The Lamar register., 1908-07-22

To rug, a table cover or a curtain on
which the maker has expended his ideas and per-
sonality is pleasure quite distinct from gazing
al a machine-madeo article which be dupli-
Gated in any one of a dozen stores And the fas
cination of fashioning things with the hands, es
recially essentials of the household articles
that add refining touch to commonplace
vice. has led many women abandon china
painting and fancy work for the more active work
OF the loom.
Though there are many amateurs in Massachu-
sets who make no attempt to market their wares
good many have found weaving an attractive
commercial proposition. Many of these have en-
rolled themselves in the Arts and Crafts asso-
citation For them. rag carpet weaving provides
the most direct method of securing remunera-
ton for their work. Rugs of this always
In demand and there is ample room for the ex-
ereise of taste in developing simple patterns and
in the variation, of colors.
Most of the rugs woven with grayish back
ground Fer the piazza and the summer home
there are lighter patterns. soft blends which will
absorb the sunshine brighten up the tedium of
diizzly day For these it is necessary to use
white new rags in the warp and alternating cords
of pink blue
The simplicity Of these floor coverings affects
one with strange sense of relief which may be
inc applicable at first 1t is the sense of contrast
with Intricate machinemade designs which are
often as confusing the rattle of the steel ten
tacled machines that made them.
Some oil these rugs made in Boston, but
most OF them come from outside towns. Deer
held, Marblehead bingham and Lynn regular
stations OF supply In Central square. Cambridge
the Massachusetts commission for the blind has
AN established factory where men weave rugs
In 1914 the experiment of blind weavers was
first tried. They have proved in less than four
years that their work rank with that done by
anyone. Without prejudice. buyers are agreed
TO this. and in many cases they insist that the
work is not only as good but superior. OF course
the rugs are made under the supervision of see
Ing people, who select colors and distribute the
materials
An expert supervisor with the use of his eyes
hfst teaches the mechanism to the blind pupil
VINO memories everything by numerical sys
tem..- After he has mastered all the movements
he soon can acquire the technicalities of pattern
weaving.
by numerical system" is meant the numbering
of each thread. as well the arrangement, of the
materials near the loom. that the position
is memorized no sight aid is required to locate
any color. From triangles and circles progress is
made TO the more intricate patterns For some
ofthese raised proof of the design is hung above
the loom. BY touching it with the fingers the
pattern is reproduced on the cloth.
The proficiency shown by the sightless weavers
has eliminated the question of their ability to
execute the work The question remains: Where
shall they market their wares?
This problem is solving itself for the number
of people who buy hand-wrought articles is rapid.
ly increasing When Charles F. Campbell su.
perintendent of the industrial department of the
Massachusetts commission for the blind was
asked where the department disposed of their
output he turned up the label of the package he
was tying 1t addressed to Detroit, Mich
We have shipped stun to Duluth and San Fran
cisco" he added; so you the folks out west
aren't going to be distanced in this twist