Sheep Shearing is springtime rite at
Museum of Appalachia
The Museum of Appalachia will hold its annual spring “Sheep Shearing” on Friday, April 17, with special demonstrations to include spinning and quilting. Spring comes alive with gardens growing, heirloom flowers beginning to bloom, native trees putting forth their summer-green leaves—and schoolchildren on end-of-term field trips.
Each spring, the winter’s growth of heavy wool is trimmed from the Museum’s flock of sheep. The process of producing yarn—from shearing sheep to spinning wool and using the batting in quilts—will be demonstrated April 17 from 10:00am-3:00pm. The sheep will be trimmed by master of the trade, Dean Fritz of Murfreesboro who explains the process to onlookers while using a vintage hand-cranked shearing machine. Carmen Bonnell will demonstrate spinning wool into yarn on an old‐fashioned spinning wheel. Ruby Patterson will share the historical significance of quilt patterns while she explains the quilting process to visitors.The shearing, spinning, and quilting demonstrations are part of the Museum’s mission to preserve and pass along the Appalachian culture to future generations.
Sheep were common on early Appalachian homesteads. Most families raised a few sheep for wool, which was used as quilt batting or to make cloth and yarn. In addition to sheep, the Museum is home to chickens, guineas, wild turkeys, peafowl, and peacocks. Mules, Scottish Highland cattle, and “fainting” goats roam adjacent pastures. This time of year children will be delighted to see our new born lambs, goats & baby chicks.
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