Monday, April 01, 2002

Father John Moore and Brother Henry of Queen of Angels Hermitage came to the rescue at the Senior Center recently by fixing the warp on the rug looms. The two were contacted by Drapery Services of Austin which is located near the Senior Center. Moore and Brother Henry know all about fixing looms as they are weavers. This is the way the two priests along with Brother David make their living by weaving rugs. They call their home business Heritage Crafts.

Father John said, "The warp on a loom is the threads. The Senior Center had used up all the threads on the loom that they weave rugs. What we did was re-warp the loom which is putting the threads on. We used a neutral thread so they can weave rugs any color they wish. It is a big job and it took us several hours to do."

Moore learned to weave when he attended St. Mary’s University in Winona. He then was given a loom and he took classes in Minneapolis through a weaver’s guild. Moore is enthusiastic about his craft. There are four looms in the Hermitage at Queen of Angels. Moore can weave a rug day. He also weaves cloths for altars and stoles for priests to wear when they say mass.

"We buy most of the material for the rugs from factories such as Eddie Bauer and Land’s End in the metro area. We often get the end of the roll of fabric. We cut the fabric into long strips and these weave in and out of the warp," explained Moore.

All the material that Hermitage Craft uses is new as is the material used in the rugs at the Senior Center. Moore claims the art of weaving is very simple but the set up of the warp is complicated as it is placing one thread at a time on to the loom, called warping.

"The Senior Center did not know how to get the strings of thread on to the loom. The looms at the Center are the same as what we have here at the Hermitage, only theirs are older models," said Moore.

Moore said there were lots of rug weavers at the turn of the century. Weaving rugs was popular during the Depression and men and women did it to bring in extra income.

"Many communities had one or two weavers. Lots of people appreciated this craft and it was a good wayh to use up old clothing," said Moore.

Weaving is good exercise. Moore might be sitting the whole time he is weaving but the material for rugs is heavy and he uses his muscles moving the shuttles of the loom back and forth. He says his rugs are woven very tight and they don’t fall apart. Denim is extremely popular in rugs as is corduroy.

"People can call us at the Hermitage to purchase rugs. They are priced by the foot. We do a few craft fairs but we sell our rugs mainly by word of mouth<’ said Moore.

To contact Hermitage Craft you can call 437-4015 and ask for Father John Moore.

Moore learned to weave when he attended St. Mary’s University in Winona. He then was given a loom and he took classes in Minneapolis through a weaver’s guild. Moore is enthusiastic about his craft. There are four looms in the Hermitage at Queen of Angels. Moore can weave a rug day. He also weaves cloths for altars and stoles for priests to wear when they say mass.

"We buy most of the material for the rugs from factories such as Eddie Bauer and Land’s End in the metro area. We often get the end of the roll of fabric. We cut the fabric into long strips and these weave in and out of the warp," explained Moore.

All the material that Hermitage Craft uses is new as is the material used in the rugs at the Senior Center. Moore claims the art of weaving is very simple but the set up of the warp is complicated as it is placing one thread at a time on to the loom, called warping.

"The Senior Center did not know how to get the strings of thread on to the loom. The looms at the Center are the same as what we have here at the Hermitage, only theirs are older models," said Moore.

Moore said there were lots of rug weavers at the turn of the century. Weaving rugs was popular during the Depression and men and women did it to bring in extra income.

"Many communities had one or two weavers. Lots of people appreciated this craft and it was a good way to use up old clothing," said Moore.

Weaving is good exercise. Moore might be sitting the whole time he is weaving but the material for rugs is heavy and he uses his muscles moving the shuttles of the loom back and forth. He says his rugs are woven very tight and they don’t fall apart. Denim is extremely popular in rugs as is corduroy.

"People can call us at the Hermitage to purchase rugs. They are priced by the foot. We do a few craft fairs but we sell our rugs mainly by word of mouth," said Moore.

To contact Hermitage Craft you can call 437-4015 and ask for Father John Moore.