4.2.6 Method for Making Raw Silk Thread Balls

21 ژانویه 2026

Production Steps

01 Prepare a circular card with a diameter of 3~3.5cm. The diagram shows a diameter of 3.5cm. (It's best to draw the circle with a compass and make the central hole slightly larger.)

02 Prepare a hank of raw silk weighing 20~25g. (Beginners should preferably purchase raw silk without netting and pre-divided by the supplier.)

03 Fold the raw silk in half. Use a 0.5mm steel wire to secure the thread to the rod.

04 Fix the top to a stand and cut from the bottom fold.

05 Comb the raw silk. If the silk is curved or curled, you can straighten it with a flattening iron. (Use the lowest temperature setting; do not apply high heat for a prolonged time.)

06 Take a 0.5mm steel wire. First, secure the top end, leaving space for one disc between the wire and the clamp.

07 The wire can be wrapped around twice or once, as long as it is securely fixed (but do not wrap three or more times just for fixation). Continue downwards, wrapping the wire at intervals equal to the space of one disc.

08 Cut the silk along each wire as the axis of symmetry. Use a large, less frequently used pair of scissors for cutting the raw silk. Do not use the scissors reserved for trimming velvet strips.

09 If you notice any wires are not tightened, use pliers to tighten each one individually.

10 Use a brush to repeatedly dab water around the steel wires. (Note: Apply water in a controlled, localized manner to allow it to penetrate the area near the wires. Do not use a spray bottle for broad application. Dab water 6 to 8 times until the area around the wires is thoroughly damp.)

11 Find the center point on the side and press it down with your finger. (It must be the exact center point, not off-center.)

12 After pressing down the center points on both sides, continue using the brush to dab water onto the center points (repeat 3-4 times on both front and back). Continue pressing by hand, smoothing the flow of the silk filaments as you press to avoid any crossing or wrinkling of the threads.

13 After hand-pressing, it should resemble a disc. If enough water was applied, there should be no gaps on either side after pressing.

14 Place it on a wooden block and prepare a hammer. (The hammer's surface area should be larger than the ball's area. Use a smooth-surfaced mallet/leather hammer; do not use a stone or metal hammer, as they may break the wires.)

15 Hammer vertically on the surface of the velvet ball, 4-5 times on each side. (If sufficient water was applied and the disc is pressed flat enough, the hammering step can be omitted.)

16 After hammering, place a small disc aligned with the center point of the silk disc. (The center of the small disc should align exactly with the center point of the silk disc.)

17 Trim along the outline of the disc with scissors.

18 Use one pair of tweezers parallel to the wires to pinch the center of the ball. Use another pair to tease the silk fibers upwards; it's safe to poke at the center point to fluff the pile. (If threads are pulled out during this step, it indicates two issues: first, the wires were not properly tightened initially; second, the wires may have broken during hammering.)

19 If the ball has cracks, don't worry. You can boil water and use the steam to gently treat it. (When steaming, only use the steam from a small hole in the pot lid; do not lift the lid to steam directly.)

20 Trim the ball with curved scissors.

21 Trimming complete. See the Ronghua persimmon video: https://youtu.be/tzTkrb7afTA

Summary: There are many methods for making velvet balls, including using a flattening iron or applying weight for compression. However, the method described here adheres to traditional production steps. Although more intricate, following these instructions carefully yields a high success rate. By changing colors, these balls can also be used to make items like grapes.