Jennifer George at work
When we were children, the “The Cowichan Sweater” was made from pure, raw sheep's wool. This wool was processed leaving the lanolin intact and weatherproof. Just after sheering time our whole family would go on a big outing to the farm for the raw sheep's wool. It was our job to take the bigger sticks and things out of the wool. This was followed by "walking' or 'dancing' on the wool-in-cold-water in large galvanized tubs to wash it. The sheep's wool would then spend a couple of weeks hanging out in the rain, wind, and sun, for bleaching and cleaning.
We developed our shoulder and arm muscles by turning a handle round and round on the carding machine which would pull the wool into uniform strands. This would then be taken off the rollers of the carder as one sheet 10" wide X 16” long and about 1 1/2 " thick. Then Mom would tear 1 1/2-inch strips from this to spin the wool on a foot-operated spinning wheel. Grandma gave this spinner, made by a local native woodcarver, to Mom. The end result was a large ball of spun wool, which would be made into a finely knit “Cowichan Sweater.”
Eight of us children were involved in Mom's 'cottage industry' we have learned the trade from the sheered sheep to the finely knit sweaters that have kept us warm through cold damp winters of the Northwest.
We no longer dance in the galvanized tub filled with cold water and raw wool, but with this experience we have developed a great respect for the work our mother did to bring what is called the “Cowichan Sweater” to you the wearer, a “Person of High Honor.” It is this vision we would like to bring to you as the wearer of the sweaters that are knit with such care, patience and love.