A veteran traditional sail maker will be teaching the techniques of the traditional sailor’s craft at Melton Library next month.
Participants in Rick Mitchell’s workshop will learn simple hand sewing skills and three different seams, enabling them to make a sampler.
Mid-19th century sail makers would make a sampler to take with them on their travels to showcase their work, Mr Mitchell said.
“Going back to the mid-19th century, the sail makers were fairly itinerant,” Mr Mitchell said.
“They’d travel around, so they’d be obliged to make themselves a sampler, which they then take around.”
Mr Mitchell made his first sail in 1988, including a replica of the Enterprize, a colonial-style schooner that sails out of Melbourne, and two sets of sails for the Duyfken, a replica of the first European ship to touch the coast of Australia.
“I really enjoyed the process of researching the appropriate historical techniques because techniques change over time,” he said.
“The Enterprize was an 1830s ship, and the Duyfken was an early 17th century ship, so I enjoyed the process of researching that, then actually putting it to practise.”
He hopes those joining his workshop will appreciate the experience of hand sewing.
“It’s not a very common experience for people to sew by hand these days,” he said.
“More importantly, hopefully they’ll get some enjoyment of actually making something with their own hands, and some of the pride that people can take away with actually physically working with their hands, rather than tapping keys on a keyboard.”
The workshop will run on February 1 at 10.30am.
