Everyone who visits Mystic Seaport can’t help but understand what life was like in seafaring communities of old. Yes, and that’s why we were there too. But…I couldn’t help notice how much related to textiles. So here goes a little summary of my day.
Sails: The Sail Loft showcases traditional sailmaking techniques and materials. During the 1800’s, hand sewn sails were made of flax or cotton cloth and hemp or manila boltropes were common. Sailmakers were often part of a ship’s contingent necessary to undertake repairs of blown out or ripped sails on board. Now that’s some hand stitching I won’t be undertaking!
Rope: The Ropewalk is a very long building (some 300 yards) where strands of fibre were laid out and then twisted together (laid up) to make rope necessary for maritime use e.g. docklines. Joins in ropes compromised their strength hence long buildings and resultant unit of measure -- a cable. Some natural fibres used to make rope were coir and sisal.
On the Home Front: Cottons for textiles were either hand loomed or imported and very expensive. Until the invention of the sewing machine, clothes were hand stitched, as was home napery and bedding. The quilt on display in the Burrows House is a sting pieced quilt in a spider web pattern, popular in America with frugal quilters during those years .
Knots: Whist we are on the subject of rope, knots were used on ships (macramé & other knot work) for practical and decorative purposes. Even today, Turks Head knots grace many a keyring and in some cases, clothing closures can be made from knots rather than buttons.
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| There was the odd quilt and clothing example as well. Love the treddle! |
Flags: Semaphore flags, National Flags, pennants, pirate flags, courtesy flags, club burgees, bunting and many more. Military carries their colours into battle. Ships are “dressed” in flags to honour a person or an event. Flags are about sharing information and have been used throughout history, particularly on battlefields. Ancient peoples used vexilloids (metal flags), some with pieces of cloth attached. I read that the first cloth flags were simply pieces dipped in a defeated enemy’s blood and attached to the vexilloids. In all, flags are pieces of cloth imbued with history and rich in symbolism.
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| Racing was always a rich man's game |
