LOAN COLLECTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23379, 23 September 1939, Page 19

LOAN COLLECTIONS

COUNTRYWOMEN’S SECTION AT EXHIBITION Details of the first loan collections for the countrywomen’s section in the women’s section of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition have been received by the New Zealand) Women’s Institutes, which are collaborating with the Women’s Division of tho Farmers’ Union in organising the section. The notification has been received from the National Federation of English Women’s Rural Institutes’ Handicrafts Guild. Canada, Australia, and South Africa will also contribute exhibits. • The English loan collection includes fine linen work, a patchwork quilt, a doll, a thrift rug, gloves, slippers, a miniature fur coat, and other handmade articles. The Scottish list is particularly interesting, as all details are given, including the histories of the articles being sent. Among them are tartan stockings, valued at £5 in Scotland, showing the original typo of stocking used in the Highlands. These stockings are very complicated, sometimes as many as 15 or 16 balls of wool being used in each round. It is not easy to_ procure hand-knitted stockings of this kind) nowadays. Embroidery is also included, and homespun tweeds and knitted jumpers. New Zealand spinners will be interested in the exhibits of home-dyed wool. The dyeing of wools is still carried on extensively in the West Highlands, and the samples sent show the variety of colours which can be obtained from roots and mosses. Examples of lovely old crafts which the institutes are trying to revive will be found in tho exhibits of sanquahar gloves and a certain type of hand-made lace. Farmers’ wives will certainly he interested in a fisherman’s jersey in traditional dlesign, for the jersey is wind and rainproof. The different coasts of Scotland are said to have their own particular designs. Other interesting exhibits sent by the Scottish Institute include a traditional Orkney chair, and a Shetland fine lace shawl. It is not generally known that the makers of these fine shawls require to steep their hands in buttermilk for a considerable time so that they will be quite smooth and will not ruffle the very fine wool.