Do you have some sewing skills you are willing to share? MetroParks is helping bring back fiber arts and textile skills, in a variety of programs. This opportunity focuses on basic sewing, and volunteers will be mending, making repairs, and adding new buttons for historic clothing at Carriage Hill.
Volunteers with a skilled trade in textiles or fiber arts (sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, etc.) will support the staff in various ways throughout the year. 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 for those who are ready. 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 to help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience life on an 1880s working farm.
Tasks
- Historic Farm Project Description: Projects will be staff-driven needs for historic clothing, items for the historic house, and support of other programming needs, and will start with a simple project to assess the skill level of the interested volunteers.
- Under the supervision of the assigned Staff Lead, support and assist staff with cutting out the pattern, simple sewing by hand and 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.
- Some of the projects on the list:
-Buttonholes on combinations
-sewing buttons on historic clothing
-Repairs/mending of historic clothing
-Overalls for new volunteers including the need to create a pattern
-Repair tent flies - -Possible future project: period curtains for Aullwood Garden MetroPark - Marie's House
- Review the Skills Assessment - Sewing so you are prepared to ask questions, clarify any part of the assessment, and demonstrate skills.
Additional Notes
- This is a Long-Term Volunteer Opportunity. Learn more about our types of service here.
- Please arrive early, so that you may park and get to your volunteer area. The staff lead will do a quick orientation to the workspace, to introduce you to other volunteers, review the assessment, and orient you to the project and tasks for the shift.
- Volunteers who have already gone through the Treadle Sewing machine training may choose to utilize this equipment to preform tasks and gain experience.
- Volunteers in this opportunity may be offered at-home projects once the skills assessment has been done.
- This area is open to the public, and visitors may come to observe. For those interested, the staff lead will demonstrate an activity to be used with visitors if needed for a more interactive experience.
- See the Skilled Trades Position Description for more detailed information.
- This opportunity is for ages 16 and older. Volunteers ages 14-17 must first be approved by a Volunteer Coordinator to Respond to this opportunity. Contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to request approval.
- 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, or spinning.
Programming background information related to sewing:
- Life in the 1800s on the Farm - Sewing
- Textile: Carriage Hill Historic Farm - Willcox & Gibbs Hand Crank Sewing Machine
- Let’s Sew: Darning and Weaving
