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#textile

16 posts6 participants0 posts today
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MikeDunnAuthor

Today in Labor History June 7, 1929: Striking textile workers battled police in Gastonia, North Carolina, during the Loray Mill Strike. Police Chief O.F. Aderholt was accidentally killed by one of his own officers during a protest march by striking workers. Nevertheless, the authorities arrested six strike leaders. They were all convicted of “conspiracy to murder.”

The strike lasted from April 1 to September 14. It started in response to the “stretch-out” system, where bosses doubled the spinners’ and weavers’ work, while simultaneously lowering their wages. When the women went on strike, the bosses evicted them from their company homes. Masked vigilantes destroyed the union’s headquarters. The NTWU set up a tent city for the workers, with armed guards to protect them from the vigilantes.

One of the main organizers was a poor white woman named Ella May Wiggans. She was a single mother, with nine kids. Rather than living in the tent city, she chose to live in the African American hamlet known as Stumptown. She was instrumental in creating solidarity between black and white workers and rallying them with her music. Some of her songs from the strike were “Mill Mother’s Lament,” and “Big Fat Boss and the Workers.” Her music was later covered by Pete Seeger and Woodie Guthrie, who called her the “pioneer of the protest ballad.” During the strike, vigilantes shot her in the chest. She survived, but later died of whooping cough due to poverty and inadequate medical care.

For really wonderful fictionalized accounts of this strike, read “The Last Ballad,” by Wiley Cash (2017) and “Strike!” by Mary Heaton Vorse (1930).

youtu.be/Ud-xt7SVTQw?t=31

#workingclass #LaborHistory #EllaMayWiggans #textile #women #feminism #union #communism #vigilante #policebrutality #police #acab #solidarity #folkmusic #laborsongs #racism #poverty #northcarolina #fiction #HistoricalFiction #author #writer #books #novel @bookstadon

YouTubeElla May WigginsBy Kristina Horton
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Stéphanie Vilayphiou

After hosting the #Fabricademy #bootcamp 2025 at @greenfabric we are already preparing next Fabricademy 6-months course starting in September! This programme mixes #textile, #digitalfabrication and #biology

Running from mid-September till end of March, it is led by international experts in many different fields: #biomaterials, #opensource #hardware, #naturaldye, #softrobotics, #etextile, #digitalbodies, #textilescaffolds… It gathers students all around the world through international nodes (#Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Armenia, Jordan, Rwanda, Mexico, Japan…).

It is not structurally subsidized but Green Fabric, the Belgian node, offers 2 full-scolarships per year (for 3 years) with the support of Feder and Brussels Fablab Network. This scolarship covers the 8000$ subscription fees and you'll have access to our textile #fablab during the programme.
I will be the local instructor in Brussels.

Please spread the word to people you think might be interested to follow this one-of-a-kind course!

@fiberarts

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Ruth [☕️ 👩🏻‍💻📚✍🏻🧵🪡🍵]

Yesterday I finished the third of three texture-focused baby quilts. I made these using scraps from sewing projects, from remainders of others' projects, and even from older clothes where part of the fabric was in good condition

The center is a corduroy and silk pattern with actual quilting and the rest is just tied. I had so much fun finding a wide variety of textures to touch. (I really struggle with touching corduroy so I am v. glad this is wrapped) #quilt #reuse #fabric #textile #quilting

A baby quilt made up of lots of squares tied in the corner. The center block is a kind of star pattern in a purple corduroy and cream silk background.
An angled view of the blanket on the floor. You can see that there are sparkly fabrics and brocades and inherently textured and soft and flannel and pretty ones with embroidery
Another view of the blocks from above on a table. You can see some eave better on these, some is a little coarse and some very soft.
A corner of the back flipped up so you can see it. It's a wonderfully bright moon and star with vivid blue night sky and dense gold for the stars and moon.
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