“Wife’s rug weaving hobby Now full time job for couple” from the June 25, 1964 Resorter Reporter
Wife’s rug weaving hobby Now full time job for couple
In a tranquil woodland setting near the edge of Ephraim village the Joseph Stahls weave attractive rugs on their four looms in log cabins on the property.
They have been weaving since 1932 when they started with one loom and now have four — two 4-harness and two 2-harness. Custom rugs pour in a steady stream from beneath the constantly busy beaters.
They weave both the prepared carpet rags brought to them by customers and those prepared by themselves, as well as purchased rug yarn. Some rugs they wove are now in London, England, having been taken there by government workers who vacationed in Door county and had the rugs woven to take with them when they were transferred there on business.
The rugs come in all sizes, from small bathroom and doorway mats to stair carpeting by the yard and also strips made the proper length to sew together to form a 9x12 ft. room-size carpet.
Mr. Stahl formerly worked in the State park but since his retirement has been weaving on a full-time basis instead of a part-time hobby as it was at one time. He has added many improvements and ideas of his own to their looms to make the winding and counting easier. There is a counter on each loom to assure accurate measurement when they are being warped.
He has also devised a winder which twists two different colored strips together to form an arrow pattern in borders of their rugs. It was evolved from an old knife sharpener and forms the twisted arrow strips.
Mrs. Stahl also weaves most of the day and they have a small sale shop at the rear of their home where a large variety of rugs are on display at all times.
From a hobby 30 years ago the rug weaving of Mrs. Stahl has become a full time job for both of them since Mr. Stahl retired from the park.
JOSEPH STAHL displays some of the rugs made by his wife and himself at their woodland shop near Ephraim. They have four looms which turns out a steady stream of rugs.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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