The Weavings of the Settlement Schools

Pam Travels to Berea to research about the weavings of the Settlement Schools

This past week has been a wonderful exploration into weaving history for me! My dear friend and "weaving Mom", Barbara Miller and I traveled to Berea College in Kentucky. We spent several long days searching their artifacts and archives looking for information on their early weaving program. Berea was one of the first settlement schools to start a thriving weaving program, which was called Fireside Industries. In about a 50-year period many strong willed women associated with the settlement schools help to start weaving programs throughout the Appalachian Mountains. These "Fireside" programs help the local women to earn money during very hard times. Barbara and I have been researching the nine settlements schools that were first accepted into the Southern Highlands Craft Guild. Not only will you learn some history and production tips, but also you weave samples of the same types of things the weavers wove.

Here is just one item of what was woven as a production item. These fingertip towels were made in mass quanties at Arrowcraft, now known as Arrowmont in Tennessee and at Fireside Industries in Berea, Kentucky. You can still find these little towels with all kinds of motifs in antique shops through out the country. I remember growing up as a child and seeing the ones my Mother had.

Here is a lovely overshot wall hanging made in Berea, KY

Men’s ties were a popular production item from Berea, KY

Here are woven items that came from the settlement school weavers at the John C. Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown, North Carolina. Although Brasstown was mostly know for their woodcarvings they also produced and sold lovely cotton, linen and wool runners and wall hangings.
Why don't you come join us, learn about our tales, travels of the settlement schools! If you are interested in learning more about this important history of Appalachia and the different kinds of weavings they wove, come join our weaving class at the John C. Campbell Folk School, July 11 - 17, 2010. For more information or if you want to sign up, call the Folk School at 1-800-FOLKSCH.

Happy Weaving!!!
Pam Howard