28th Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion, 1989-09-06, Page 41GEA-4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1989
Modern girl finds fun in ancient craft
BY USA BOONSTOPPEL
When the pioneers settled in Ontario,
everything was hand made, right down to
the thread used for sewing. Now, thread,
string and wool is made by machine and
the art of spinning is almost forgotten. But
this difficult craft is being kept alive by
some people, and one of the youngest of
those people is 13-year-old Terri Houston
of Owen Sound.
“I’m the youngest I know of but the
pioneers would usually start spinning at
the age of 10 and once they were as good as
their parents, they would take over the
job,’’ said Terri who has studied the
history of spinning as well as the craft
itself. She’ll be demonstrating at the
Thresher’s Reunion.
Three years ago, Terri become interest
ed in the craft at the Meaford Plowing
Match. “My mom and grandma were
quilting in a tent and there was a lady
spinning beside them. I asked her if I could
try it and she started me out.’’ The lady
started Terri out on a drop spindle which is
a small version of a spinning wheel.
It was a year later that Terri got a
spinning wheel for her birthday from her
grandparents who decided to encourage
her enthusiasm for the art. Although she
hadn’t done any spinning since the plowing
match, she tried her hand at the wheel.
Unfortunately, said Terri, “the wool was
coming out chunky. It would be really big
in places and then really fine.’’
It was then, that the Houston family
decided Terri needed a teacher to teach her
how to spin properly. Luckily, there was a
master spinner in Owen Sound where Terri
soon began to take lessons. The lady was
Dorothy Kirk and a master spinner is a
person who can spin wool, silk or flax into a
thread. Ms. Kirk is a professional spinner.
For two years Terri has been taking
spinning lessons from her and she is
almost a master spinner herself at the age
of 13 years. Terri can spin thread from wool
in short lengths. “I can’t spin enough to be
able to use the thread because it’ll break.’’
But she says that she just tries it again. It is
this dedication and patience that has
allowed her to come so far in such short
time.
“I find spinning relaxing. When I get
upset I’ll often go and spin and even when I
am excited, I’ll spin to calm myself down,’’
she said.
But there are a couple of steps to go
through before sitting down at the spinning
wheel.
A spinning wonder
How does she do that? That’s what these youngsters seem to be her stuff. Terri may be one of the youngest spinners in Ontario
wondering as 13-year-old Terri Houston of Owen Sound spins and is well on her way to becoming a master at the wheel.
Terri usually buys wool that has been
washed and carded because the fibres are
all one length and it’s easier to use. She
also has a hard time finding supplies of raw
wool, but she does start from the sheep’s
belly when she gets the chance. “The first
thing you have to do is sort out the wool for
the good stuff,’’ said Terri. Good wool is
usually from underneath the sheep, she
explained, and is mostly dirty. She plucks
the dirty wool to straighten it out a bit so it
can be placed on the carders.
The carders are like two large brushes
Continued on page A-5
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