Working with wool, Eriskay
'Isle Eriskay, Outer Hebrides. Wool working, 1934.
After shearing, the wife sorts the wool, carefully putting aside
the coarser parts, washes and dries it and again examines and
teases it. At this stage the wool is dyed from local plants (mostly
lichens and ferns), washed and dried again, carded and spun into
thread, put on the winding wheel and taken to the weaver, who puts
it into her loom.
After the web of cloth is woven it is waulked to thicken and
strengthen and brighten it. It is saturated with urine, the women
working it vigorously from side to side (this is generally done by
young girls, singing as they work, one singing the song, the others
the chorus, perhaps a combat between two of the girls about the
supposed merits or demerits of their respective lovers). Whisky
flows in great quantities. The operation lasts for two hours until
the weaver, who is supervising it, is satisfied that the cloth is
well waulked.'
Dr Kissling's note, 1978
Top left: Mary Johnstone and Mary MacIsaac sorting wool.
Top right: Bean Sheonnaidh 'ic Dhonnaicheadh (Mary MacInnes)
carding wool. Bean Iagain Mhoir sits beside her at the spinning
wheel.
Bottom left: Bean Iagain Mhoir at her loom. She was an expert
wool-worker.
Bottom right: A group of people at the luadh (waulking the
wool). This group includes Bean Sheonnaidh 'ic Dhonnaicheadh (Mary
MacInnes), Bean Iagain Mhoir, and Peigi Anaoghais.
Research note, 2019
Object no :
DMPG284n
Collection :
Creator :
Dr Werner Kissling
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
NA
Materials :
NA
Location :
NA
Accession number :
PP/KISSLING COLLECTION, Retrospective 1978/13-16
Copyright :
Dumfries & Galloway Council