Silk noils (also known as silk nubs or silk nepps) are small knots or lumps of silk fibres. They are a by-product of silk production, removed and gathered during the spinning and weaving process. Silk noils have a shorter, coarser texture than regular silk and are often used in blends with other fibres to add texture and visual interest to the final product. Silk noil is easy to dye, and when blended with wool they create a textured yarn with flecks of the dyed colours. They are also frequently used in paper-making.