Infrastructure: Creating 19th Century Clothing Then and Now

May 2, 2023- November 3, 2023 | Pre-Emption House | Included in Museum Admission
Infrastructure: Creating 19th Century Clothing Then and Now begins with the fabric scrapbook of Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh. Her memories of almost 50 years of clothing she made and remade over time inspired this look at how the clothing styles of the 19th century were created then and now. The connection of clothing to memory and the importance of what we wear as a social and personal statement continues to this day, as seen in the overwhelming popularity of period costume dramas today. Infrastructure also highlights the recreation of period garments, with all the challenges and triumphs it entails.

Fix It Friday Sewing Classes with BERNINA of Naperville

$15/person for Sewing Supplies (must be 18+); Pre-registration required
Most women in the 19th century made their family’s clothing by hand, often by reusing fabrics or modifying older styles into more fashionable ones. Inspired by this sustainable practice, learn how to mend, hem, and upcycle your clothes with BERNINA of Naperville.

Hemming and Mending your loved Jeans with BERNINA of Naperville

June 9, 8:30-10:00 AM | $15/person for Sewing Supplies (must be 18+); Pre-registration required
It’s often an overlooked art to repair a loved garment, but it is easy, fast, and helps save money and the environment! In this class, you will have hands-on training to hem jeans, darn holes, and preserve distressed denim so those holes do not get any larger.

Upcycling your Favorite Garment

July 7, 8:30-10:00 AM | $15/person for Sewing Supplies (must be 18+); Pre-registration required
Do you have an old sweater that you can’t bear to part with? What about a Hoodie or T-shirt? This class is all about giving a sentimental item a new life and a new purpose. Learn with hands-on training to sew those items into pillows, wall art, and more.

Visible Mending

August 11, 8:30-10:00 AM | $15/person for Sewing Supplies (must be 18+); Pre-registration required
Transform an old sweater, dress, denim, and more into its own work of art by using a sewing machine’s decorative stitches to enhance those “undesirable imperfections” and show them off! You worked hard to get them that way. In this hands-on training, you will learn how to use a sewing machine decorative stitches and get the best results with interfacing and stabilizer.

Infrastructure: Creating 19th Century Clothing Then and Now