Spinning An Interest Into A Career (Continued from Tea* B 18) seemed the natural next step. A Lancaster class taught Debbie weaving basics, and continuing seminars help her fine-tune techniques. “Most people who spin and weave have several different sizes and types of wheels and looms,” she adds, explaining the differ ences in these “tools” of craftsmanship. Largest of her three looms is of Swedish pine, and weaves a 44-inch width, for such items as blankets, throws, shawls and yard ages. The 27-inch is useful for scarves and smaller items, while a tabletop loom helps in designing samples. And, her five different spinning wheels help her fashion the specialty yams that give hand spun woolens their heirloom quality. Dyeing The Yarns For a distinctive personal touch, .Debbie dyes many pf her yams. w" I Your Livestock Waterer Headquarters! I r T HOG WATERERS AND CAMBRIDGE 40,000 & A lYlirarOUnt ACCESSORIES 60,000 btu heaters FREE WATERERS Nipple Reg 7 sal^ Reg. $6.29 SALE ss.l9®'f y ‘ St *ngy Nipple Reg. $5.69 SALE $4.59 'A " Editrom Nipple $289.99 \A^?sC^Jjs - , Reg. $9.75 SALE $5.99 THE ORIGINAL ENERGY FREE ' WATERER...COPIED BUT NELSON MODEL 300 SERIES CATTLE NEVER EQUALLED. & HORSE WATERERS ■ Cool, Clean ■No ■ U , JJV w HEAVY DUTY POWER-FLO AGITATOR and strawberries all color wool in soft, attractive shades. Cochineal, a Mexican beetle, is a natural dye available through suppliers that yields red and pink shades. “Lichens make a purple dye, and indigo, which is grown in the South, gives a beautiful blue,” Debbie explains. “I’ve been told that any plant will yield a of some sort - but not every shdde is desirable. You just have to experi ment a lot” Fibers other than those from the family’s flock sometimes find their way into Debbie’s work, as she experiments with textures and techniques. Hair from her pet Angora rabbit can be spun in with roving, and she has used fibers from llama, alpacas (similar to but smaller than a llama), mohair, camel, and silk. Some of Debbie’s most cher ished items have been designed for her 18-month-old daughter, Hayley. The soft fibers of angora $469 E-Z FLO HEAVY DUTY GALVANIZED 22” BOOT FOR 4” OR 6” AUGERS FLEX AUGER SYSTEMS FROM 2” TO 5”. and alpaca blended with wools lend themselves to delicate, warm, baby garments. Design, and creative use of lovely colors, now challenges Debbie. One day she hopes to be “juried,” an official recognition of a craftsperson specializing in a particular area. To become juried, a craftsperson must pass stringent requirements, including submit ting sample pieces for judging by a recognized committee of peers. Weaving Tartans She leans toward specializing in weaving Scottish tartan, the some times bold and dramatic plaids, unique to the many clans, or fami lies, of Scotland. Perhaps it is her part-Scottish ancestry her great grandmother who spun was a Ramsay or maybe just her sheer love of bright, warn color, that intrigues Debbie about these historic weaving patterns. “I just love the colors,” she says, stroking a tartan blanket of warm red accented with contrasts of blue and yellow. “And a tartan is really a history, a family tree.” One of Debbie’s goals is to visit Scotland to research the official registry of Scottish tartans. Few weavers today work in authentic tartans, which must be reproduced to exact colors and threads per inch. The royal British family, explains Debbie, has a registered / IT’ H' I Yoi Vo UNION ALUMINUM SHOVEL Now’s , Mice & We • Trap-N -• Havoc • Ramik • Trax • Trounce Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 2,1989-819 tartan, which may not be repro duced for other than its official use. “Supposedly, to be considered authentic, the yams, must even be hand spun and hand dyed,” she relates, voicing concern over what could become a lost art. “One vil lage in Scotland reportedly has the few older weavers still weaving tartan. And most of them are of retirement age.” A more immediate goal, though, is firming up details for the small shop and mail-order bus iness that has evolved from grow ing customer demand for the fleeces and yarns, and for Debbie’s handwoven and knit cre ations. Periodic shows, including a large one in May, and magazine advertising during the fall aimed at fleecd buyers, are part of their creative marketing. Meadow Vale Farm and Fibre’s merchandise includes fleeces, rov ing. and yarns from the Glass’ flock, sweater kits with Debbie’s own-dyed yams, woven blankets, throws and scarves, and knitted items. Imported Shetland wool, and Australian Merino-crossed roving, in a variety of colors also are stocked. For additional information, Debbie Glass may be contacted at R 2, Airville, PA, 17302, or by calling 717/862-3101. Christmas Gift Ideas For The Farmer In Your Life... Barn Scrapers Forks Jackson Wheelbarrows Plastic Palls Halters & Lasso Ro| Insulated Nozzles And Available With 27” or 36” Handle