Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 36 on 14/12/2007.

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Everything you need to know about Harris Tweed

To begin with, it needs to be understood that Harris tweed, one of the most desirable wool textiles in the world, is produced exclusively on the Outer Hebridean island of Harris and Lewis, an island which is divided into two halves, with Harris in the south and Lewis in the north. By Certified Trade Mark, Harris tweed (known in the Gaelic language as the Cloh Mor – the Big Cloth) must be made from 100 per cent pure wool, dyed, spun, finished and hand woven by the islanders of “Lewis, Harris, Uist, Barra and their several purtenances.” Much of the mystique surrounding Harris Tweed originates from it being created in a string of remote crofts. Although much of the wool comes from the mainland Scotland, islanders annually join together in the early Summer to round up and shear the local sheep to add into the mix. This is then taken to a mill, where it is washed and dyed. Coloured and white wools are weighed in predetermined proportions, then thoroughly mixed and carded. The spun yarn is then warped by winding threads onto a frame of wooden pegs to ensure an even tension throughout. The warp is then gathered into long hanks and delivered to the homes of the weavers, together with yarn for the weft.

Having received design instructions and a pattern sample from the manufacturer, the weaver proceeds to weave the order (approximately 78 metres long) on a footpowered loom. When this is completed, the cloth is collected from outside the croft gate and returned to the manufacturing mil.....

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By Sally Toms

Section : Scotland Life

Page number : 74