Download HILLCREEK FIBER NEWS Page 7 Spring, 2012 Popular Wool

Spring, 2012
HILLCREEK FIBER NEWS
Popular Wool Potholders
Page 7
I knew I appreciated wool for potholders, and valued my early childhood experiences, but I never imagined the
impact of carrying metal potholder looms and dyed wool potholder loops would have on you all. I don’t need
to expound again about the benefits of wool for potholders used near heat. Last year at the Rhinebeck show
we brought what we thought was more than enough potholder loops to last for two shows, but they were nearly
gone long before the end of the show. The potholder loom brought back child-hood memories of weaving potholders back in the 1950s and later! In fact, a surprising number of grown adults admitted they still have their
metal potholder loom from their childhood! Literally dozens of you shared your experiences of making and
selling potholders to your neighbors when you were children. I hadn’t known how wide-spread the experience
was for so many of us. It’s like a childhood cultural phenomenon -- like tinker toys, Lincoln logs, erector sets,
and legos! But better than toys to play with, potholders have value as a useful item every kitchen needs. They
can be made for gifts, sold for fund raisers, or to begin an entrepreneurial experience for a young person.
Weaving the potholders develops finger dexterity for small children. Many from the ages of 4 or 5 on up (with
a little help to remove the potholder) can manage. It gives a child a feeling of pride and accomplishment to
make something useful and appreciated by others. It is also fun to
create designs or interesting color combinations. Potholder weaving
is not just for children. Many adults enjoy making them for gifts and
fund raisers.
We keep developing more colors and color-ways. Someone recently
asked for black and olive! Would never have thought of that combination! I’ll custom dye any colors you want. Besides the 8 color
combinations found on our web site, we also offer “rings” of solid
color (about 40 loops on each string ring) so you can mix and match
the colors you like. Packaged color-ways are $7.50, rings of one
color are $7.00, and one pound of undyed loops are $42 - enough
loops to weave 11 potholders. Undyed loops are often mixed with
dyed ones to offer more design options and reduce the cost per potholder.
January in Florida
Pictures are worth a thousand words. We spent some time visiting daughter/photographer Rose, her husband Will and his
brother’s family Mike, Megan and Dane in January, following
a delightful 10 days at the Alafia River Rendezvous. Mike and
Megan have established a dog resort/training/grooming/caring
business on their organic farm in Jupiter and in Palm Beach.
They bring many dogs to their farm for play days three times a
week. Rose photographs and creates
portfolios of the dogs
playing for their owners. Rose is establishing her own photography business, Rose E
William, Rose, little Dane, Megan and Mike Martin, Photographer.
She and Megan are
developing recipes for a book on food from an organic farm. Working title Fig and Fauna.
Continued
Dawn over the Atlantic shore