. had, everything had to be made at home.

. The sheep were shorn in the Spring, about

' the first of June depending on the weather. Usually there was a very cold rain storm just after the sheep were shorn which was known as the sheep

storm. After the sheep were shorn the wool all

had to be washed. It was done where they could

get nice soft water, usually by a brook or stream. They would heat the water over a fire

§ kindled under a tub or boiler. When the wool was 3 washed it was spread on the grass to dry. When

i the fleece was dry, all the seeds and chaff had to be removed and the wool carded.

i

i

seem.

Then it was taken to a carding mill where the wool was made into rolls and later into yarn.

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3 There were two types of spinning wheels.

g In using the big wheels a piece of the roll was 5 fastened to the spindle then they had a little stick to twirl the wheel with the right hand and held the roll in the left hand and walked back and forth drawing the wool into yarn. in using the smaller wheel the person could sit at her work holding the carded rolls in her lap. The wheel was turned by means of a treadle kept going by the feet leaving both hands free at all times for the work.

When the spindle was full of yarn it was Wound on a reel then wound into balls putting two

Ply together for socks and three ply for mittens and then had to be twisted again on the wheel and

wound into skeins.

They had no dyes but made very beautiful Colors from herbs they gathered in the woods and

from flowers.

‘i _ When the yarn was dyed it had to be woven

3 lnto cloth. The women of the family did this

7 also. They used a loom which was usually owned by the family. They wove flannel cloth and drugget fOF the entire family.

Although the early settlers had a great amount 0f work to do, they also had their occasions for reCreations. Many social hours were spent at qUilting “bees” and at making beautiful hooked

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