Weaver
When English imports were cut off by the Revolution, local weavers came forward to fill the need for everyday items. Watch how flax, cotton, and wool are converted from tangled masses into orderly, precise fabrics—ranging from simple linens for shirts and shifts to blankets, towels, dyed wool for needlework, and stout woolens for military uniforms.
Watch the Video
Find out how weavers played an important role during the American Revolution from Journeyman Weaver Joe Wixted and Apprentice Weaver Pamela Russo.
FAQs
Read below to find the answers to some of our most common questions about the Weaver trade. Visit us onsite to learn more and discuss further.
- Did every home have a loom and spinning wheel?
- Did people make their own fabric?
- Was weaving women’s work?
- Would one person know how to do all the steps?
- Was this where the weaver’s shop originally stood?
- How long does it take to set up a loom?
- How long does it take to make fabric?
- What are the main fibers that fabric would have been made from?
- What dyes were used?
Explore Historic Trades & Skills
The Historic Trades and Skills community at Colonial Williamsburg uses 18th-century tools and techniques to apprentice in and eventually master more than 20 historic trades and skills. These world-renowned experts not only make goods and provide services to the Historic Area, they also consult and produce for other cultural institutions around the world.
Support Our Mission!
Our donors are the reason we can continue to create an authentic, immersive 18th-century experience for our guests. Since we are not state or federally funded, we rely on your support to fulfill our mission. Give today and help us keep this special place alive.
