July 30, 2020

3: Textile production and a nostalgic past

These days textile production is mostly automated aside from some

niche markets and craft production. Craft production of textiles

today taps into a vision of a nostalgic past, often evoking memories

of a time the audience member wasn't there for. It turns out this

potent imagery has been used not just for inspiring hobbyist crafters

everywhere to pull out the drop spindle and knitting needles, but also

by political participants going back all the way to (at least) Ancient

Rome to try to steer a particular narrative. Follow some of that

history from past to present, and hear from Morgan about how the whole

process of textile production works starting from raw

materials... from sheep to sweater!

Links and references:

scroll down to section 73 for the secton on his humble furnishings and

home-made clothing.

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.

The Age of Homespun: Objects and Stories in the Creation of an American Myth. New York: Vintage Books, 2001.

Or a shorter

article

sourced from this book.

Trivedi, Lisa. Clothing Gandhi's Nation : Homespun and Modern India.

Bloomington :Indiana University Press, 2007. Or a shorter

article

sourced from this book.

Obniski, Monica. “The Arts and Crafts Movement in America.”

In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan

Museum of Art, (June 2008)

Washing Fleece

Carding Fiber

Combing Fiber

Spinning, Spinning with a drop spindle and distaff

Yarn Bombing

Pussy Hat Project's official website.

The Wikipedia

article addresses the raised issues of transphobia and racism and

links to further sources.

Tiny Pricks Project

The mask pattern

that Morgan uses, made by our friend Dan Gilbert,

who makes cool open things, check them out.

...more

By FOSS and Crafts

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