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:

• Suetonius, Life of Augustus; 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.