Happy Halloween! Let's talk about brooms (the vehicle of witches). We do a deep dive into broom making in New England, where broom making shifted from a locally made handcraft, especially by Native Americans, to a white commercial venture. Listen in to learn why broom making underwent this shift and how New England indigenous makers and farmers made brooms in late 1700s and early 1800s. Bonus: the Shakers make a cameo.

Find extensive shownotes with sources at https://tinyurl.com/ycyya2a9. Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @handmadehistorypodcast.

Have you heard of nalbinding, the "ancestor to knitting?" Surprise--it's not! Listen in to learn about this ancient AND ongoing craft, how it was forgotten and relearned in the US (and other countries), and how it is related to knitting. Find extensive shownotes with sources at https://tinyurl.com/kbdanvd8 . Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @handmadehistorypodcast

If you buy a cross stitch kit today, you will get the same five things: a pattern with tiny squares and symbols, a piece of aida or even weave cloth, DMC colors (or a color guide), a needle, and a hoop. Leaving off the ancient origins of a needle and hoop, this episode covers the history of everything else. Surprise, we're all Victorians! Listen in to learn about the woman who invented (or perfected) aida cloth, why aida cloth has the same name as an opera, and how DMC created their uberpopular Mouline Special thread.

Download thorough show notes with sources here: https://tinyurl.com/4umhx4fz.

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Thanks for listening!