Wool and Woolens

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Wool and Woolens

Ursula and Heidi DePaul

1997

The DePaul family participated in a 1997 program called “Woolens” traveling to libraries in the Southern Adirondack Library System, a part of the ongoing series, produced by the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, entitled, Growing Up in the North Country. This family workshop series began in 1989, where people would share their own traditions (from Abenaki stories and Finnish sauna, to Moosewood whistles and tied fishing flies) to celebrate folk arts as the essence of daily life. Notes from the program flyer: Ursula DePaul has developed a cottage industry, now in its eight season (in 1997), for the wool yarn grown on her family’s farm. Along with a couple of local women, she handcrafts the dyed and natural-colored yarn into hats, mittens, socks and a unique line of Nativity figurines. Nine years ago the DePauls decided to go strickly sheep, ridding themselves of their milking dairy. Tunis, Dorset and Suffolk made up the bulk of a 225 sheep flock, with a Scottish Black Face and Jacob thrown in for the novelty. Today, much of the wool from a trimmed 100-sheep flock is taken by husband Fred to Harmony Maine where it is processed into yarn and woolen blankets. The mid-nineteenth century woolen mills in Washington County not longer provide this service locally. A portion of the raw wool not taken to the mill is handspun by 17 year-old Heidi, who with her mother, travels to youth fairs and craft shows to teach and market their products throughout New York and Vermont. Other income for the farm comes from selling lambs - rams for meat and ewes for new flocks. Besides tending to the farm, Fred DePaul is called on to shear flocks all over the region.

Wool

Woolen goods

Knit goods

Knitting

Mittens

Empire State Digital Network

http://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/crandall/id/903

1997

Empire State Digital Network

Wool

Woolen goods

Knit goods

Knitting

Mittens