Shaker Towels for the 21st Century

Shaker Towels for the 21st Century is an indispensable reference for weaving fine linen and cotton yarns. The author's research and analysis of Shaker Textiles at Pleasant Hill. KY; Canterbury, NH; Sabbathday Lake, Maine; Hancock Shaker Village, MA; Winterthur Museum, Delaware, and many other collections led to methods for reproducing linen and cotton towels of the 19th century using materials available today.Many weavers participated in making these reproduction towels, and in the process they discovered techniques for successful weaving with fine linens and cottons. This book has directions for 40 of these reproduction towels with helpful comments from the many weavers who wove them. Today one may view these reproduction towels at the following Shaker Villages: Canterbury, NH; Hancock, MA; and Pleasant Hill, KY.The chapters include: "A History of the Shakers", "Preparation of Linen and Cotton Warps", "Reproduction Towels and a Blanket for the Metropolitan Museum, New York, by the author", Forty Reproduction Drafts: Bronson, Dimity, Huck, M's & O's, Plain Weave, Twills" and "a Manuscript of Seven Drafts from a 19th-century Shaker Sister". A glossary and bibliography are also included.Mary Elva Erf is widely recognized as an authority on Shaker Textiles. She wove textiles for the Shaker Retiring Room at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. She has taught workshops throughout the United States. Her students have woven many fine linen reproduction towels or rugs for Shaker museums.