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Finishing Touches Needle & Thread brings together these examples of period garments,
Accessories such as neckcloths, along with many others, and also invites the reader to try their hand at
capes, aprons, and caps were small, recreating some of the garments depicted. The end of the book contains
stylish ways to individualize one’s six scaled patterns that were drafted directly from some of the articles
ensemble. One particularly elegant of clothing or accessories shown earlier in the book. The authors hope
accessory highlighted in Needle & that attempting to recreate these items while examining the detailed
Thread is a milkweed tippet [Figure 8] images will bring the reader closer to the artifact clothing and the
made by a member of the Trowbridge people who made and wore it 200 years ago. Engaging in craft has long
family of Pomfret, Connecticut in been a way that Old Sturbridge Village teaches history and we feel there
1829. Milkweed, harvested at just the is no better way to understand the effort that went into clothing an
right stage, was laboriously sewn into early nineteenth-century family than sewing some of the garments
bundles which were in turn secured to threaded through our examination of this interesting aspect of
a backing fabric. Once finished, the nineteenth-century life.
overall effect was similar to a silken
fur. This example was lined with About Old Sturbridge Village
vibrant yellow silk and quilted. One Old Sturbridge Village, first opened to the public in 1946, is one of the
can only imagine how sophisticated country’s oldest and largest living history museums, celebrating life in early
the wearer must have felt herself New England from 1790-1840. It is the largest living history museum in
wearing such an exquisite creation. the Northeast. Each year, as many as 200,000 visitors interact with cos-
tumed historians, experience up-close demonstrations of early American
Care and Repair trades, and meet heritage breed farm animals. Situated on 200 scenic acres,
Considering the amount of time the Village is a collection of more than 40 historic buildings—including
and material that went into producing homes, meetinghouses, trade shops, working farms, restaurants, shops, and
Figure 8: Milkweed tippet, from the clothing for the family, extending the three water-powered mills.
Trowbridge family of Pomfret, life of garments was an especially Located just off the Massachusetts Turnpike and Routes I-84 and 20 in
Connecticut, circa 1829. Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, Mass., Old Sturbridge Village is open year-round,
important part of keeping
Museum Collections 26.54.261. but days and hours vary seasonally. Daily admission is:
one’s family well-clothed.
Regular maintenance $30 for adults, $28 for seniors, $15 for College Students,
was essential to that end. One can imagine that for an $15 for children ages 4-17, and children 3
average family of seven or eight, making clothing for and under are admitted free. For details, visit
every member was a great deal of work, especially https://www.osv.org/plan-your-visit/.
when taking into account the different types of Old Sturbridge Village is also the managing
garments needed. Washing and mending were partner of Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol,
weekly tasks to keep that clothing in good shape, R.I. Members at OSV receive reciprocal
and Needle & Thread includes examples of the membership at Coggeshall Farm Museum.
tools used to complete those tasks in the early
nineteenth century, including an early washing
machine [Figure 9]. About the Authors:

Rebecca Beall has been at the Old
Figure 9: Washing machine, Sturbridge Village for over 20 years – she started
New England, circa 1825-50.
as a costumed interpreter as a summer job while
Old Sturbridge Village Museum Collections 1.133.12a-b.
in graduate school; she has a Bachelor’s Degree
from Cornell and a Master’s Degree in American
and New England Studies and Public History
For the Children from the University of Southern Maine. She has
Some of the children’s worked in a variety of capacities in Interpretation
clothing featured in the from hearth cooking to, naturally, textile arts. She
book are prime examples moved to the Curatorial Department, working with
of well-worn, but well- the museum’s collections, where she has been since
maintained, garments that 2006. She now serves as Collections Manager and
are so relatable to us today. Curator of Textiles.
Perhaps we can think back
on wearing holes through our jeans growing Derek Heidemann started working at Old Sturbridge Village while
up and seeing our children do the same. A studying History at Clark University, where he received his Master’s
nineteenth-century example of this is the Degree. He spent most of the last 23 years working as a costumed
red wool skeleton suit [Figure 10], worn by interpreter at the Village and has long had a passion for studying and
Tristram Little (b. 1818) of Hampstead, recreating the everyday clothing
New Hampshire around 1820. With large of early nineteenth-century
patches on the knees and seat of the people. He has been the Director
trousers, this was clearly a garment that of Collections and Research at
was worn heavily by Tristram and Old Sturbridge Village since
painstakingly mended by his mother or February of 2021. Needle &
another family member. Thread is one way that he
hopes to share that passion
with the public.
Figure 10: Red wool skeleton suit worn by
Tristram Little (b. 1818) of Hampstead,
New Hampshire, circa 1820. Horse-Drawn
Carryall Ride
Old Sturbridge Village Museum Collections 26.62.2a-b.
Around the Common;
Credit Old Sturbridge Village

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