This loom is constructed primarily of sturdy ironwood, with a compact and stable structure.
The crucial transmission system cleverly utilizes stone gears of varying sizes and belts made from rock-skin vines. The reed is crafted from fine fish bones and polished bamboo strips, while the shuttle is hollowed out from hard animal bone, with smooth animal teeth inlaid at both ends.
Although it looks somewhat simple and rough, even a bit primitive and clumsy, in Lin Feng and the women's eyes it is like the most exquisite work of art, shining with the brilliance of wisdom and sweat.
"We did it! We did it!"
When Lin Feng secured the last string and announced that the loom was initially completed, Tang Bao was the first to cheer and rushed to touch the loom.
The other women gathered around, their faces beaming with barely suppressed joy and pride. This was the result of their collective efforts.
With the loom in place, the next step was spinning thread and weaving cloth.
Lin Feng first tried to process the ice silkworm cocoons.
He discovered that if the silkworm cocoons were soaked in lukewarm alkaline water containing a small amount of "sunwood" ash for a short time, the sticky substance on the outer layer of the cocoons would soften slightly, and the silk threads would be easier to peel off.
He designed a simple rocker to carefully wind the peeled silkworm silk around it, forming the initial silk thread.
This ice silk is much thicker than silk on Earth, but it is incredibly tough. Several strands put together are almost as strong as a thin steel wire.
Moreover, it naturally has a cool touch and refracts a pale blue, starlight-like glow under light.
"This silk thread...it's so beautiful!" Shen Jiaqi gently twirled a freshly spun piece of ice silk, her eyes filled with amazement.
The task of spinning the thread was mainly entrusted to the skillful Shen Jiaqi and Qin Lan. They needed great patience and meticulousness to spin the tough ice silk into warp and weft threads of uniform thickness, suitable for weaving.
The heavy responsibility of weaving fell on everyone's shoulders.
Lin Feng personally operated the loom, demonstrating the most basic plain weave technique to the women. He meticulously threaded the spun ice silk as warp threads through every tiny hole of the heddle, and then fixed it onto the roll beam.
"Look closely, this is a shuttle, and it contains the weft threads. When the heddles lift a portion of the warp threads, the shuttle passes through the middle and releases the weft threads. Then the heddles cross, and the weft rods push the weft threads tight. This process is repeated, and the fabric is woven." Lin Feng demonstrated and explained in detail.
The women watched intently, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.
The first person to operate the machine was Tang Bao, who volunteered.
She tried to imitate Lin Feng, picking up the shuttle, but either she used too much force and the shuttle flew off, or the weft threads got tangled. In her frantic efforts, the first piece of "cloth" she wove was crooked, uneven in thickness, and simply a disaster.
"Ugh! This is so hard!" Tang Bao pouted, looking a little discouraged.
Lin Feng calmly said, "Don't rush, take your time. It's a process of practice makes perfect."
Next, Su Wanqing, Ruan Mengtian, and Qian Xiaoxiao took turns trying. Their performance was slightly better than Tang Bao's, but they also encountered various problems. Either the warp threads were broken, or the weft threads were unevenly stretched.
Only Qin Lan and Shen Jiaqi, with their composure and meticulousness, gradually mastered the knack of weaving after their initial awkwardness.
Qin Lan's movements were precise and powerful, each shuttle perfectly placed, resulting in a relatively smooth fabric. Shen Jiaqi, on the other hand, had a more rhythmic feel; her hands seemed to dance on the loom, and although the speed was not fast, the texture she wove was the most even and delicate.
Lin Feng did not rush them, but patiently guided them and helped them solve every problem they encountered.
Bathed in the warm sunlight of the sun-wheel tree, the clanging sound of weaving echoed through the courtyard. This monotonous yet rhythmic sound became the new background music of the shelter.
After several days of practice and refinement, the women's weaving skills improved significantly. They even began to experiment with some simple pattern variations.
Finally, amidst everyone's eager anticipation, the first piece of fabric entirely woven from ice silkworm silk was slowly rolled off the loom!
It was a unique piece of silk that shimmered with a pale blue light and had natural ice crystal patterns!
It feels cool and smooth to the touch, yet has a strangely warm sensation.
Its texture is extremely tough; even when pulled forcefully, it will not deform in the slightest. Under the light of the sun-wheel wood, the surface of the fabric seems to shimmer and ripple gently, breathtakingly beautiful.
"My God! Is this ice silkworm silk? It's...it's unbelievable!"
Su Wanqing reached out and gently stroked the silk, her eyes filled with shock and ecstasy. As a former darling of the fashion world, she understood the value of this fabric better than anyone else.
"It feels so good! It's cool and smooth!" Tang Bao couldn't help but press her cheek against it and let out a satisfied sigh.
Lin Feng picked up a small piece of scrap material and tried cutting it with his alloy battle knife. He discovered that this ice silk was extremely tough; ordinary cutting force could only leave a shallow white mark on it!
"Its defense... is actually so strong!" Lin Feng was shocked, then overjoyed.
He then took a cup of water and poured it onto the silk. The water droplets rolled off quickly, as if falling on a lotus leaf, without wetting the fabric at all.
"And it's waterproof too!" Qian Xiaoxiao exclaimed excitedly.
The successful weaving of this first piece of ice silk ignited the enthusiasm of the shelter.
The women eagerly learned to weave, and the scale of silkworm farming continued to expand.
The low-temperature cultivation room has been expanded several times, and rows of ice moss thrive under the dim blue light, providing food for a continuous stream of ice silkworm larvae.
Based on the characteristics of this ice silkworm silk, Lin Feng gave it a poetic name – "Frosty Splendor Silk". It means that it is as beautiful as frost and snow, and as beautiful as cloud silk.
With the "Frosty Silk" in hand, the task of making clothes was put on the agenda.
Qin Lan and Shen Jiaqi, with their meticulousness and keen sense of measurement, took on the main cutting and sewing work. Lacking professional tools, they used sharp obsidian shards as scissors, finely ground animal bones as needles, and even finer, more resilient ice silk threads as sewing thread.
The first garment made of "Frost Silk" was a custom-made inner armor for Lin Feng.
This inner armor is as thin as a cicada's wing, yet exceptionally tough.
When worn, it feels almost weightless, yet provides excellent protection.
Most remarkably, it can automatically regulate its temperature. In cold environments, it emits a faint warmth, as if a layer of warm air is enveloping the body.
In a relatively warm environment, it brings a touch of coolness, making people feel very comfortable.
"Mr. Lin, please try it on!" Qin Lan handed the sewn inner armor to Lin Feng, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Lin Feng put on the inner armor and immediately felt its extraordinary nature.
This comfort and sense of security is unmatched by any animal skin clothing.
He moved his body slightly, and the inner armor fit perfectly, without any feeling of restriction.
"Fantastic! Qin Lan, Jiaqi, your skills are getting better and better!" Lin Feng exclaimed sincerely.
With their successful experience, the women also began to sew clothes for themselves.
Tang Bao designed a modified version of the Lolita dress for herself, using light blue "Frosty Silk" as the main material and embellishing it with some colorful little crystals she had collected. It looked dreamy and gorgeous, but she didn't know how warm it was. However, she loved it to bits.
Su Wanqing sewed herself a simple and fitted cheongsam-style long dress, which perfectly outlined her exquisite curves.
The ice-blue silk on her body added to her cool and noble temperament, making her seem like a fairy in the snow.
Qin Lan chose a smart and practical outfit that allowed for easy movement while maintaining her feminine grace.
Shen Jiaqi still prefers simple and elegant long dresses. The natural luster of the frost-white silk makes her look even more beautiful and refined.
Ruan Mengtian boldly designed a tight-fitting off-shoulder top and skirt, showcasing her hot figure to the fullest, attracting Lin Feng's attention. Qian Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, made a hunting outfit that was convenient for horseback riding.
When everyone changed into their brand-new "Frosty Silk" clothes and stood together under the sun-wheel tree, the entire courtyard became much brighter.
The shimmering light blue silk accentuated their unique beauty, creating a dazzling and mesmerizing scene.
Besides clothing, "Shuanghua Silk" was also used in other areas.
Lin Feng used it to make stronger bowstrings and climbing ropes. He also specially sewed small neck guards and wing guards for Ling Feng and Zhui Yue. Although the two little ice falcons don't need them yet, it was a token of his affection as their "adoptive father."
As more and more "Frost Silk" was produced, the quality of life for the people in the shelter improved dramatically. They were no longer afraid of the cold of the plateau, and their movements became much easier.
More importantly, this miraculous silk, derived from alien ice silkworms, provides them with another barrier against unknown dangers.
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