Homespun Dress
Hemp seeds were brought to the American colonies in sailing ship rigged with sails of Cannabis woven into a cloth, called canvas. Cannabis fibers, resistant to rot in salt water , were so important to ships' rigging that penalties were imposed on colonists who didn't grow cannabis for the English navy .
Threads on a loom are called a warp and cloth is made by weaving weft threads under and over , plain weave's a simple reverse of over first and then under on the odd rows.
To collectors a colonial homespun dress is more valuable today than a high style fine formal dress that has been packed away and preserved, the homespun being more rare because they were worn until they became rags .
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