Hello! This is the earliest I have ever sat down during the day to put down thoughts. Shh! The house is quiet.
Dennis is on his way to the Sioux Falls airport to pick up his eldest child for a long weekend visit. I know that the families from Silver Bay will be traveling here also. It is a “come one, come all” type of weekend. Everyone has a place to stay here and there about. Our tiny home is off the hook. It is a good time to get in Dennis’ family get together before the weather turns. That may be here before we know it.
The stitcher’s luncheon yesterday was informative on many levels. Some have experienced Covid, after shots and boosters being had. The degree of symptoms were varied. We have one stitcher that travels and gives lessons in quilt shops. She also is gearing up to participate as a vendor in several town’s events. I applaud her for the vim and vigor. I don’t know if the fact that she lives with a daughter, not having to be responsible for home and yard upkeep, enters in. It works for her and the rest of the group gets to experience the wares that she has lined up.
This same trooper had taken in a class of table top weaving. As I looked at her finished sample it took me right back to the Newcomb Fly Shuttle four harness rug loom that was such an integral part of our home for decades. A “For Sale” ad had been answered in the Willmar area. Wow. My mom used a two harness loom in her basement. My dad and Orlin made the trip. We had an automatic instructor on how to set up this loom after having it been taken apart for the journey. So many moving parts.
Not only did they come home with the loom but also many prepared balls of cut rags ready to try it all out. This lady had been ready to retire.
News traveled fast. So many yards of rugs we wove. It was not unusual to come home from work and find boxes of cut rolled rags with notes attached as to what length was desired. $.10 an inch was the going rate. Many orders for warp was sent in to Lima Ohio in various colors. I still have several spools of the cotton warp. Sweet memories.
The most significant memory of weaving in the farm house, was of the lady from Shakopee. She had visited many thrift shops purchasing wool garments and coats of certain colors. She had people that cut them into strips no wider than the size of what a wooden pencil would be when twisted. Our loom could weave 42″ in width. She wanted specific colors of warp that we sent for. When we felt we had twelve feet in length woven, we would have to release the brakes and let the weaving relax. More than likely more would be needed to weave. The goal was to weave four such lengths in equal lengths. When she picked them up, she had someone on board to weave the four lengths, side by side, together for a room sized rug using more of the same warp we had used for weaving. That job was by far more than $.10 an inch. It was jewel tones that were beautiful.
When I heard the story that was shared yesterday of the table top loom, I could relate to the bug that was felt in the lure of weaving. I also knew I had done that . . . been there!
Several of us just take in the energy of the luncheon and come away with a new appreciation how walks of life may be different, but the love of thread and fuzz literally ties us together.
Once I have the laundry done, I may still have several hours of quiet left. Sweet!
