In earlier times, store bought clothing was a luxury to the average person. So families relied on their own skills to create and mend clothing. The sewing room in the Museum contains a spinning wheel, sewing machine, rug loom and an iron. The iron here differs from the ones found on the kitchen stove in that this one could be plugged in to an electrical outlet. The ones on the kitchen stove were placed there to get heat from the stove, and after some use had to be placed back on the stove to again absorb heat.
Sewing Room Highlights
Listed below are a few of the items in this room that you may be interested in learning more about.
Circular Rug Loom
This round rug loom was used to make round braided rugs. Other styles of looms were used to make square or rectangle rugs.
Spinning Wheel
Spinning wheel was used to convert wool into yarn for knitting and mending clothing.
Coat made from Paper Mill Dryer Felt
Large sheets of felt (made from wool in earlier days) was used on the huge paper machines to carry paper through the dryer section of the machine. When the large felt was damaged (torn or a hole) it had to be replaced. Employees would gladly take portions of the large felt home for use there. Once washed numerous times to soften the material it was used for bed pads as well as blankets. It was also sewn into clothing like wool pants and shirts. On display in the sewing room is a winter coat made from the dryer felt. Mary Paulz donated the coat and explained that her mother made the coat for her to wear during her high school days.