining Silk Fiber

Silk is a natural fiber that is obtained from the cocoons of silkworms. The process of obtaining silk from the silkworm cocoons is known as reeling. It is an important step in the production of silk and involves several stages.

1. Selection of Cocoons:
The first step in the reeling process is the selection of good quality cocoons. Cocoons with single long threads are preferred as they yield better quality silk. The cocoons are carefully examined to ensure their quality before proceeding to the next step.

2. Sorting:
After the selection, the cocoons are sorted based on their color, size, and texture. This helps in obtaining uniform silk fibers of the desired quality.

3. Softening the Cocoons:
To make the silk fibers easily separable, the selected cocoons are softened. They are either soaked in hot water or exposed to steam. This process helps in loosening the sericin, a protein substance that holds the silk fibers together.

4. Mounting the Cocoons:
The softened cocoons are then mounted on a reel. The reel is a wooden or metal device that holds the cocoons in place. The cocoons are carefully placed and secured on the reel to ensure ease of unwinding.

5. Unwinding the Silk Fiber:
The next step is the unwinding of the silk fiber from the cocoons. The mounted cocoons are exposed to warm air or steam, which helps in loosening the sericin further. The silk fibers are then unwound by gently rotating the reel. As the silk fibers are unwound, they are twisted together to form a single thread.

6. Reeling the Silk:
The unwound silk fibers are reeled onto a spindle or a bobbin. This is done by rotating the reel in a controlled manner. The reeled silk is collected and wound onto the spindle, ready for further processing and weaving.

7. Degumming:
After reeling, the silk thread is degummed to remove any remaining sericin. This is done by boiling the silk in a soap solution, which dissolves the sericin. The degumming process helps in improving the silk's texture and appearance.

8. Spinning:
Once the silk thread is degummed, it is ready for spinning. The silk fibers are twisted together to form a strong and durable thread. The spinning process can be done manually or using machines, depending on the scale of production.

Conclusion:
Reeling is a crucial step in the production of silk as it involves the extraction of silk fibers from the silkworm cocoons. The process includes selecting, sorting, softening, mounting, unwinding, reeling, degumming, and spinning. Each stage requires careful handling to obtain high-quality silk fibers that can be further processed into various silk products.