Treasure: Monarch's Mantle of Stars
Added 2023-09-19 17:16:04 +0000 UTCThis warm garment may not seem like it would be a valuable treasure, but it certainly was to the woman who made it, and to those who know who she was.
A few days ago, I found a bucket of milkweed seeds I'd misplaced last fall. They'd been gathered so I could scatter the seeds, but I never got around to it.
The soft fibers are silky, soft, shiny, and lightweight, so I got to wondering if they could be made into a fabric. It turns out they can, but they are a little fragile so they have to be blended with other fibers (like wool or cotton) for strength and durability.
The name comes from the monarch butterfly, which relies on milkweed for both nectar and for it young to eat. The name led to the idea of the person who made the mantle...a person with a lot of otherwise empty time on her hands.
This was created for the 13th Treasure Tuesday, a day every week that I create a free, nonmagical treasure item.
