![\"IMG_3558\"](\"http:\/\/www.argoknot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/IMG_3558-e1497020793228.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMany tapestry weavers use cotton seine twine for warps, and it is getting harder and harder to find. Most of us rely on a Swedish brand of twine that comes in several\u00a0sizes. \u00a0I had no idea that this very type of twine was made in this\u00a0part of the world.<\/p>\n
Here is the gill net making machine invented by Wilbur\u00a0Squire around 1872.<\/p>\n
A close up of the knots<\/p>\n The twine made in these mills was also used for\u00a0warps for rag rugs that were woven on industrial looms in this area,\u00a0for\u00a0sewing sails for boats, \u00a0and a finer cotton yarn was used in commercial sock making, and even the cotton string used inside yo-yos! \u00a0If this kind of history intrigues you, you can read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Moodus River is a tributary of the Connecticut River. It’s a small, fast flowing river that feeds into the Salmon River, which flows into the Connecticut River at Haddam. \u00a0In the hey day of twine making there were 15 mills<\/a> along this small river. \u00a0If you happen to be in the area and want to take at look at the remains of some of these mills and the dam that used to harness the power, travel along Rte. 149 to the East Haddam Land Trust’s Hidden Valley Farm Preserve, and also \u00a0Grist Mill Road off Route 149 just east of its intersection with Route 151. The Bernstein Preserve is on Falls Road\/Route 149.<\/p>\n Here is some\u00a0of the interesting information about the \u00a0twine mills and net making on display at the Connecticut River Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n These are\u00a0netting shuttles that are\u00a0used to make nets by hand. \u00a0The very day that the shad festival was taking place in Essex, I was at the monthly meeting of my Connecticut lace group, and one of my good friends was teaching herself how to make netting with a shuttle just like one of these–an interesting coincidence!<\/p>\n Another member of our lace guild made several small pieces of netting for Mary to for use in the centerpieces for our annual lace retreat on Cape Cod. \u00a0That little piece of netting makes just the difference, doesn’t it? It is just the right size to go with Mary’s driftwood sailboat with lace embellished sail!– and the tatted\u00a0the tatted sea turtle! \u00a0Pretty impressive! Mary takes making these centerpieces very seriously! Each year she makes five or six centerpieces for our annual lace retreat that takes place on Cape Cod. \u00a0There is always a beach or seaside theme.<\/p>\n I am intrigued by the interesting history of my new home along the river. \u00a0Ship trade in the Caribbean gave Connecticut it’s name “the nutmeg state,” and the area around Willimantic had a number of silk mills, where local farmers tried their hand at raising silk worms for a few years in the hey day of the Industrial Revolution. \u00a0Although it’s not unusual to have textile production and ship trade coexisting in a community from that time period, it is interesting to me to live in such an area now, where I can enjoy the textile history and Bob can enjoy the maritime history.<\/p>\n I took this phoe of the\u00a0Onrust<\/em> at her new home on the river, \u00a0from the 3rd floor shad exhibit at the Connecticut River Museum.<\/p>\n A walk along the river at any time of year is beautiful, but maybe June\u00a0wins because of the wealth of spring flowers. In early June azaleas and rhodies are at their height.<\/p>\n Peonies and iris are a fleeting burst of color in late May and early June.<\/p>\n And the first roses of early June along the river.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n