Silver Threads and Golden Needles is the title for the Armidale and District Historical Society Exhibition to celebrate History Week 2012 for which the theme is ‘Threads’. The launch will be held at the Armidale Folk Museum this Friday September 7 at 6pm when. Well-known Armidale personality and owner of Armidale’s Fabric Fair, Rita Showell, will open the display. All are welcome to attend and view the display at the launch or at the Museum which opens from 1-4pm every day, including weekends.
The historic items include items of nineteenth and early twentieth century clothing and the work of Armidale tailors and dressmakers of yesteryear. The fibres wool, silk, cotton, linen and hemp are featured as the ‘Threads’ and accompany clothing, articles and photographs relating to those fibres. Items for display display have been lent by community members and chosen from the Museum Collection and include a smoothing iron, handmade knitting needles, lacework, embroidery, sewing machines and a variety of sewing equipment.
The collection of exhibits emphasises the era when clothes were not available ‘off the hook’ and were made at home or the services of a dressmaker or tailor were called for. They display the creativity and skill of a time when handwork was an important skill and tailored or beautifully ornate clothing was created without pattern books, electric sewing machines or TAFE courses, but stitched with precision and worn with pride. Enquiries to Judith Grieve 6775 1205.
