Lace is, by definition, useless. Whether is it is woven, crocheted, knitted, or made with needles or bobbins, lace is an adornment. And it has been a part of human history since (at least) the 1000s CE. We take you on a tour of lace from South America to Switzerland to South India, and show…

Everyone knows that flannel is warm, soft, and plaid. But did you know that flannel was likely traded between Europe in Africa before 1486? And that the origins of the word are actually unknown? (And–it doesn’t have to be plaid!) Flannel was strongly associated with Wales, and we share about how this little country’s flannel…

Our latest episode of Handmade History podcast is live! If you’d like to listen, you can find us on Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, or your favorite player. You can also listen right from your browser by clicking the player at the bottom of this post! In the early 1900s, Berea College accomplished something extraordinary: they revived…

If you were a Girl Scout (like we were) or went to summer camp, chances are you made a tie-dye t-shirt! In the US, tie dye is a fun, casual method of decorating clothes, but it has origins in thousands-year-old traditions all over the world. We talk about the elevated, ongoing art of tie dye…