'Throwing' is twisting - several ends are twisted together. These ends can then be 'doubled' or plied back together to form a finished yarn. This yarn is then skeined and degummed.

The waste is from all stages of the processing. Some is from the early stages and contains no twist, some from later stages and may contain twist in one or two directions. The length of the fibre varies considerably and for spinning and using in felt or 'paper' is usually cut to the required length.

Degummed silk throwsters' waste has had the gum removed and is highly lustrous. It varies in thickness and twist although is predominately filament with little or no twist. Once degummed, the silk fluffs and curls and gives wonderful texture and lustre to textiles. It dyes readily; can be cut and carded on its own or with fleece for handspinning; added to the surface of felt for decoration; carded with fleece for felt; used for silk 'paper' or added to cellulose paper and added to embroidery.