It was not always as easy as a trip to the department store for clothing or linens. For centuries, sewing was an integral part of everyday life and those with this special skill and aptitude were recognized within their societies. Now through July 25, the Historic Odessa Foundation will present “With Needle and Thread: Hand Sewing Before Machines,” an exhibit of textile heirlooms from four colonial Odessa families.
The women of the Corbit, Jefferis, Wilson and Janvier families in Odessa participated in the sewing arts and fashions of their era, producing clothing, household linens and decorative accessories. These reflect fine skill and their maker’s place in the community. The textiles can also provide a personalized glimpse of life in the 18th to 19th centuries. The exhibit not only features clothing and linens from these families, but also a child’s dress, sewing tools and accessories and an interpretive focus which will connect sewing and maintaining textiles to daily life and social status. Looking at the fine stitches and articles, one can imagine the hours of peaceful solitary handwork and times of pleasant conversation with a gathering of women, each plying their needles to some project for their family.
The art of hand sewing and needlework was a necessary part of a girl’s education and preparation for family life. At a very young age, girls would start with marking samplers. The samplers would teach the girls the alphabet and numbers while they learned how to sew. Then, the girls would move on to decorate a sampler or needlework, which would then be framed. After marriage, many women gave up the more elaborate embroidery and used their skills for making household linens and clothing for their families. But some women would embellish their household good with the same elaborate embroidery that they had learned earlier.
The exhibit is included in the general admission to the Historic Houses of Odessa. The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for groups, seniors and students, and free for children 5 and younger. Member discounts are available.
For more information on the Historic Houses of Odessa, tours and special exhibits, call 378-4119 or go to http://www.historicodessa.org.
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It was not always as easy as a trip to the department store for clothing or linens. For centuries, sewing was an integral part of everyday life and those with this special skill and aptitude were recognized within their societies. Now through July 25, the Historic Odessa Foundation will present “With Needle and Thread: Hand Sewing Before Machines,” an exhibit of textile heirlooms from four colonial Odessa families.
The women of the Corbit, Jefferis, Wilson and Janvier families in Odessa participated in the sewing arts and fashions of their era, producing clothing, household linens and decorative accessories. These reflect fine skill and their maker’s place in the community. The textiles can also provide a personalized glimpse of life in the 18th to 19th centuries. The exhibit not only features clothing and linens from these families, but also a child’s dress, sewing tools and accessories and an interpretive focus which will connect sewing and maintaining textiles to daily life and social status. Looking at the fine stitches and articles, one can imagine the hours of peaceful solitary handwork and times of pleasant conversation with a gathering of women, each plying their needles to some project for their family.
The art of hand sewing and needlework was a necessary part of a girl’s education and preparation for family life. At a very young age, girls would start with marking samplers. The samplers would teach the girls the alphabet and numbers while they learned how to sew. Then, the girls would move on to decorate a sampler or needlework, which would then be framed. After marriage, many women gave up the more elaborate embroidery and used their skills for making household linens and clothing for their families. But some women would embellish their household good with the same elaborate embroidery that they had learned earlier.
The exhibit is included in the general admission to the Historic Houses of Odessa. The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for groups, seniors and students, and free for children 5 and younger. Member discounts are available.
For more information on the Historic Houses of Odessa, tours and special exhibits, call 378-4119 or go to http://www.historicodessa.org.
