Nigh Ox Newsletter

December 2001

Broom Making

Clustered around the warmth of the stove in the woodshop for a couple November days, eight students learned the history of brooms and tried their hands at various styles. We have made several tries at offering this class. Tom and Jan Knox helped us make it happen. They brought a delightful background of broom-making experience and educational skills.

Gathering enough tools of the trade to serve a hands-on class was a worry to Tillers offering this new class. Yet Tom and Jan took students back to the earliest and simplest tools and achieved very productive work. Colonial round brooms can be made well with simple cottage tools. The enduring principle for the class was "tension is your friend." There was speculation as to how far in life students could carry that principle.

Selecting broomcorn was an important skill for each style of broom, from colonial to turkey wing. Along with the great instruction of Jan and Tom, the students were quick and determined to make several styles including the decorative turkey wing, which is especially beautiful in sets of fireplace tools. Paul Carlson brought some of his finely forged handles for which he intends to make brooms.

A common comment of students was, "When will we be scheduling a Broom Making II class." It was truly a pleasure to work with Jan and Tom. We'll do our best to schedule more broom making classes.