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<\/a><\/p>\nInterestingly, Ann told us that silk worms put on 80% of weight during the last week of their caterpillar cycle. \u00a0They go through so many mulberry leaves that she has to replenish the leaves multiple times a day.<\/p>\n
Ann brought silk cocoons, silk worm eggs, a silk worm preserved in a jar (formaldehyde?), and various samples of different silk preparations. \u00a0She showed slides of the various silk mills that cropped up in the area. \u00a0Hanks Silk Mill ws the first mill in the US, established in 1810. \u00a0As time went by more mills were established: \u00a0Chaffee Silk Mill and Mansfield Silk Company, until by 1869, there were eight mills in the area. She showed bills where farmer were paid for the silk they delivered, as well as ledgers of bartering with silk as payment for household goods.<\/p>\n
She showed an adverstisement from 1834, urging farmers to buy mulberry trees to add to their orchards: 100 black mulberry trees for $3 – 5. \u00a0Hard to imagine, even given the cost of things back then. \u00a0By the end of that decade the same 100 trees cost $500. \u00a0And that is even harder to imagine! \u00a0Silk was a profitable industry in this area for a couple of decades, but the decline began when people started buying saplings of the white mulberry tree, which was known to be preferable to black mulberry. \u00a0Ann said these trees survived the first couple of winters in Connecticut which happened to be mild, but when a more typical New Engalnd winter ensued the white mulberries were not hardy enough to survive. \u00a0And most of the farmers had cut down their black mulberry trees in order to plant the white version. \u00a0While raising silk worms swiftly declined at this point, the mills hung on well into the 20th century using imported silk. \u00a0You can find more information, along with early \u00a020th c. photos of some of the mills at the\u00a0historical society’s website<\/a>. \u00a0And there are tours of the mills at certain times of the year. \u00a0Now that would be a treat!<\/p>\n Much of last week I spent at a workshop with Sarah Fortin, learning to sew a garment from handwoven fabric. \u00a0This is far from my forte (ha ha!)–so far that I would say I am completely inept at making a flattering garment. \u00a0So to cut into precious handwoven fabric for a likely-to-fail attempt at making a jacket made me pretty uncertain about taking this workshop. \u00a0I brought a nice selection of commercial fabrcis to choose from: \u00a0a length of Harris Tweed, two lengths of wool melton, and a selection of other wool crepes and one chenille that I thought might work up as something interesting. \u00a0 Somehow, in the tote bag of fabrics I also included a very precious length of wool fabric that Rabbit Goody wove, and that I bought from her as a remnant, about\u00a020 years ago<\/em>. \u00a0This piece of yardage was far more precious to me than any of my own handwoven fabric, and I cannot explain why I took it with me to the workshop!<\/p>\n Naturally, when I showed Sarah my fabric choices, I began listing all the reasons why I would not consider cutting into the Rabbit Goody fabric. \u00a0And naturally, Sarah listed all the reasons why I should. \u00a0In the long run, Sarah (with enthusiastic support from the rest of the workshoppers) won this debate.<\/p>\n I have to say it was not easy to cut into that beautiful fabric. \u00a0The sewing was enjoyable and ate up most of the workshop time. \u00a0When I reached the last seam in assembling the jacekt I suddenly got very anxious. \u00a0I knew it would be time to try it on. \u00a0It still had a lot work to do–all the embellisments I’d planned as well as all the finishing for the sleeves and the hem and attaching a front band. \u00a0But it was at this point, when all the pattern pieces were together, that I could try on the jacket, and I\u00a0did not want to do it!<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0Sarah came with me to a more private area where the others could not watch, and I put it on. \u00a0I was very shocked to find that I loved it! \u00a0….and that it fit so well. \u00a0Whew! \u00a0All credit for this \u00a0goes to Sarah, of course, for helping me size the pattern before cutting it out. \u00a0And of course she was right– better to enjoy this fabric as a garment– the very reason I bought it in the first place, rather than hiding it away in my stash.<\/p>\n Everyone made a successful jacket during our workshop. \u00a0Marjie, who is likely our most accomplished seamstress, finished her jacket first. The pattern she used is called the ‘swing’ jacket. Look how pleased both Marjie and Sarah are with the outcome! \u00a0The rest of us are are sighing over this and hoping ours will turn out as well!<\/p>\n Last day of class, more people are approaching the finishing! This is Jody’s jacket, a wonderful fabric woven on a warp at Vavstuga. The coloris quite off–it’s actually a great mixture of two greens and brown. \u00a0Jody made the same pattern I did, called the “bias sleeve” jacket. I think Jody’s jacket is the most successful combination of weave structure and garment design. \u00a0It’s a beauty and it looks fabulous on her!<\/p>\n One more finished swing jacket with terrific color placement!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n