Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 3 of 9 · from the scan, no model involved
shawls, scarves and shoulder bags in warm browns, tans and beiges—colors straight off the sheep.
Shaffer stumbled on his trade by happenstance. Previously he ran his own travelling merchant business, visiting spots all over the world in search of marketable imports. In handling a wide array of goods, he discovered he had a feeling for textiles. “So I decided to start making them,” he explained.
“I learned how to weave in Zapatec village in Mexico in the old traditional style,” Shaffer continued. “I’ve been pulled toward primitive society all my life so I started with a simple loom—a backstrap loom. One end is tied to a tree and the other end is hooked'to a strap behind my back. It’s all hand-manipulated, no pedals.”
It also takes time. After weaving for a year, Shaffer can complete a neck scarf in a day. "It’s about five days for a shawl from start to finish—that’s complete to being washed and having the fringe macramed.”
He plans to eventually master the art of spinning and then will need only the sheep to supply the raw materials. In the meantime, however, Shaffer uses wool he brought back with him from Mexico.
This Saturday, December 15, Shaffer will demonstrate his weaving skills at a special showing between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Natures Foods, next to the welfare office in Washington. Also on display ] for sale will be finished items—scarves, shawls and bags—and natural yarn wool, j
92.2%