Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-13
BY HAZEL Z. BLAIR

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Thomas Carlyle defines
genius as IAN immense ca
pacity for taking pains" On
that basis. Mrs. Frances Rod
gers HUFF. Of BY Pass Road.
Williamsburg. is a likely cam
didate for the genius rating,
due TO the immense capa-
city" she displays In MASTER
ing carly American crafts.
She terms herself as a
professional piddler." when
explaining her interest in
old-time skills.
Each Sunday and Monday.
Mrs. Huff dons Colonial dress
and serves as craft interpre-
ter at the williamsburg Spin
ming and Weaving House. On
Thursday. Friday. and Satur-
day. she fills a similar role
at the Williamsburg MILF
merry Shop. At both places.
she lectures and demonstrates
to visitors on craft tech
niQues.
For the jamestown Festi-
val, Mrs. HUFF was requested
TO design and weave an altar
cloth for the historic little
jamestown Fort church In
the Festival area. The COM
mission was for q four by
six feet altar cloth with q
suitable design. Flax for the
project was imported from
Ireland.
For over a year. Mrs. HUFF
devoted most of her evening
hours to spinning the fax
into linen thread. Frequently
she viewed television, while
doing her spinning stint.
Later, she assembled an an
cient loom in the basement
of the Huff home for the
weaving Of the cloth.
In searching for just the
right altar cloth design. Mrs,
Huff even referred to the
Bible. She found much in
spiration in Exodus where
weaving measurements and
designs were given for cur
tains and altar cloth for the
Tabernacle.
Writes Manual
Despite her multiple ac-
tivitieS. Mrs. Hun has found
time TO write a manual on
Spinning and Weaving. In
this book. she pulls together
the knowledge she has &C.
quired through recearch and
experience.
Her first acquaintance with
a spinning wheel was when
she was is. She was visiting
at her grandmother's old
home in the Staunton area
where early American crafts
are highly priced as family
heirlooms. Mrs. HUH credits
some of her ATTITUDES for
those skills to her family
background in the Virginia
mountain region.
Mrs HUI Is the former
Frances Rodgers Of Stauntor
At Is. she married Mr.. o. r.
Hun. and they lived In vari-
Gus Southern States before
coming to Williamsburg to
make their home seven years
ago. Mr.. Hun Is manager Of
Hickman's. Inc, Q leading de-
partment store.
Shortly after their arrival
In Williamsburg. Mrs. Hun
was asked 10 take q position
at the spinning and weaving
house as craft interpreter.
Later, abe was asked to i'll
Q similar place at the early
Colonial millinery establish
ment, the Margaret and Jane
Millinery Shop. Again. Mrs.
HUH was on familiar ground.
Even at the age Of II she had
been assisting her great-aunt.
a milliner. to make hats.
Having a liking for the art.
she studied hat design with
the noted stylist. Suma Lin
say OF North Carolina.
Early Hat Styles
In this work. Mrs. Huff
soon acquired a wide knowl-
edge Of hat styles Of the l7th
and 18th centuries. both
abroad and in America. She
created copies Of them for
visitors and lectured on early
hat designs. She created
some striking period hats for
her own enjoyment from
satin. silk. velvet and feath-
ers. Friends clamored for her
to create some for them.
Several museums requested
some Of her hat creations to
complete period costumes.
Through her research. Mrs.
HUFF discovered some amusing