Before the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, all textiles were made by hand, and this was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
Next weekend residents of South County will have the opportunity to see handspinners and handknitters make a sweater starting from raw, freshly-sheared sheep’s wool.
The San Diego County Spinners will hold their International Back to Back Wool Challenge and spinners will have their spinning wheels to take sheep’s wool and twist it into yarn.
In order to do this quickly, the spinners have been practicing their speed techniques to maximize the yarn they can provide to the knitters. The knitters will work as a team to make the panels for the sweater which will be sewn together and ready to wear.
Spinning started 20,000 years ago when people discovered they could make string by twisting animal or plant fiber with a simple spindle made with a stick and a stone. Spinning was invented independently in Asia, South America, Europe and North Africa.
The event is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21 at Bonita Museum & Cultural Center, 4355 Bonita Road. For more information call 267-5141 or log onto www.bonitamuseum.org.
