Hemp – the Red-Headed Stepchild Of the Fiber World

A while back I took a peek into the history of rope and I did my very best to side-step the whole messy, controversial topic of hemp. I was feeling pretty clever about that. But a few of my readers called me out (more than a few actually) so I guess I wasn’t so clever after all.

So I guess we’re doing this. Let’s have some hemp history!

Spinning in Cowgirl Boots – Homespuns and the American Revolution

The Struggle for Freedom Meant You Took to Your Spinning Wheel

Happy Birthday America. The freedoms enjoyed in this, my home country, were hard won as all freedom is. Today we hear cries of how freedom is under attack. Guess what?  It always was and it always will be. The people who enjoy freedom must never forget that.

A Sea of Stitches – Sailors who took their stitching with them

Medieval, Regency, Victorian Age sailors were experts with in all forms of needlework. Historians, amateur and professional alike, seem to recognize that as fact. By the 1700’s sailors were probably knitting, but there isn’t much in the way of evidence to support it. They had to be. But I can’t find any historical evidence to support it. When it comes to sailors and their needlework, historians seem to only be interested in the tradition of sailors’ embroidery.

British Barque FREDRICK and Steam Pilot EDITH, 23 x 34 inches, circa 1890

And I can see why. British maritime woolworks, aka “woolies” are amazing. That may look like a painting but its not. Its embroidery (probably on a piece of old sail).

Spinning in Cowgirl Boots – A History of Red Dye

I’ll never be a dyer of fiber or yarn. I leave that to others. I have a mommy that dyes fiber with stuff she finds in her backyard and a close friend that dyes yarn with commercial acid  based formulas. Mostly I just play assistant and/or appreciative audience. Mostly I just say things like “Ooo! That’s pretty.”