Volunteers with the skilled trade in textiles (sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, etc) will support the staff in various ways throughout the year, and each opportunity will revolve around a specific project. Projects may vary each week, as the core of volunteers is developed, and a skills assessment will be done at the start of each project. The individuals who volunteer their time and talents in the textile area help make it possible for others to experience these 19th Century skills that are still relevant today, create interest in these skills, and allow us to create beautiful items that have a function at the farm.
Volunteers for this opportunity will be supporting the staff in sewing projects. It is a behind-the-scenes opportunity and DOES NOT REQUIRE PERIOD APPAREL!
Impact
Volunteers will support efforts on the historic farm by enhancing the materials needed to represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and allowing the interpretive teams help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience of life on an 1880’s working farm.
Tasks
- Historic Farm Project Description: Projects will be staff-driven needs for historic clothing, items for the historic house, support of other programming needs, and will start with a simple project to assess the skill level of the volunteers that are interested.
- The First Project: Sewing
- Under the supervision of the assigned Staff Lead, support and assist staff with cutting out the pattern, simple sewing by hand and by machine, and correct care of the finished project.
- Volunteers will be working in small numbers and rotating the tasks/steps to make the project build proficiency in each of the steps of the project.
- Assist staff lead in creating a better learning environment for this interactive opportunity.
- Review the Skills Assessment - Sewing so you are prepared to ask questions or clarify any part of the assessment, and demonstrate skills.
Your shift time begins 15 minutes before the program starts for quick review, last-minute prep, to introduce you to other volunteers, and to orient you to the workspace.
Additional Notes
- This is a Long-Term Volunteer Opportunity. Learn more about our types of service here.
- COVID UPDATES: Please review Five Rivers MetroParks latest COVID-19 Updates.
- Volunteers in this opportunity may be offered at-home projects once the skills assessment has been done.
- Volunteers may also choose to participate as program support at one of the events on the historic farm, or during open farm hours. Volunteers would then need to review the Historic Farm Volunteer Training and be fitted for period-appropriate apparel. See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.
- Additional opportunities will be offered in 19th Century Textile Skills, so please let the staff lead know if you are interested in crocheting, knitting, weaving, spinning.
Programming background information related to sewing:
- Life in the 1800’s on the Farm - Sewing
- Textile: Carriage Hill Historic Farm - Willcox & Gibbs Hand Crank Sewing Machine
- Let’s Sew: Darning and Weaving
