New-York tribune., 1898-12-25
DYEING AND SPINNING WOOL.
SUCH WERE THE DUTIES THAT KEPT
COLONIAL WOMEN BUSY.
THEIR WONDERFUL SKILL IN coLoRrNo-vALUD q

THEIR WONDERFUL SKILL IN coLoRiNG-VALCD q
OF HAND WOVEN COATS IN THE YEAR iss3.
The revival of the ancient industry OF woo-spin-
ming brings to light many interesting facts con-
cernlng this employment OF our ancestors. WOOL
spinning ia rot light and agreeable an occupa-
ton as that OF fax. Enterprising danes could not
carry the great wool wheel to a neghbors house for
n days spinning. and the Industry must per-
force be complished AT ones own hreside
But graceful than the spinner OF iiax was
the spinner OF wool. standing by the great SYM
metrical wheel. drawing the thread with plant,
easy motion stepping backward and forward. az
the thread was spun and run upon the spindle IN
her right hand the stick to keep the wheel rotat-
Ing: always an attractive picture In Colonial nome
Interiors As the wool Industry dates back to pre-
historic men. and the whole manufacture Of woolen
cloth and yarn. from the primitive TO the perfect
state. involves much care patience and skill 1t
must have exercised 4 potent influence on carry
c.vllza ton. Many curious bone combs, in the
form Of n ru ley shaped hand. have been found
amorg the remains OF prehistoric man
Wool-splnn!ng was made an honorable occupa-
tion 70. womel In the ninth century by the mother
OF Alfred the Great She was spinner OF wool,
or to use the name afterward adopted, spin
ister" and she taught her daughters the art OF
wool-spnnlng. From that time IN TO the COM
mencement OF the present century the spinning OF
wool was done by women. and their industry was
only equalled by their skill, It being the pride OF n
good "spinister' to make the finest yarn and
plenty OF IT, Mrs. Mary Prigge earned the honor
of spinning pound OF yarn into fifty hanks, or
$1,000 yards. nearly forty-eight miles
PREPARING THE WORK.
The many processes Of raising and preparing the
wool are full Of interest The breeding and care
OF sheen to produce the best wool was carefully
studied by Colonial farmers. as 80 much depended
on their exertions In this branch OF INDUSTRY.
Sheep-shearing one OF the events or the year
the sprngtirne gathering for work and least as
the husklng bee was the autumn froic Neign-
bors gathered from distance OF several miles 10
help In the shearing. and the peaceful serenity OF
pastoral scenes. the sheep grazing IN sunny
meadows by running brooks and placid ponds. was
quickly changed into stirring activity caused by
the catching and washing OF the struggling sheep
and lambs, and holding them for the shearer.
which easy agreeable task
The shearng mostly done by men. though
the Colonial woman. used to all hardships, helped
to catch and hold the sheep After the shearlng
the feeces picked the first and best quality
OF wool being known picSlocks. After picking
the wool was washed again. then the burrs. whlch
became fastened to the sheep while grazing were
carefully taken out and after repeated washings
IN warm alkaline solution the wool became dry
and hard. after which il was thoroughly oiled
before being carded The cardng required much
ckill and was delicate work. suited to women ;
fingers. and the worker had always Small IRE
near her to keep the carder hot.
The process of dyeng also required much skill
and care The Colonial housewife fully appre-
ciated the homely saying. Dyed in the WOOL as
It was often her daily task. She skilled In the
use of various dyes. which wool took easily ana
the coloring rich and beautiful
Mrs Candace Wheeler. in her article on Colonial
Embroidery" says
There were many shades from which TO choose;
While fax only took well IN two shades lndlgo anu
oxide OF iron. wool easily colored IN as many
shades as the Colonial housewife desired.
A beautiful red produced from the cochlntdl
and madder Logv ood readily used In the
domestic manufacture. All shades OF yellow, ana
dark brown were obtained from the 5aTk OF ih1
aluS made a good yellow. Copperas also made
a Yellow dye The yellow wool dipped into the
blue indigo pot made VaTous s9adItS ht ETgl Eyiole,
dive was sometimes obtained from the faded leaves
OF the heur-de-lis. -
Colonial crewel work wool-embroidery wa.
the hrst Colonial embroidery. The crewels. OF
wool threads spun and dyed by the busy house
wife were ira ,ed upon linen OF her own weaving
patterns for this dainty work were derived Lron ron
Eastern fabrcs-those of Persia and China
brought by the merchant ships.and these many.
colored rich patterns easily copied by the
Colonial dame with her variety OF coiored WOODS
Sometimes aprons short gowns bureau covers a,,u
other small pieces OF household linen were qua'is
and beautifully ornamented
Thus the domestic manufacture was not confined
entirely to articles Of utility. quaint mention OF
the value Of Colonial woollen pettlcoat occurs IN
the journal OF an eminent quaker OF Flushing
whore he makes the entry under date of 1858;
Martha Joanna's 30 weeks schooling and what
else is paid for by red wool pettcoat TO f'iZa-
beth Cowperthwaite.
A modern schoolmistress OF Flushing woud
hardly feel compensated with reward SO nomeiy