The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-30
A NEW FAD.
Hand Spinning and Weaving Re.
gived in Europe.

Vived in Europe.
A spinning wheel in ebony, with silver
mountings formed one of the marriage
presents of a high-born Scottish bride
recently, and the wheel was intended
for use, not as an ornament or an heir
loom. Since the Princess of Wales
and her daughters and other titled per-
sCnages have revived hand-spinning
and weaving as a pastime the occupa-
ton has become popular among women
of fashion in the United Kingdom.
Whether made of Woolen, silk or cotton
articles, when hand woven are not
only more durable but far more satis-
factory from an aesthetic standpoint
than those produced by the gross or
dozen at a mandatory. Then, too,
pretty woman must perforce assume
such delightfully."- picturesque poses at a
spinning wheel! Bright ribbons, too
must needs to be used to hold the yarn
in place on the block, and the whole is
a fascinating picture, even more salts
factory than the much-lauded seduc-
tiveness attributed to a fair dame or
damsel engaged with harp or guitar
There is an element of homely practi-
cality, of sound usefulness attending
the process Of spinning which uncon-
sciously adds much to its grace.
To the votary of fine weaving the
pIOSpSCt VI III Iu0 pSTlSC-
ton of the art is enchanting. Most Of
the teachers now come from Sweden,
bringing with them quaint individual
Morse designs, distinctive and beauti-
full in character, but more than one
gray old homestead is still shown where
schools devoted to the teaching of this
art hourished in former generations.
In some retired ''wynd'' or row or
crescent" of an ancient town these
ime-honored 2 landmarks are like to
be, and many are the "reminiscences of
famous DANES who received their first
lessons in white scanning" sampler
stitching and weaving from a certain
renowned preceptress. Spinning wheels
then took the place that pianos occupy
in schools Of the same standing today
The pupils, aging from twelve to eigh-
teen, occupied the wheels, one each day,
in regular rotation. Their work was
afterward reeled and criticised by the
mistress. If rejected, it was relegated
to form part Of an ordinary web; if ap-
proved it was "hanked' and hung up
marked with the spinner's name, and
was used in the making Of sewing
thread, possibly carried on by some
genteel relative or feminine adherent
of the proprietress. Linen thread in
those days was much in demand, cotton
thread discarded or only used when
necessity dictated.
1t was held that practice and perse-
verence might do much, but that the
true spinner was born and not made
Some are described are having spun
with the touch, speed and grace of the
good princess in q German idyl, and the
thread resulting from their labor to
have been of the f1neness Of that made
by the fabled Lydian Arachne. Thread
so satisfactory was made into kind
Of Flanders lace, much coveted for
wrist ruffies and laced cravats, because
in addition to it's beauty, 1t was said
to resist a world of washing and wear.
The needlecraft Of that day fairly
abreast with the art needle work re-
vival of the present. included drawn
linen and lawn thread work, archaic
tapestry stitches on canvas and pic
lures sewed on satin. the same that
are now so eagerly bought by art con-
noisseurs.