On March 14, 2024, local artisan and author, Peggy Hart joined us to celebrate her book, Wool: Unraveling an American Story of Artisans and Innovation.

Nearly two dozen people, including a few rapt teens, filled the Farmhouse living room as Peggy offered a captivating book reading. She discussed the research that went into writing her book and passed around samples of wool textiles during her talk. She also brought a sample of an extruded garden amendment she has been developing that is made from waste wool. Peggy shared a number of excerpts from her book, including a fascinating story about wool that had been at the bottom of the ocean for decades!

She showed us images from museums, advertisements from magazines, and brought the data to life with her engaging speaking style. Peggy demonstrated wool’s impact on millions of lives, from immigrants, slaves and Native Americans, to farmers and advertisers. She revealed the trends in wool consumption throughout history through interesting charts and charming graphics and photographs. Peggy gives a voice to the story of technological and social change, marketing forces, and above all, consumer choices.

During our time with Peggy, she shared pictures of her weaving studio in Shelburne Falls, which is the home of Bedfellows Blankets. She has a collection of industrial looms, including 1940’s Crompton and Knowles dobby looms with widths up to 92”. She enjoys weaving complex structures, often utilizing 24 harnesses, compared to the standard 4 harnesses on a hand loom, to achieve unusual, intricate patterns. She weaves original designs from cotton and wool as well as completing custom weaving using wool and alpaca fiber.

To learn more about Peggy and purchase your own copy of her extraordinary book, please visit her website at https://www.blanketweave.com/