How to Fix Common Ronghua(Velvet Flower) Silk Problems: Curling, Cool Feel & Clumping

Why does silk thread curl when making Ronghua(velvet flowers)?  

Because silk thread is twisted when stored, and the silk fibers have memory.  

Solutions:  

1. Hang silk threads that will be used soon for storage.  

2. Spray a small amount of water (avoid soaking), then comb it smooth. Use a preheated flat iron to straighten the thread from top to bottom. After straightening, comb it again.  

Why does silk thread feel cool?  

Silk is a porous protein fiber with good thermal conductivity. When silk touches the skin, heat is quickly transferred and dispersed, creating an instant, comfortable cool feeling. This is known as "contact coolness."  

Additionally, silk threads have a smooth surface, which reduces contact area with the skin, further enhancing the cool sensation.  

Why does the combed silk become clumpy and look like unwashed hair?  

Clumpy silk thread after combing

Reason 1: Sweaty palms or applying too much hand cream while working.  

Solutions:  

1. Apply hand cream at least half an hour in advance, and only apply it to the back of the hands, not the palms.  

2. Rub a small amount of magnesium powder on the palms.  

Reason 2: Residual cohesion between threads.  

Raw silk is like a tightly braided ponytail—sericin binds dozens or even hundreds of fine fibroin fibers tightly together, forming a strong, smooth, and durable "thread."  

After degumming, raw silk becomes cooked silk, and the tightly bound fibroin fibers are "released." Repeated brushing with a boar bristle brush physically separates and disperses these loosened fibers.  

Even after most sericin is removed, fine fibroin fibers still have natural van der Waals forces, friction, and weak static adsorption, causing some fibers to "cling" together instead of fully separating.  

Thus, when tightly bound fibers are combed apart, the residual cohesion causes the silk to form small clumps or "locks" instead of becoming evenly separated like cotton.  

Solutions:  

1. Spray a small amount of water on the silk thread while combing (use a spray bottle for misting).  

2. Take the silk thread out of the sealed bag a few days in advance, untwist it, and let it rest for a few days. Cover it with a dust-proof bag to avoid dust.  

3. Use a hot towel (wrung dry) to steam the combed silk locks, allowing the silk fibers to be exposed to steam.  

Reason 3: Uneven combing—manual combing is difficult to make 100% even. During combing, the brush naturally causes fibers to gather and tangle into small clumps, forming the "locks" you see.  

Solution: Combine the silk locks and comb them multiple times.