Currently Offering: Pillow Top Workshops

Raymond Russell, who made a pillow top in the lumber camps in Terra Nova in 1958,
shows his daughter,Arlene Penney how to tie off the wool on the pillow top frame.

Pillow tops are woven with wool on wooden frames and were traditionally crafted by Newfoundland lumber camp workers to be gifted to their wives, girlfriends or mothers. They are sewn onto pillows, used as throws, pot holders or place mats. While there are different methods of making these pillow tops, it always begins with a handmade square wooden frame. Today, I'm one of a handful of people carrying on this tradition and providing detailed instructions through this hands on workshop. I became interested in pillow tops several years ago while interviewing my grandfather, Raymond Russell, about his time in the lumberwoods. The pillow tops have brought me to such places as Quidi Vidi, Cupids, Winterton, South East Bight and even the Logger's Life Museum bunkhouse in Grand Falls-Windsor.

At the end of the workshop, participants will walk away with their very own pillow top and the knowledge and skills to make more. All materials and tools are provided in the workshop fee.

 

 

Length of Workshop: 3 hours 


Cost: $20 per person and this includes all materials (twine, wool) and use of specialized tools (twine needles, weaving frame), and detailed instructions. At the end of the day you leave with your very own pillow top.

Maximum Number of Participants: 12

Proposed Audience: This workshop is suitable for everyone and children ages 8 and up. This workshop has proven to be a great intergenerational activity.

If you're interested in having me teach a pillow top workshop in your community, please feel free to get in touch at npenney4@gmail.com.

 

My name is Nicole Penney and I work in Newfoundland as a folklorist and archivist, helping communities shape their identity and preserve their traditional culture. I have been working within the heritage community since 2004, and hold a BA in Folklore / English Literature and an MA in Public Folklore from Memorial University. I currently hold a position with The Rooms Provincial Archives Division Reference Desk and sit as secretary on the board of directors of the Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives. I also work and volunteers regularly within the archival community and contribute to various newsletters and blogs relating to traditional culture. I has a particular interest in folk art and occupational folklore and I'm a strong advocate of community level heritage projects and inter-generational activities.