Handwoven Linen Samples

People

Maker/Creator: Unknown
Associated Person: Susan Gillenwater Bower
Associated Person: Elzada Williams Boothe

Date

1800s

Places

Floyd County

Material/Medium

Linen

Specifications

• Toweling sample: 30 inches x 15 inches
• Tablecloth sample: 30 inches x 5 inches
• Ticking sample: 32 inches x 4 1/2 inches

Description

These three samples demonstrate different weaves of linen. The featured image uses a finely spun thread that has been bleached, and woven into material that would be used for toweling. Pictured lower left is a portion of a tablecloth woven with an overshot pattern from finely spun linen thread. The thicker and coarser material pictured lower right is ticking material woven with larger thread which was then sewn into bed sacks and stuffed with straw.

Keywords

Linen, toweling, handweaving, flax, straw tick, bed tick, overshot weaving

Notes

Elzada Williams Boothe donated these samples in 1993. Her note pinned to  the tablecloth remnant says, “This was acquired at the auction sale of Mrs. Susan (Andrew) Bower about 1968. They said it was about 100 years old.”

Susan A. Gillenwater (1888-1960) was the daughter of John Bennett & Amanda Bower Gillenwater. Susan married Andrew J. Bower (1886-1958).