When you take a piece of fabric off a loom, it's very stiff. You have to wash and beat it to soften it. Now a washing machine does the job. Not nearly so picturesque.
That is fulling the tweed by hand...being thumped and rubbed and pulled along the table. Fulling =waulking, so they are waulking songs. A bit like sea shanties if you will, working songs. Not that I would have liked the job....the cloth was soaked in urine to help the process and to make sure the colours were fast!!
Where to begin? There is a huge and wonderful tradition of waulking (working) songs. Watch the Powell and Pressburger movie "I Know Where I'm Going" from the Forties, which is set in the Scottish Isles, beautiful, and, at the time, revelatory of Gaelic tradition. It was the first movie to feature traditional song in Gaelic, and the makers had to fight the studio keep the ceilidh scenes in. These have now become an historical document. But even all these years still a magical and brilliant film. Recommended.
I wonder how many of us have sung to beat the boredom of a chore? When that singing is traditional, handed down the generations, to accompany a specific job, it becomes mesmerising. I agree with Yorkshire Liz; "I Know Where I'm Going" is a wonderful film. The scenery, the story and the Gaelic language all combine to make captivating viewing. xx
Thank you, Happy Hooker! Nice to know it's not just me loves this film! Interesting trivia: Petula Clarke's first film performance. The star, Roger Livesey, also brilliant in A Matter Of Life and Death and Colonel Blimp, was so determined to play the role, he lost several stone in weight to appear 'young enough,' and was working in the West End on stage while filming was taking place. All the exteriors in Scotland were filmed with a wonderful lookalike stand-in - but you will never spot the join. Also featured was a trained golden eagle called Mr Ramshaw - whose story is brilliant, unique and true, even though it reads like a boys magazine adventure story - and his handler/owner Captain CWR Knight ("bullocks!") Look them up on google and be amazed!
Thanks, Yorkshire Liz. I'd forgotten that about Roger Livesey never actually going to the islands. And I didn't know about Captain CWR Knight. Have just googled him. xx
Fantastic! I've seen it before, years ago, but glad you brought it back again to remind us of how the 'good old days' were so special. Love that they are smiling and apparently enjoying their chore! Harris Tweed has always been a truly wonderful fabric. BTW - My dream is to visit the Hebrides Islands some day! Merry Christmas John.
Not so wonderful to me having just read the "soaked in urine" bit. Doubt that happens on Harris today (hope not). I have met some old gents wearing Harris Tweed that gave off the odour of fresh urine though, but I though that was just an old gents issue.
What a horrible labor intensive job that is. I saw this craft being reproduced on IG, tho not sure if the tweeds are still felled this way/ any way/ in real life.
I belive urine was a common mordant/ dye setter traditionally--chemicals, the ammonia? Plentiful! Once the color is set the urine should have been completely washed out and not present to create an odor. But wet wool smells in itself, like dirty dog. [ot, I know]
In those 'good old days' there used to be vats on the corners of streets to collect urine from houses for her in process to support the cloth trade. Also vats for collecting human and dog faeces for leather curing.
Yes. So that they were sterilised by it. Mind you, they also had vomitariums (so you could gorge at banquets, go into a special room to be sick, then come back and eat some more....) And in the baths they flicked the sweat onto the wall and scraped it off to ...well, I don't quite know what.) I wish my brain held useful stuff instead of pub quiz level trivia.
How fantastic was that. I am totally unsurprised that they used urine to set the colours. A free resource although a bit wiffy that works very well. Washed out well no one would ever know if you didn't tell them.
Dr Itua herbal medicine cure my diabetes and my husband's erectile dysfunctions it's help us a lot and we thank Dr Itua very much on his good deeds to us so reason I have been writing about him on every blog I came across with for people with health issue can relate and get well with Dr Itua herbal medicines, Dr Itua can cure Hiv,Herpes,Als,Hepatitis,Cancer,Ms,Menstrual Pain,Parkinson and some other health problem human being can encounter. Contact him on drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com or visit his herbs store https://drituaherbalcenter.com/shop/. Thank you for your love and opened to sharing your knowledge with us all through this blog site. All my love,
That looks like a lot of fun. And the singing/chanting is captivating. I wonder if this sort of ritual still takes place?
ReplyDeleteI doubt it , I love the singing though , quite hypnotic
DeleteWhen you take a piece of fabric off a loom, it's very stiff. You have to wash and beat it to soften it. Now a washing machine does the job. Not nearly so picturesque.
DeleteSure looks like it's alleviating any boredom they otherwise might have felt.
ReplyDeleteI’m fascinated of the origin of the singing and what , if anything it means, can anyone tell me
DeleteThat is fulling the tweed by hand...being thumped and rubbed and pulled along the table. Fulling =waulking, so they are waulking songs. A bit like sea shanties if you will, working songs.
ReplyDeleteNot that I would have liked the job....the cloth was soaked in urine to help the process and to make sure the colours were fast!!
I didn't know that urine was used as a tool, if you will, in this way. Very interesting.
DeleteGz thank you for the information
DeleteWhere to begin? There is a huge and wonderful tradition of waulking (working) songs. Watch the Powell and Pressburger movie "I Know Where I'm Going" from the Forties, which is set in the Scottish Isles, beautiful, and, at the time, revelatory of Gaelic tradition. It was the first movie to feature traditional song in Gaelic, and the makers had to fight the studio keep the ceilidh scenes in. These have now become an historical document. But even all these years still a magical and brilliant film. Recommended.
ReplyDeleteI can’t find the original film, I’d love to watch it
DeleteI bought it from Amazon (where else!) on DVD. Very cheap. If you have a player, I recommend. xx
DeleteThink it is on YouTube. Will look and send a link
DeleteThe reference to urine is correct and if you ever smell vintage Harris Tweed - even from 1970s - which is damp you will realise this is true.
DeleteI had no reason to be anonymous!
DeleteI wonder how many of us have sung to beat the boredom of a chore? When that singing is traditional, handed down the generations, to accompany a specific job, it becomes mesmerising. I agree with Yorkshire Liz; "I Know Where I'm Going" is a wonderful film. The scenery, the story and the Gaelic language all combine to make captivating viewing. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Happy Hooker! Nice to know it's not just me loves this film! Interesting trivia: Petula Clarke's first film performance. The star, Roger Livesey, also brilliant in A Matter Of Life and Death and Colonel Blimp, was so determined to play the role, he lost several stone in weight to appear 'young enough,' and was working in the West End on stage while filming was taking place. All the exteriors in Scotland were filmed with a wonderful lookalike stand-in - but you will never spot the join. Also featured was a trained golden eagle called Mr Ramshaw - whose story is brilliant, unique and true, even though it reads like a boys magazine adventure story - and his handler/owner Captain CWR Knight ("bullocks!") Look them up on google and be amazed!
DeleteThanks, Yorkshire Liz. I'd forgotten that about Roger Livesey never actually going to the islands. And I didn't know about Captain CWR Knight. Have just googled him. xx
DeleteMy grandmothers sang little songs when ironing and cooking and just in passing . I remember them all and have documented them here a few times
DeleteI love this!
ReplyDeleteWalking the linen
ReplyDeleteA community working together
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they still do it today? I doubt it - intriguing indeed. x
ReplyDeleteChanting to a rhythm in a group setting has calming influences. When the rest of the world goes mad a chant is helpful.
ReplyDeleteMindful
DeleteFantastic! I've seen it before, years ago, but glad you brought it back again to remind us of how the 'good old days' were so special. Love that they are smiling and apparently enjoying their chore! Harris Tweed has always been a truly wonderful fabric.
ReplyDeleteBTW - My dream is to visit the Hebrides Islands some day!
Merry Christmas John.
Not so wonderful to me having just read the "soaked in urine" bit. Doubt that happens on Harris today (hope not). I have met some old gents wearing Harris Tweed that gave off the odour of fresh urine though, but I though that was just an old gents issue.
DeleteYes I sensed the girl using her forearms wasn’t into it
DeleteThat's lovely and I love the singing.
ReplyDeleteInteresting!
ReplyDeleteYou are right! And I would not want to arm wrestle any of those women.
ReplyDeleteAnd voices like angels
DeleteHow marvelous! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
and not a slapped arse face in sight x
ReplyDeleteWhat a horrible labor intensive job that is. I saw this craft being reproduced on IG, tho not sure if the tweeds are still felled this way/ any way/ in real life.
ReplyDeleteI belive urine was a common mordant/ dye setter traditionally--chemicals, the ammonia? Plentiful! Once the color is set the urine should have been completely washed out and not present to create an odor. But wet wool smells in itself, like dirty dog. [ot, I know]
ReplyDeleteIn those 'good old days' there used to be vats on the corners of streets to collect urine from houses for her in process to support the cloth trade. Also vats for collecting human and dog faeces for leather curing.
DeleteDidn’t the Romans wash their togas in pee?
DeleteYes. So that they were sterilised by it. Mind you, they also had vomitariums (so you could gorge at banquets, go into a special room to be sick, then come back and eat some more....) And in the baths they flicked the sweat onto the wall and scraped it off to ...well, I don't quite know what.) I wish my brain held useful stuff instead of pub quiz level trivia.
DeleteThis was lovely and certainly intriguing.
ReplyDeleteIt’s caused a bit of debate here lol
DeleteHow fantastic was that. I am totally unsurprised that they used urine to set the colours. A free resource although a bit wiffy that works very well. Washed out well no one would ever know if you didn't tell them.
ReplyDeleteJo in Auckland
That's wonderful. Thank you for posting, where else would I have ever seen it?
ReplyDeleteYou all think differently to me. Grossed out the dye is set with wee. Yet no one is questioning how they worked that out? lol Merry Christmas John
ReplyDeleteDr Itua herbal medicine cure my diabetes and my husband's erectile dysfunctions it's help us a lot and we thank Dr Itua very much on his good deeds to us so reason I have been writing about him on every blog I came across with for people with health issue can relate and get well with Dr Itua herbal medicines, Dr Itua can cure Hiv,Herpes,Als,Hepatitis,Cancer,Ms,Menstrual Pain,Parkinson and some other health problem human being can encounter.
ReplyDeleteContact him on drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com or visit his herbs store https://drituaherbalcenter.com/shop/. Thank you for your love and opened to sharing your knowledge with us all through this blog site. All my love,