Needle Arts Summary
We were reminded in class that sewing things together is not
new, in fact, it is probably the first documented craft. In Genesis
3 Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Since
the beginning of time people have been sewing. Throughout history
it has been and still is a necessary craft. Colonial America
was no different.
In the late 1700s a girl’s education was reflected in what
was called a Sampler. She would
have been expected to sew very well in order to make all of her family’s clothes and to add
a beautification to the clothing through her needle work. The Sampler was a “sample” of
her work. It served as the final exam for her type of schooling.
have been expected to sew very well in order to make all of her family’s clothes and to add
a beautification to the clothing through her needle work. The Sampler was a “sample” of
her work. It served as the final exam for her type of schooling.
In the same category, a young man had to learn to sew buckskin with sinew and would be
able to make himself clothes or repair his clothes in the late 1700s. Later, a young man
would have actually carried a mending kit known as a “housewife.” It contained a needle,
thread, and buttons. Civil War soldiers carried them in the mid 1800s.
Native Americans were highly skilled in sewing as
well.
Quillwork was a form of embroidery using porcupine quills;
the quills were used to decorate clothing, pouches, birchbark boxes, and
baskets. Quillwork was almost entirely
decorative but also sometimes incorporated spiritual symbols. This was common in the
great Lakes, Northeast and the Ohio Valley regions. Take a look at some examples with your kids. https://www.google.com/search?q=quillwork+images&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=yEaNUoO_EOvasASdpIGgBA&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=798
decorative but also sometimes incorporated spiritual symbols. This was common in the
great Lakes, Northeast and the Ohio Valley regions. Take a look at some examples with your kids. https://www.google.com/search?q=quillwork+images&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=yEaNUoO_EOvasASdpIGgBA&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=798
Finish working on the embroidery project you brought
home. Our next lesson will be using the backstitch and blanket
stitch. Here are directions for the backstitich. http://sublimestitching.com/pages/how-to-back-stitch and
here are directions for the blanket stitch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXkSE2TTF4s
Try practicing both on your project.
Link to an online embroidery book with detailed instructions
of other stitches if you would like to learn more.http://www.kirikipress.com/stitchlibrary.pdf
