It Started with a Snowsuit

Thanks to Carrie Blough for the photos.

There’s still time to check out a new changing exhibit at the Somerset Historical Center. “Treasury of Handwork: Somerset County Textile Arts” explores 250 years of needlework, including crocheting, knitting, quilting, and embroidery. The exhibit is organized by the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, which, due to state budget reductions, has recently taken a greatly expanded role in the daily operations of the Center (on top of their long-standing commitment to programs and exhibits).

So, what does a snowsuit have to do with this? It was the donation of a c. 1930 hand-knit and hand-crocheted snowsuit with hat that inspired curator Carrie Blough to research and develop the exhibit. “It was done so beautifully and yet it was still utilitarian. I wanted a chance to display this type of work,” Blough told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for an article in late January.

The exhibit features items selected from a large collection of County pieces to represent different aspects of textile arts, as well as different periods of history, spanning a range from the 1780s to the 1930s.

“Treasury of Handwork,” which closes April 25, will be followed by “Woven Wonders: Somerset County Coverlets,” scheduled to run from June 19 through October 12. Several textile-related workshops are also planned for 2010; check out the calendar of events for more details.