Quote Originally Posted by Drac View Post
In the custom knife field there are people who will say that if a person doesn't make every part in their shop it isn't custom, such as people like me who buy damascus. It goes all the way down to people who literally smelt their own steel

Jim
Years ago I learned how to weave from a wonderful family in North Carolina. Both Peter and Helga came from a tradition of European weavers and spinners and told me how they raised their own sheep, did the shearing themselves, carded and spun the wool, dyed and then wove it. Peter even built the spinning wheels and the looms, using wood from maple trees on land they owned in New England. I have one of his looms, and I cherish it.

I have also met wonderful weavers who buy the wool already dyed, and spin it on wheels they have purchased, and then weave it on looms they have purchased.

Even within the realm of craftmen there are variations of involvement in the total process. Most kiltmakers don't spin and weave their own tartan, be they making the kilt using needle and thread or a human-controlled sewing machine. The reflection of the craftman is, in my opinion, in the care and attention given to the final product (for that craftsman).