Join us this coming Sunday, July 14 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. for our Sunday afternoon ‘Stitch In Time’. We are taking a closer look at needlecrafts including knitting, crocheting, rug hooking, braiding rugs, reading patterns, bobbin lace making and so much more. We are also looking at how the trades such as blacksmithing and wood working help to make the tools needed to create these beautiful art and craft pieces. There will also be a chance to try some braiding rag and hooking rugs.
Also, make sure to check out the work of Metis Installation artist, Tracey-Mae Chambers, who uses the technique of crocheting and knitting to create her outdoor art installation. The goal of these works is to broach the subject of decolonization with viewers. You can find this installation in our new garden space.
Buy your ticket when you arrive for this activity. Admission is $11.00 for parking and $5.00 for each person in the car. Children 5 and under are free.
As we celebrate our 60th Anniversary we are also taking a closer look at our collection of objects and think it appropriate for this coming Sunday to take a look at the artifact having the distinction of being listed as our first object collected – a sewing machine.
1964.01.01
A Beginning
Many big things begin with something small – a seed, a word, a footstep, an idea. Westfield’s artifact collection began with something small – a sewing machine. While technically not the first object to come to Westfield – a few buildings, linens and chairs came before – its significance lies in the fact that it is the first object to be formally accessioned. Its registration number tells all – 1964.01.01 – leaping off the page after the short laundry list that precedes it. This is a small thing that has led to something great.
Like many things of its time, this sewing machine is both utilitarian and attractive. The manufacturer, Jones and Company of Guidebridge, UK, had a reputation for producing durable, well-crafted machines. These were embraced as an incredible technological advancement that created a new level of efficiency and quality, particularly for those who were crafting homemade garments. Reflecting this technological progress and the broader narratives of domestic life, this solid, beautifully decorated machine was no doubt a source of immense pride for its owners.
Sewing machines like these were marketed primarily to the home sewer and were used for a range of tasks, including making and repairing clothes, creating household linens, and crafting decorative items. Tailors and other small business owners also embraced them for their efficiency and quality.
The accessioning of this sewing machine marked the official beginning of a rich and culturally significant collection that has become a core asset of Westfield. Over the past six decades, the collection has grown in both size and depth, evolving from a handful of artifacts—many donated by founders and friends—into a vast resource numbering in the thousands.
In some ways, the acquisition of the Jones and Company machine foreshadowed what would become a key element of Westfield—costuming. For decades, the Sewing Committee has used modern machines, the offspring of these antique devices, to produce costumes of exceptional quality. Hundreds of volunteers have engaged with visitors while dressed in historically accurate, well-made garments. A special collection was constructed to take Westfield on the road, bringing learning and enjoyment to audiences in a range of community spaces and producing revenue for the site. Special exhibitions have illustrated the stories of fashion and Westfield’s commitment to portraying history in engaging and accessible ways.
Westfield’s milestone anniversary is an opportunity to recognize those who have entrusted us with their treasures – the unique and irreplaceable family heirlooms, mementos, archives and objects of local significance. Our small Jones and Company sewing machine, with its humble beginnings, continues to symbolize our vision of preserving and celebrating the rich histories of our many communities.
