Quilt Documentation Day Grant

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, June 2, 2010

The Giles County Historical Society received a grant from the Community Foundation of the New River Valley at their annual meeting on May 18, 2010. The grant, from the Endowment for Giles County, funds the Giles County Quilt Documentation Project, specifically supplies and equipment to properly document quilts made within the current boundaries of Giles County from colonial times through 1999.

An offshoot of the Historical Society’s yearly Pride In Our Heritage Quilt Show, the Giles County Quilt Documentation Project is a new initiative begun by Melissa Barnhart to collect information for family members as well as provide a repository of information about the unique quilting history of the county. Quilts are photographed, oral history information recorded about the origins of the quilts, and technical data regarding patterns, stitching, cloth, and other details is collected. Quilts receive a label indicating their participation in the Giles County Quilt Documentation Project, quilt owners receive a copy of all information collected, and data is recorded in a database for access by quilt researchers. Thanks to Barnhart’s initiative, the project is currently spreading to other counties in Southwest Virginia. Giles County’s next Quilt Documentation Day will be October 23rd.

The mission of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley is to enhance the quality of life in Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties and the City of Radford by serving the charitable interests of donors; making creative, visionary and sensitive grants; devoting special emphasis to programs that enrich the spirit and life of our community; and acting as a catalyst and convenor for leadership and community development. The Community Foundation’s Endowment for Giles County is funded by your friends and neighbors to support nonprofit work in Giles County.

Smocking Class - June 11

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, May 26, 2010

Giles County Historical Society and Giles Arts Council present a smocking class with Beth Cross, a member of the Red Bud Chapter of the Smocking Guild of America, on Friday, June 11th from 1:30 to 4:00. This is the latest class in the Needle Arts Class series. Smocking is a form of utilitarian and decorative stitching that has been in use since the 13th century. Smocks were loose fitting blouses of linen worn by farm workers and other laborers. The loose fit provided protection and warmth, as well as freedom of movement. The linen was gathered into pleats at the yoke and sleeves. Smocking stitches secured the pleats creating stretch in the garment while also providing decoration and identification.

During the period of industrialization, smocks became dangerous for workers to wear because they were loose fitting and could get caught in machinery. Though smocking was no longer a necessity on work clothes, the embroidery stitches used became popular on women’s and children’s clothing as decoration.

What was once a rather laborious process of creating the pleats, has become easier with the use of a pleater which gathers the fabric. The focus of smocking today is on the embroidery stitching rather than the gathering of the fabric. Pleating creates a canvas on which to work with the pleats creating vertical lines and the threads holding the pleats in place creating horizontal lines. Simple outline, cable, trellis, and wave stitches can then be used to create intricate and beautiful patterns on the pleated cloth.

If you would like to learn a more about smocking before taking the class, stop by Living History Day on May 29th from 12-5pm and visit the smocking demonstration on the lawn of the Andrew Johnston House. Then join us on June 11th to learn smocking stitches that can embellish clothing or Christmas ornaments. Please contact the Historical Society to register for the class.