Radnorshire Arts and Crafts Foundation                                             ts foundation

 We start this year by examining the history of Textile production in Wales charting its rise from Cottage Industry

 to Mill, stopping on the way to explore some of the processes.

First we need to look more closely at the people, the materials available to them and their basic need to clothe and

 protect themselves from the often inclement weather conditions of our hills and valleys, then to look at the pride

 of the craftsmen and women who added colour, pattern and individuality to their work. Where ever you turn in

 the Welsh Home you will find Wool, it was knitted into stockings for rich and poor alike, it was woven into tweeds

 and flannels for clothing  and used to stuff mattresses and the quilts for which the Welsh  became famous. But

 where did it all begin? and what valuable lessons have we lost along the way? 

until March 20th 2022 covid restrictions permitting, 

Home produced Cloth

At one time there was no other way especially for all but the most wealthy in any society, we grew our own grain,

 we baked the bread we ate and we spun, wove and stitched our own clothing. Only the lords of the land escaped

 such mundane an occupation, even then the majority of their clothing until relatively recently in our long history,

 was woven more often than not from the sheep that grazed their own estates or from Flax grown in near by fields.