First, the wool had to be shorn, gathered, and cleaned. This was generally an indoor winter activity while no other work could be done in the barn or fields.
Sheep to Shawl, Part 1: Processing the Wool
In this multi-episode presentation, Candiss Cowan discusses the value of fabric in Colonial America. In the North, clothing was made out of "homespun" wool and the quality of the fabric was based on the breed of sheep.
More Posts
Battle of Ridgefield Archaeology Project Blog Entry #3: Buck and Ball
November 11, 2025
Archaeologists discovered a cache of Continental Army buttons and musket balls offering powerful evidence of where the Battle of Ridgefield’s fighting occurred.
Jack Sanders and Betsy Reid Appointed as Ridgefield’s Town Historian and Assistant Town Historian
November 11, 2025
Honoring decades of dedication to research, preservation, and public history, Ridgefield recognizes two of its most devoted stewards of local heritage.
Growing up in Ridgefield with Wendy and Mark Lionetti
November 11, 2025
Dr. Darla Shaw joined Wendy and Mark Lionetti for a delightful talk about their life in Ridgefield.
“Every Home Has A Story Worth Telling”-Historical Society Research Services and Plaque Program
November 10, 2025
The Ridgefield Historical Society works with professional house historians to uncover the stories of Ridgefield’s historic homes and the people who lived in them.