Village Squire, 1978-11, Page 28Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto by the
late Mr. Harvey Pentland. It is thought
that the heavy frame of his loom might
have been salvaged ships' timbers that
were washed ashore on Lake Huron. It is
said that the Sheppard sisters living on the
next farm to Pentland did the spinning.
Unfortunately nothing seems to have been
written of them.
A very popular woven article in till early
days was rag carpet. Each winter the
women and children would cut up their old
worn out clothing bedding etc. into strips
usually about one to one and a half inches
wide, sew the strips together to form
longer strips, roll them into balls and bring
them to the local weavers to weave into
carpet. The strips of carpet woven would
be sewn together to form carpet wide
enough to cover a whole floor. Straw would
be laid over the floor first then the carpet
was tacked over it. Each spring the carpet
was taken up and washed and new straw
was put on the floor first.
Nature dying is simply the use of such
plants as onion skins, goldenrod, apple
bark, rhubarb root and walnuts instead of
commercial dyes. Depending on the colour
one wants, one selects ope of these
products, soaks it in water for a few days,
brings it to a boil, strains out the liquid and
puts the wool in. this liquid. One can bring
this mixture to a simmer, leave it for an
hour, cool it down and rinse it off. This is a
time consuming art but the wool is dyed a
natural colour.
These old-fashioned crafts all but died
out after , machinery took over and
materials had to be made in large
quantities for an ever-increasing popula-
tion. Now with more leisure time on
people's hands these crafts are being
revived. Only this spring a new weaver in
Goderich who had belonged to a weaver's
guild in Montreal before she moved to
Goderich helped area spinners and
weavers form a guild. Fourteen met at her
home in May to form "The Huron Tract
Spinners and Weavers Guild". Members
come from a wide area --from Ripley,
Listowel, Brussels, Blyth, Seaforth, St.
Marys and Goderich. Every one is keen to
learn all they can of the crafts. Those in the
group qualified to teach various types of
weaving or the other crafts are conducting
workshops throughout the fall and early
winter. Interested persons are urged to
contact the president, Mrs. Ruth Knight,
Goderich (Eldon Street) or the secretary.
Mrs. Mary McLeod, Seaforth.
The purpose of this guild is to give its
members an increased knowledge of their
crafts and a chance to improve their
standards as well. The group also hopes to
do some research into early weaving in the
area., They would welcome any information
anyone has of early weavers. Their first
exhibit and demonstration was, held this
year at the Van Egmond "Cider Fest" at
Seaforth. Through such exhibits the group
hopes to encourage others to find
enjoyment through such hobbies.
26 The Village Squire November 1978
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