In most Amish communities, innovation and creativity combine with the belief that any job, no matter how simple, should be done with as much painstaking attention to detail and good craftsmanship as possible. When this mentality is applied to the rule that any art done for the sole sake of decoration is forbidden, the result is a material culture where everyday objects are made with precision and detail. Pincushions are a staple in the Amish home, especially ones which follow the ordinance banning women from using buttons to fasten their clothing, and most families will display pincushions on fireplaces, clock shelves, and hanging from furniture. As useful but also decorative objects, Amish pincushions come in a fascinating array of complexity and detail. One of these that has particularly captured the interest of the outside world is the puzzle ball.

The Amish ball pincushion, sometimes called the ‘Amish puzzle ball’ is made up of twelve wedges sewn into three circles which, when interlocked, make a fascinating structured ball. In a class with textile artist and material history scholar Elliot Rockart, students will learn to make their own puzzle ball to enjoy themselves or gift to others.

Date
Wednesday, December 4th, 2024 and Wednesday, December 11th, 2024

Time
4 pm – 6:30 pm EST

Location
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants the day before class

*All sessions will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to all those who register following the live session. This link is live for one month after the end of the series for you to watch at your convenience.

Cost
$120

Materials:

• For a 14.5″ by 14.5″ ball you’ll need a paper pattern ideally printed on cardstock (you can also trace something round like a bowl) and a pencil/erasable pen to trace the pattern 
• Fabric A (heavier weight, something like velvet or denim or wool) at least 15″ by 7″ 
• Fabric B (medium weight, something like cotton/linen) at least 18″ by 12″ 
• Thread that matches with Fabric B
  
  A PDF with a pattern will be provided to students via email prior to the class.

Our Teacher

Elliot Rockart is a nonbinary textile artist, writer, and researcher located in Brooklyn, New York. They combine their love of history and textiles through creating historically inspired knitted, crocheted, embroidered, sewn, woven, hooked, spun, tatted, and appliquéd art. Through this hands-on approach to history, they seek to understand through embodiment the lived experiences of people and collectives who have created textiles across history. Today, their work is primarily inspired by the history of material culture and their own process of medically and socially transitioning as a transmasculine person.