Posted by Beth on Thursday, 11 August 2005, at 12:11 p.m.:
In Reply to: Re: barn looms posted by Dan Bowles on Wednesday, 10 August 2005, at 11:54 a.m.:
Here’s my theory on “Barn Looms”. Now I must say that I have not really researched this question, this is based on my observations from being in the spinning and weaving world for the past 20+ years, and my knowledge of our history.
When the colonists came here they did not have room to bring their looms with them on the boats. They built new looms after they got settled. These looms were made with the available materials and tools; they were rather rough and big. These looms were used to weave rugs, coverlets, blankets, towels, yardage for clothing, etc. As the country grew and trade grew the wealthier city people no longer needed to weave out of necessity. The looms were passed on to poorer and farm folk, or moved out to be stored in the BARN! After the industrial revolution of the late 1800s even the poorer people could afford to buy all their woven goods and clothing, so even they moved their looms out to be stored in the BARN! We know that weaving has never totally died, there have always been some weavers out there and several times in the last 100 or so years there have been periods of increased popularity for things made by hand. We are fortunate that many of these looms have been rescued from the BARN!
That’s my theory! If any one else out there has one, we would all like to hear it.