CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States continues at the Marshalltown Public Library on Saturday.

Librarian Mara Edler said they wanted to recognize the special year by celebrating historic crafts associated with Marshalltown and Marshall County.

“We were trying to think of different takes we could have on the 250th,” she said. “We asked what if we built a full historic craft series and found local people to help with it.”

On Saturday, the Marshalltown Public Library will host the Historic Textile Fair.

“This is the second of a three-part series,” she said. “The first was last month and we went to the Historic Edel Blacksmith Shop near Haverhill.”

The area does have a strong, historic tie to textile crafts. For example, Edler said there is the Marshall County Quilt Society and the Sewing Guild.

Textiles are materials made from fibers, such as cotton, silk, polyester and more. The fair will focus on crafts which historically used textiles. Edler said they are bringing in the Quilt Society with a historic quilt display, including Quilts of Valor. Katelyn Mathews will bring a spinning wheel and Janet Collison will bring a loom for weaving. A third artist who has not yet confirmed they will participate in the fair will demonstrate another textile craft.

“People will mostly observe, but it will be up to the artist,” Edler said. “The artist with the spinning wheel – I’m not sure if she will have other people do that or if she is just demonstrating.”

Highlighting the ‘historic’ word in the name, she said the spinning wheel and the loom are definitely historic pieces, items which people do not typically use anymore. However, Edler speculated the quilters might demonstrate more modern practices.

“I would say there has been a renewed interest in historic crafts,” she said. “Sourdough – everyone is making sourdough bread. They’re crocheting and knitting. This is kind of in that same vein. I don’t think there are quite as many spinning wheels out there as people who know how to crochet.”

Edler added while the fair is open to all ages and families are more than welcome to attend, the event will primarily capture the attention of adults.

“Kids who are interested in local history or quilts or things like that would like it,” she said.

In August the library will continue the 250th celebration with the Hand Lettering Workshop, the final in the three-part series. At that event, children will have the opportunity to learn cursive writing and adults can tackle calligraphy. Edler’s daughter, Betsy Harris, will be the instructor.

“At that one, kids will write a postcard because hand-written mail is also a lost art, and the adults will do a bookmark,” she said. “I think it will be fun.”

EVENT INFORMATION

Name: Historic Textile Fair

Location: Marshalltown Public Library

Address: 105 W. Boone St.

Date: Saturday

Hours: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.