World Spinning Traditions

2015

Computer Files, Websites

Total copies: 1

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Summary

Intended to provide a complete and permanent record of surviving traditions and skills in textiles and crafts, the Ends of the Earth unique series show the processes in full, in detail and with all the clarity and colour made possible by modern video cameras. In many ways they are better than being there - pausing and replaying gives the possibility of checking again where the quickness of the hands has eluded or deceived the eye. Today, the skills and techniques of hand spinning are rarely practised even where hand weaving and knitting crafts survive. Cheap, inferior, machine made yarns are now readily available in the markets. These unique films from locations across the world show some of the surviving traditions of spinning which still produce yarns used to create the world's finest hand made textiles. Contents include: Spinning with animal fibres in Peru, Mexico and Turkey, showing washing and carding of fleeces and spinning on drop spindle and wheel. Spinning with Plant Fibres in Laos, Sumba, Guatemala and Myanmar showing carding of cotton, pulling out lotus stem fibres and spinning on drop spindle and wheel. Silk spinning in Thailand showing the culture of the silk worm.