Yarn spinners at Dutchess County Fair weave tradition, tech together – Daily Freeman

RHINEBECK, N.Y. — Long before people’s purchases could be tracked through computer IP addresses and electronic means, there was the simple ability to use apparel to know something about buying habits.

The low-tech form of sleuthing was discussed by CaraLeigh Wilson, of Point of View Farm in Stanfordville, during the Dutchess County Fair as she sat with about a dozen members of the Elmendorph Spinners of Red Hook, making yarn that can be tracked.

“People will ask questions like, ‘Why would you spin yarn when you can buy machine-made yarn?’” she said. “The answer to that is that I can raise the animal, sheer them, spin the wool into a garment that I can trace back to that specific animal that I had. “You’re starting to see that a little bit in the commercial world where garments have markings on them that you can trace back to the original farm where that wool was grown.”

Other ways that the activity of spinning wool to yarn has moved from “Little House on the Prairie” to the 21st century include the type of equipment used by spinners. While there are still those with pedals that require a soft touch, the range of equipment goes up to three-dimensional models that take traditional skills to a whole new level. That is also being demonstrated by Elmendorph Spinners.

Wilson described the technological advances as providing a skill “assist” to some very serious artisans.

“I think the manufacturers have always been innovative, and, in the case of my friend who broke her ankle but still wanted to spin, so … she got an e-spinner,” she said. “You’ll see spinners here working on all different kinds of wheels. It depends on the types of yarn they like to make.”

The spinners being used include models that may be able to produce yarn quickly or that have specific thickness.

“Everyone in this room will have a reason for why they chose a particular wheel from a particular maker,” Wilson said. “There are ones here that are made in Europe, ones that are made in Canada, others made in the U.S.A., and some that are antiques as well those down there that are 3D printed.”

The Dutchess County Fair will continue through Sunday at the fairgrounds on U.S. Route 9 in the village.