New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-27
HANDMADE RUGS.
Fascinating Handicrafts ReUiUed in
the Southern Mountains.

The girls IN the Southern mountains are said to
have great Partially for factory and brung on
things" compared with their own handlwork
IL this they not at al peculiar. II there had
mot been a few people here and there who enter
Etsined enlightened IDEAS and preferred the
work Of the human hand to the product OF the ma
3ohine the ancient and beautiful domestic arts
(which have fingered even up to the beginning OF
the twentieth century IN remote corners OF the
lcountTy would have been allowed die out. As Il
IS these primitive handicrafts which are being re-
iHtved and developed all over the country are OF
vast importance to women. for the opportunity Of
earning little money by agreeable work in their
! ewn homes. and they have given certain amount
/ q financial Independence and & interest In life
/ % class o. women greatly In need of both
The products OF these industries do not compete
WITH the products Of machinery, according to
cent report of the Bureau of labor, but they are
having important effect on the latter by i'm
proving their quality and design.
4 WEAVING "KIvERLIDs."
One Of the most curious and interesting of these
resuscitated arts ancientlv practised IN New
England. and still fingered the time this revival
/. Of handicrafts began among the mountaineers
whose fononess for factory and brung on things
has Just been noted. This is the art of weaving
and dyeing coverlets. 'iverlids" to the local
word
These coverlets were intended originally for bed
coverings, being woven in strips yard wide sewed
together to make the proper width. But they have
Z
ers, table covers portieres. window draperes etc
They have also been produced. by the use of
doubled and twisted yarn, IN weight heavy enough
for washa BILE rugs.
The coverlets have a cotton foundation over
shot with colored wool, so as to form pattern.
The wool was dyed formerly with indigo or mad
der. and the use Of vegetable dyes is being n
Outraged II the modern revival The different
patterns distinguished by fanc,ful names, such
IS Young Ladys Perpiexity" Missouri Trouble
Tee rNofoa
and Roses" 'ssixteen-yYheel Chariot" Snail
Tran" Battle Of Richmond Snowfall"
Soldiers Return" rocky Mountain Beauty"
'Braddocks Defeat" These names are suggested
sometimes By the pattern itselR and sometimes
by historical incident and the historical
names Indicate that Of the patterns date
back at least TO the time Of Washington. while
others were named az late the period of the
Civil War.
KNOWN ONLY TO A FEW.
The weaving Of these coverlets Is difficult art,
requiring loom with at least four treadles and
with shuttle for the cotton and another for
The colored wool. and when the revival Of the in
dustry undertaken only a few old women
could Re found who understood the process. In
the case OF the Alanstand Cottage Industries. de-
Feioped by Miss Frances /. Goodrich at Allan
stand. y. c. 1t was necessary to travel sixteen
miles into the mountains back from the railroad
70 find family who stin practise the art. The
secrets Of the bluepot and OF dyeing by banks
ana leaves also had to be learned from the older
women, those Of the more remote valleys. The
Management Of the bluepot is extremely diff
cult, for those who understand it and are
fortunate enough to obtain good indigo. Tt is
started with yeast borrowed from a neighbor,
Or with wheat bran. and must be set by the
IRE and not allowed 10 become cold.
Ono OF the most slilful weavers Of the modern
eoverlets IS Mrs. Enma Duckett. OF AsheVille,
~ c Her work has been exhibited at Teach
es College and at the National Arts Club in
Nes-Yerk City. and she silver medal at
Us Psn-American Exhibition.
REVIVAL OF QUILTING
With the coverlet for starting point other in
anstries have been developed in the Southern
lAans at Berea. the centre Of the Berea Ffresde
industries. the women spin and card their own
WOOL ana also spin their linen, because factory
span linen breaks badly in hand looms. the fibre
oeng broken IN the spinning. Basketry. rug max