SHEEP TO CLOTHING TO QUILTS

SHEEP TO CLOTHING TO QUILTS. The Illinois Amish Heritage Center hosted their first event of the 2022 season on Saturday, May 14. A pancake and sausage breakfast kicked off the morning followed by demonstrations such as sheep shearing, wool washing, spinning wheels, loom weaving, and quilt piecing. Other activities included chair caning and period crafts, rope-making, games for the kids, pony rides, and the ever popular petting zoo. Early Amish clothing, quilts, coverlets, and had-woven fabrics were on display in the Schrock house along with the 1840’s era Campbell family quilt, hand-made entirely from locally produced fabric, dyed from plants grown in the area, and then spun, woven, and assembled into a quilt. Esther Peregrine is pictured demonstrating one of the spinning wheels. Organizers were very pleased with the turnout as close to 600 were in attendance on a beautiful spring day. Many came from Bloomington and Springfield and from out of state.