Sewing was an important and necessary skill that all girls in the 18th century learned from a young age.  A family’s clothing, bed and table linens, and other items made of fabric were in constant need of repair. These repairs and other sewing tasks were considered women’s work. Along with practical applications, sewing skills included fancier needlework used to make decorative luxuries.

To showcase these artistic needlework skills, girls and young women made samplers. One tool used to make such samplers was a special embroidery hook called a tambour hook. One of these hooks was found by archaeologists in the remains of the Washington house at Ferry Farm. Young Betty Washington probably used this special tool, made of a bone handle and a portion of a steel hook, to add decorative touches to fine needlework projects.

Using the picture and list below to find sewing-related artifacts excavated at Ferry Farm!​ Click on the image to enlarge.

Can you find these artifacts?

• 3 gold military buttons
• 2 ‘hook & eye’ hooks
• 6 thimbles
• A black button with a star
• 3 pair of scissors
• 7 button blanks (one hole)
• 13 buckles
• 2 sets of cufflinks
• A wooden tambour hook handle