Handicrafts of the Southern Highlands Book

Traditional handicrafts...log-cabin building, spinning, weaving, quiltmaking, woodcarving, furniture and doll making, etc..have been practiced in Southern Appalachia since the earliest settlers came in from Virginia and other parts of the coast. Like the dulcimer and the ballads associated with it, many of these craft practices can be traced back to the roots in England, Scotland and Ireland. From the beginning, the Highlander, cut off from the mainstream of commerce, had to learn to make everything he needed with the simplest tools and available materials. Later some of his crafts began to wane, but during the Depression, when this book was written, he once again resorted to his traditional skills out of necessity, this time as a source of income, however meager. 'Handicrafts of the Southern Highlands' is the only comprehensive book ever written on the crafts of Southern Appalachia. It contains a wealth of information on every aspect...log-cabin building; spinning and weaving out of cotton, wool and flax; types of looms used; names of weaving patterns; weaving drafts; natural dyes, with an appendix listing over 50 plants used for the purpose; patchwork and other kinds of quiltmaking; pottery, furniture making; making toys and dolls; musical instruments and mountain music; and much more. Includes almost 60 photographs taken by Doris Ulmann, the great social photographer of the 1930s.Read More