Gaelic Waulking Song Group
This is the official description of Harris Tweed, as defined by Act of Parliament.
It was in the mid-nineteenth century that the Dowager Countess of Dunmore - widow of the first non-native proprietor of the island - encouraged the people of Harris to improve their techniques for producing homespun cloth. She put the cottage industry on a commercial footing, giving a great boost to the local economy.
Certain operations are now done by machinery, but in former times, of course, everything was done by hand, often to the accompaniment of song. Spinning, for instance, is a long, tedious process. What better than a song or ten to pass the time?
Below is a summary in pictures of how Harris Tweed was made.
Innes is our expert on spinning and dyeing. Here she is, spinning a yarn!
Innes uses some of the old methods of dyeing, and experiments with plants from around her home.
In the first quarter of the twentieth century carding and spinning mills began to take over these laborious tasks.
Unfortunately, we can't manage to lug a loom around with us when we are performing! But we can sing a song about a loom!
Harris Tweed