Mabel Verigin - Doukhobor Master Weaver
Mabel’s grandmother was a master weaver in the Doukhobor community, had many drafts in her memory and threaded many looms. Mabel had her formative years in a communal village and learned how to knit and sew by the age of six. Recognizing how talented her ancestors were, she was compelled not to let this part of her heritage be forgotten. Her weaving monograph is a one-of-a-kind “treasure.” An accomplished needle woman, quilter, master weaver, Mabel, a Cultural Interpretive Society member is always ready to share her rich Doukhobor cultural heritage skills with others.
Mabel states, “The task of collecting the samples, compiling the history of them and assembling the work into a presentable monograph has not been easy. Being able to speak the language and earn the trust of the contributors has helped in the work. It has taken me a full five years of research and thought. Many of the weavers I interviewed have died in the interim.”
