Weaver

No. In fact, most homes would not have either prior to the war. As the war approached, it became patriotic to appear able to make fabric.

No, most of the fabric was imported from Great Britian.

Weaving was exclusively men’s work. To become educated in the weaving trade, one needed to complete a weaver’s apprenticeship in Europe. Here in the VA a weaver’s education would have been forced on enslaved men.

Definitely not. From sheep to shop there might be close to 100 different professions involved in a single piece of fabric’s production (for wool that is). Textiles require intensive specialization and if one person needed to know how to do all the parts, they would not be proficient at any part of the job.

There was no weaver in Williamsburg. While a manufactory opened just outside of town, it was only open during the war.

On average, it takes about an hour per 100 warp yarns (the yarns stretched out in front of the weaver).

On average, it takes around an hour to weave one yard of fabric.

About 70% of our textiles are made from linen, 20% from wool, and the final 10% is made up of hemp, silk, and cotton.

Our dyes are mostly inedible, imported, plants. Madder, cochineal, and brazilwood will do pinks, oranges, and reds. Fustic, annatto seeds, and weld can be used for yellow. Indigo for blues. Logwood for purples. Greens and blacks need to be combinations of dyes as there are no true blacks in nature and green plants do not make green dye.