For thousands of years, women were responsible for “plain sewing”—spinning, weaving, and sewing textiles for everyday use. In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution produced factory-made fabrics, mass-produced sewing machines, and inexpensive ready-made clothing. These innovations gave average women time for “fancywork”—decorative sewing, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, patchwork and appliqué quilting, and craft projects.

In this presentation, we’ll explore how factory-made sewing and craft supplies influenced trends like crazy quilting; how the ideology of separate spheres for women and men influenced decorating the home with fancywork; fancywork created to sell charity bazaars and fundraising fairs; and the wide range of fancywork including techniques not common in the 21st century such hair work, bobbin work, netting, and potichomania.

This talk will include numerous examples of fancywork—pictures via PowerPoint and objects.