THE LOOMS OF YOUTH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17233, 12 April 1930, Page 16

THE LOOMS OF YOUTH

IN BUSINESS IN U.K

UPHOLDING OLD TRADITIONS

If one is sou kino a paying' hohby yon might do worst! than follow the example of -Miss Kitty Thorn, who has her own business in a cottage workshop at Whotosham St. .Mary, near Norwich, England, and front making beautiful tweeds for her friends tins built up a professional connection of bight standing, says an English writer. tiers is a spinning-wheel romance up to date. -Miss Thorn began by learning to weave in London, returning home to start with one loom of her own in her father's house. -Many people laughed at her, but after some months of hard work she became suliieiently expert to 'produce beautiful and durable tweeds and a few pieces of line silk. As the work increased, a helper was needed, and a notice in the local post ollice produced what is now the head weaver. A move was made to the cottage workshop, and helpers were collected, one by one, and taught to weave.

After three years, -Miss Thorn and four local girls are hammering away at four looms weaving’ ‘ ‘ yhotesliam tweed” for people all over the country, and some of the London tailors, among whom it is achieving quite a reputation. HOME-GROWN WOOL.

The St. Mary’s Weavers, as this little business calls itself, use a lot of Norfolk-grown wool, Suffolk, Southdown ami Welsh, us well as much wool IT(>in Scotland and Shetland. Of Course, the big.53.-t demand is for tweed, especially now that it is so fashionable. When there is time they weave silk, a more complicated and luxurious business.

To look at the silks is a pleasure in itself, There are so many' glowing colors, delicately shaded, and woven in such a way as to melt, into one another. All softs of lovely faery shawls and cloaks arc made from what is known as linest Uhiua tram silk. Asked if she would advise anyone to start a weaving business, Miss Thorn said:

“ Well, lots of people teach weaving —we do ourselves—and it’s not a long training; but it’s then that one begins to 1 learn by experience. A young weaver must be very patient and businesslike'.

“The cost of looms varies from £lO to £OO new, and in addition there’s a warping 1 mill, 1 reeds, etc., to get.

“As in every other business, a certain amount of capital is needed to begin with. I had very little capital, but lots ‘of friends who helped me with first orders' and valuable introductions.’