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October 14, 2011

Comments

Mara

A few years ago I attended a symposium at the Coverlet Museum in Bedford, PA, at which a Dutch woman spoke re linen production in the rural Netherlands. Up to the beginning of WW2 it was still common for women in some rural villages to spin and weave all the linens for their trousseau. Some traditions die hard, I guess.
Considering that rural electrification in the U.S. was still going on through the '50s, and that I saw a house on the market in So. MD a few years ago that didn't have indoor plumbing (!)...

cyndy

Her distaff dressed in that manner, indicates her level of expertise..or that she is highly skilled at spinning flax.

Love the glass on the sidebar. (good company? yes.)

Judith

Nit picking here, but the times I've been instructed on spinning linen, the teacher mentioned keeping a cup of water nearby and wetting the fingers while spinning. Could the glass be holding something to wet the hands instead of the throat?

Marcy/Habetrot

@LaurieM I agree. By this time in Europe textiles would have been readily available. I expect she spins to make special linen goods for her family.

LaurieM

Does she spin for pleasure, or necessity? I'm guessing the former.

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