A Brief History Of Wool
This is an abbreviated history of wool and its spread to areas outside of its origins. I find it interesting to know how wool spread and gained the popularity it now has in today's market.
Mankind began in Asia Minor about ten thousand years ago and so also begins the story of wool. Early man had a need for food, clothes and shelter and sheep helped fill those early needs. Spinning and weaving came later.
Early man was able to spread out with the help of wool to keep him warm. The Persians, Greeks, and Romans helped improve the sheep breeds and distribute them to other areas. A wool plant was established in England about 50 A.D., thanks to this outward movement.
In the eighth century, Spain was conquered by the Saracens, a nomadic tribe of people. This lead to a widespread wool export trade with North Africa, Greece, Egypt and Constantinople.
A thriving wool trade in Spain helped to finance the voyages of Columbus. Spain levied the death penalty on anyone exporting sheep until 1786. King Louis XVI had imported 386 Marino ewes and crossed them with the sheep on his estate. This resulted in the Rambouillet breed, a highly desirable breed today because of its fine and long stapled wool.
England followed suit and closed its borders to raw wool exports. King Edward III was known as "the royal wool merchant" . He stopped woven goods imports and the domestic weaving of foreign wools. He invited Flemish weavers to set up in England and the industry thrived. Wool textile exports became two-thirds of England's foreign commerce by 1660.
Sheep entered Cuba and Santo Domingo on Columbus' second voyage in 1493. The descendants of these sheep were introduced to Mexico and the southwestern United States by Cortez. Magnificent woolen rugs and beautiful wall hangings are created by the navajo and other Southwest Indian tribes due to this sheep migration.
Despite the fact that England tried to discourage a wool industry in North America, a few smuggled sheep had multiplied rapidly by 1665. Massachusetts even passed a law requiring young people to spin and weave.
As with anything, there are many traditions and folklore following wool. It was often the eldest, unmarried daughter of the family who had the spinning duties and this lead to the term "spinster".
"Pop goes the weasel" came from winding spun yarn onto a reel (weasel) which made a popping sound when a given yardage was reached.
King George III of England is said to have the right hand cut off as punishment for a person who was convicted of trading wool in the Colonies. This helped incite the Revolutionary War, along with the Stamp Act of 1765. Washington and Jefferson were known to maintain flocks of sheep despite the King's attempt to disrupt wool trade. They also wore wool suits to their inauguration.
The industry expanded rapidly with new inventions such as the spinning jenny, combing machines and water powered looms. As people migrated west so did the sheep. By the 18th century small flocks started the industry in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Man has never been able to match all the qualities of wool but did find ways to refine and improve wool. Selective breeding of sheep and adding such qualities as shrink resistance, durable creasing and pleating, mothproofing, shower proofing and stain proofing has greatly improved the quality of wool.
Thanks to science and technology wool is in the forefront of fabrics that has adapted to modern needs. It was done without damaging any of wools original qualities.
Because sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated the first textiles were more than likely woven from their fleece. Wool remains the leading animal natural fibre. Wool has a complex protein structure which gives it it's unique characteristics and properties, such as resiliencey and elasticity. Synthetic fibres have never been able to match that.
The qualities of wool depend on the breed of sheep. You can have anything from a super fine Merino fibre, which is like a cashmere, or a very coarse, hairy wool. The diameter of the fibre determines what its final use will be. About 38% of todays wool is classed as fine wool, 21 percent is medium wool and 41 percent is graded coarse. A good 2/3 of wool production goes into the manufacture of clothing. The final third is used in the production of carpets, upholstery and rugs. Industry uses about 5 percent of this total.
So you see, the history of wool is relevant to understanding how the wool we use today in needle felting came about. Wool is an ever changing industry.
Copyright material. Please do not copy or reproduce this information in any way without permission.
Mankind began in Asia Minor about ten thousand years ago and so also begins the story of wool. Early man had a need for food, clothes and shelter and sheep helped fill those early needs. Spinning and weaving came later.
Early man was able to spread out with the help of wool to keep him warm. The Persians, Greeks, and Romans helped improve the sheep breeds and distribute them to other areas. A wool plant was established in England about 50 A.D., thanks to this outward movement.
In the eighth century, Spain was conquered by the Saracens, a nomadic tribe of people. This lead to a widespread wool export trade with North Africa, Greece, Egypt and Constantinople.
A thriving wool trade in Spain helped to finance the voyages of Columbus. Spain levied the death penalty on anyone exporting sheep until 1786. King Louis XVI had imported 386 Marino ewes and crossed them with the sheep on his estate. This resulted in the Rambouillet breed, a highly desirable breed today because of its fine and long stapled wool.
England followed suit and closed its borders to raw wool exports. King Edward III was known as "the royal wool merchant" . He stopped woven goods imports and the domestic weaving of foreign wools. He invited Flemish weavers to set up in England and the industry thrived. Wool textile exports became two-thirds of England's foreign commerce by 1660.
Sheep entered Cuba and Santo Domingo on Columbus' second voyage in 1493. The descendants of these sheep were introduced to Mexico and the southwestern United States by Cortez. Magnificent woolen rugs and beautiful wall hangings are created by the navajo and other Southwest Indian tribes due to this sheep migration.
Despite the fact that England tried to discourage a wool industry in North America, a few smuggled sheep had multiplied rapidly by 1665. Massachusetts even passed a law requiring young people to spin and weave.
As with anything, there are many traditions and folklore following wool. It was often the eldest, unmarried daughter of the family who had the spinning duties and this lead to the term "spinster".
"Pop goes the weasel" came from winding spun yarn onto a reel (weasel) which made a popping sound when a given yardage was reached.
King George III of England is said to have the right hand cut off as punishment for a person who was convicted of trading wool in the Colonies. This helped incite the Revolutionary War, along with the Stamp Act of 1765. Washington and Jefferson were known to maintain flocks of sheep despite the King's attempt to disrupt wool trade. They also wore wool suits to their inauguration.
The industry expanded rapidly with new inventions such as the spinning jenny, combing machines and water powered looms. As people migrated west so did the sheep. By the 18th century small flocks started the industry in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Man has never been able to match all the qualities of wool but did find ways to refine and improve wool. Selective breeding of sheep and adding such qualities as shrink resistance, durable creasing and pleating, mothproofing, shower proofing and stain proofing has greatly improved the quality of wool.
Thanks to science and technology wool is in the forefront of fabrics that has adapted to modern needs. It was done without damaging any of wools original qualities.
Because sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated the first textiles were more than likely woven from their fleece. Wool remains the leading animal natural fibre. Wool has a complex protein structure which gives it it's unique characteristics and properties, such as resiliencey and elasticity. Synthetic fibres have never been able to match that.
The qualities of wool depend on the breed of sheep. You can have anything from a super fine Merino fibre, which is like a cashmere, or a very coarse, hairy wool. The diameter of the fibre determines what its final use will be. About 38% of todays wool is classed as fine wool, 21 percent is medium wool and 41 percent is graded coarse. A good 2/3 of wool production goes into the manufacture of clothing. The final third is used in the production of carpets, upholstery and rugs. Industry uses about 5 percent of this total.
So you see, the history of wool is relevant to understanding how the wool we use today in needle felting came about. Wool is an ever changing industry.
Copyright material. Please do not copy or reproduce this information in any way without permission.