SPINNING AGAIN POPULAR

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31154, 2 September 1966, Page 2

SPINNING AGAIN POPULAR

In the Rakaia Community Hall this week about 200 persohs from Canterbury and further afield took part in a spinning day, organised by Mrs B C. H. Bedford, of Dar-

field, and Mrs W. M. Ashford, of Rakaia. The gathering attracted enthusiasts from all walks of life and all ages from five to 90.

1 Spinning, far from dying out, is flourishing and gaining new recruits as the demand for raw wool, hand-knitted or woven articles increases. The revival is attributed by enthusiasts to the demand for heavy woollen garments by skiers, golfers, and other sportsmen and for tractor driving and other farm and station work.

One Rakaia manufacturer of furniture, toys and other wooden products has made 1000 spinning wheels in the last three years. Previously a limited demand meant his output was only a few dozen a year.

During the day Mrs Bedford recalled the words of Lady Freyberg at a gathering of spinners in New Zealand. Lady Freyberg said that spinning was a useful and relaxing leisure activity and provided an interest for the whole family. It also supported New Zealand’s primary industry by catering for the demand for pure virgin wool products. The hand-spun wool was used in knitting, weaving and tapestry work, said Mrs Bedford. The tremendous rise in demand for raw wool clothing was because such garments were shower-proof—-owing to the retention of lanoline in the fibres—and they also stayed warm when wet. Attractive articles made from the homespun wool ranged from gloves and socks

to bulky and colourful pullovers and overcoats, and woven articles and tapestries. Visitors and learners gathered around the more experienced spinners, enthralled by the skill they showed. A continuous thread was teased from a fleece and fed into the spinning wheel. One young married woman, who spins wool and knits garments at the rate of about one a week for a never-ending mar-1 ket, was threading several i strands of homespun wool into the machine to make a ! bulky garment. Some women were adept at I knitting garments straight i from the fleece wool, teasing■ the thread out by hand as they went. A Rakaia woman, Mrs C. Mackenzie, busily spinning wool, said she found the hobby very relaxing. She often did it at night while I watching television. “You have to do something while watching that,” she' said. Mrs Bedford said it was hoped to hold similar meetings of spinners in Canterbury centres each year. ;

Above.—From left: Mrs P. M. Clark, of Christchurch, and Mrs R. M. Anderson, of DarfleM, at their spinning wheels, and (centre) Mrs E. Meares, of Christchurch, | wearing a home-woven coat.