The Home Textile Tool Museum

Our very own Phyllis Dean is featured in this wonderful film from Foxfire. Phyllis will be here in May and June to demonstrate a rocker beater loom that she rescued and brought to the museum! https://www.foxfire.org/foxfire-films-presents-rocker-bea/

From Joy McCracken, introducing our new weaving instructor for the upcoming season!

The folks at Local Fiber have put together this virtual event for the Northern and Southern Tiers and Finger Lakes Region- Enjoy! https://localfiber.org/virtual/

Absolutely inspirational!

This is quite good. Let me know if you can’t access it and I will send it via messenger to anyone who is interested.

The Marshfield School of Weaving Study Collection is a non-profit educational organization created in January 2019 "to preserve the traditional textile tools used to produce hand-woven textiles and to instruct students and scholars in the use of such tools." The Collection houses tools de-accessioned from the American Textile History Museum, which were donated to the Marshfield School of Weaving and are now cared for by the Study Collection. The Study Collection is managed by... the Board of Directors, who are guided by a Collection Policy. Any receipts from sales of de-accessioned items are used solely for the purpose of the care of the collection and possible future acquisitions. The Study Collection also provides scholarships to students for studying traditional tools and skills at the Marshfield School of Weaving. The scholarships are funded solely through donations and fund-raising efforts designated for that purpose. The current Board of Directors includes: Kate Smith - Professional Weaver and Dyer; Owner and Instructor - Marshfield School of Weaving; Owner Eaton Hill Textiles; Craig Evans Professional Weaver; Textile Tool Collector and Dealer; Diane Howes Professional Weaver and Spinner; Textile Tool Collector and Dealer; Master Weaver Certificate Hill Institute; Celia Oliver Textile Historian and Consultant; former Curator of Textiles Shelburne Museum; Owner - Historic Textiles & Interiors; Justin Squizzero Professional Weaver, Spinner and Dyer; Owner The Burroughs Garrett. More information: [email protected] See more

https://rustbeltfibershed.com/the-cleveland-flax-project

Anyone else looking forward to winter??

This is the basis of one of our workshops which will be postponed until next summer. We don’t necessarily see it as a rebellion against the fashion industry, but more in keeping with our current theme of sustainable living skills. Thoughts ?

In the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, generations of islanders have shared in the tradition of Harris Tweed. See some of the characters behind this unique and sustainable industry.

During the summer I have written a blog series about my flax processing tools. Today I write about the flax brush that was used in a small area in mid-Sweden. Have you heard of flax brushes being used traditionally in other countries?

Two women carrying full 'kishies' of peat back on Foula, in the Parish of Walls, Shetland in 1902, and knitting as they walk. They are wearing knitting belts ...(known as "makkin' belts" in Shetland), made of leather and stuffed with horsehair. Double-pointed needles are used, with one stuck in the belt to make it easy to knit while walking, and also have a hand free if needed. Knitting belts are still widely used throughout the islands even now, and the group Shetland Peerie Makkers (little knitters) https://www.facebook.com/ShetlandPeerieMakkers/ is teaching the younger generation to use them while learning to knit Fair Isle. Our demonstrators in the Museum have regularly taught visitors how to use a belt. Although it may look as if they're barefoot, closer inspection shows they are actually wearing "rivlins", crude footwear from hide, laced over the top of the foot. Thanks to Anna Louise Kelly on the Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep page for posting the photo. [The original of this photograph is from the National Museum of Scotland - https://www.nms.ac.uk//collection-search/photograph/736784 ]

OK so a brief explanation for my last post with a photograph of assistant to the manager, the famed the one the only, Dwight Schrute: I used Pinterest to find pictures of happy people making paper and that’s what it gave me! In any case, we are pleased to be cohosting a live paper making workshop with the Sayre Public Library on Facebook, Tomorrow, starting at 2 PM. This is a fun and relatively simple project that you can do at home without too much fuss. If you want t...o follow along I suggest the following: Shred and soak your recycleable paper in warm water the night before. Remember any ink at all will change your paper’s tone. We plan to use some old newspaper for one batch because I think it might be interesting to use with colored pencils for drawing. You will need a big pile of shredded paper, you can use a paper shredder or you can tear the paper into strips yourself (this is a great way to release some rage!). You will need a blender. This is the only way to pulp paper. Use a blender. Do not use a food processor and do not use a Cuisinart and whatever you do, do not even think you could use a kitchen aid mixer. You will need a frame, a piece of window screen, some staples, and one of those 32 quart storage tubs. You will also need a quantity of old towels or blankets that can be washed and dried afterwards. There are many things such as flower petals, seeds, leaves, etc. that you can find in nature or your kitchen to add to your paper! If you have any questions please post them below and we hope that we see you tomorrow at two!