Fun’d raising at the blacksmith museum (Manchester Historic Craft Project)

L to R: Crafters Rita Halford, Margaret Shaw, and Vicki Eisele

submitted by Annette Siffin, MHCP

Things are heating up for the Manchester Historic Craft Project. We kicked off the September meeting for the Manchester Area Historical Society members with an introduction to and demonstrations of what we do at the Blacksmith Museum. Some of the members had never been in the building! We were very pleased with the level of interest and questions posed by attendees.

We’ve already had two weeks of Wednesday night Fun’d Raising activities at the Blacksmith Museum — wool appliqué and rug hooking. This coming Wednesday, September 27, from 6:30 to 8:30pm, we will be making hand-sewn pockets, and October 4 is scheduled for paper cutting.

An extra session is being added on October 11 for hand-sewn sachets. Anyone is welcome, materials are provided, and for rookies, instruction will be given — it’s a nice opportunity to try your hand at creating. The goal is to make historic craft items to sell during Christmas in the Village while building connection and camaraderie among interested folks in Manchester.

For anyone who has some experience weaving on a rag-rug loom, there will be an opportunity to use or gain more experience weaving placemats or runners during any of these fun’d raising sessions.

Dates to Remember:
September 27 — hand-sewn pockets
October 4 — paper cutting
October 11 — hand-sewn sachet

Wish List:
• 100% woven wool fabric (can be used clothing — slacks, skirts, shirts, also old army blankets)
• 100% wool rug-hooking worms
• a volunteer to manage our website

We hope to see you on a Wednesday for a Textile Workday at the Blacksmith Museum, 324 E Main St, from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Also feel free to stop in for demonstrations from 1 to 4 pm Sundays; purchase of historic crafts to support the Museum programs can also be made year round on Sundays. Look for classes to be offered again starting in January.

The Blacksmith Museum operates under the umbrella of the Manchester Area Historical Society, https://mahsmi.org.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.