Cost: Free – $5.00

Before clothing could be bought off the rack, fabric was labor, skill, and survival.

Join Historic Beverly for First Friday: Spinning & Fabrics in Colonial America, an interactive exploration of how textiles were made in 17th- and 18th-century New England and why spinning wheels and looms were essential fixtures in nearly every household.

Guests will learn how raw fibers like wool and flax were transformed into thread and cloth through demonstrations of hand carding, spinning, and weaving, and discover how textile production shaped daily life, gender roles, trade, and even political resistance during the colonial period. From homespun cloth to the symbolism of spinning during the American Revolution, textiles tell a powerful story of labor, identity, and independence.

This program features live demonstrations, historic objects or reproductions, and time for conversation and questions. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, fiber artist, or simply curious, this First Friday offers a tactile connection to the past.