The Textile Museum

Calendar

The Textile Museum presents a variety of lectures, workshops, seminars and demonstrations throughout the year. Regular programs include Rug & Textile Appreciation Mornings, informal sessions on a wide variety of topics led by experts in the field and Ask-a-Curator, Ask-a-Conservator. Rug & Textile Appreciation Mornings are generally held two Saturdays each month at 10:30 am and are free with no registration required. Ask-a-Curator, Ask-a-Conservator programs are held the first Wednesday of each month (September through May) from 10:30 am to 1 pm. The program is free for Museum members and $5 for non-members. Other programs may require registration. Click here for a registration form. Below is a schedule of these programs and others. For more information or to register for a program, call the Education Department at (202) 667-0441, ext. 64.

July • August • September

July

1-3, 5
TM SHOP EVENT
Independence Day Sale: Made in the U.S.A.
Wednesday through Friday, 10 am–5 pm
Sunday, 1–5 pm

Celebrate Independence Day with 15% off on all merchandise made in the U.S.A. Support local and national artists by purchasing textile creations made by Dominique Bello, Randall Darwall, Tim Harding, Christina Montero, Susan Neal, Susan Forte O’Neill, Michael Rode and more. Please note: this special limited offer cannot be combined with other discounts.

4
INDEPENDENCE DAY: MUSEUM CLOSED

11-12
QUILTING DEMONSTRATIONS
Saturday, 10 am–4 pm
Sunday, 1–4 pm

Members of the Annapolis Quilt Guild will demonstrate techniques and materials used in the art of quilting. They will display various types of quilts made by guild members in styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, and will gladly answer questions about their art. FREE; no reservations required.

18
RUG & TEXTILE APPRECIATION MORNING
Persian City Rugs—Old and New
Saturday, 10:30 am

Rug expert David Zahirpour will discuss old and new traditions in Persian city rug designs. The audience is invited to bring clean, well-vacuumed examples related to the title of the program. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. FREE; no reservations required.

19
TM SHOP EVENT
Presentation and Quilt Trunk Show
Sunday, 1–5 pm

Meet local artist Floris Flam as she shares her unique style of appliqué with hand-dyed fabrics. View and purchase charming mobile quilt hangings perfect for any home or office, or choose a few quilts to display together as a wonderful focal point. See additional merchandise by Flam in the Shop or Shop Online. FREE; reservations required. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 29.

25
QUILT CARE AND DISPLAY WORKSHOP
Piecing it All Together
Saturday, 10 am–4 pm

Anyone from the seasoned collector to the first time quiltmaker needs to know how to properly display, care and store these treasures. Attend this special workshop led by Esther Méthé, The Textile Museum’s chief conservator, and learn the techniques and standards used by museums for quilts old and new. Fee: $65/members; $100/non-members. Advance registration required; space is limited. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64.

25
TM SHOP EVENT
Studio Tour
Saturday, 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm

Join us for a tour of Dominique Bello’s studio, located in Washington, D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood. Bello has hand-painted various one-of-a-kind ties, scarves, shawls, wearable art and more, with many of her designs inspired by TM collections and exhibitions. Now see where she creates it all! Shop from an assortment of items available for purchase, or request personalized pieces for the holidays and other special occasions. Refreshments will be served. Choose from one of three designated tour slots. Fee: $40/members; $60/non-members. Advance registration required; space is limited. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 29.

August

1
LECTURE
Amish Quiltmakers: Constructing a Life
Saturday, 2 pm

Learn more about Amish culture in this special lecture by Patricia Crews, Willa Cather Professor of Textiles at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and director of the International Quilt Study Center & Museum. Crews will provide an overview of the Amish and their beliefs, exploring how their world view and beliefs shape the quilts they make. The stylistic differences between Amish quilts will be described and illustrated with pieces from the International Quilt Study Center’s holdings, one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Amish quilts. Fee: $10/members; $15/non-members. Advance registration required; space is limited. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64.

13
LUNCHTIME GALLERY TALK
Batik from Ann Dunham's Collection
Thursday, 12–12:30 pm

Take a break from the workday and join Mattiebelle Gittinger, Research Associate for Southeast Asian Textiles, as she talks about the fascinating batiks on view August 9 through 23 in A Lady Found a Cloth in its Culture: Barack Obama’s Mother and Indonesian Batiks. FREE; reservations required. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64.

15
QUILT SHARING WORKSHOP
Saturday, 10 am–4 pm

Participants are encouraged to bring antique quilts (pre-1950), tops, blocks, or fabrics to share with the group. Julie Silber, an independent curator and founder of the Quilt Complex in Albion, CA, will share her thoughts as she evaluates the quilts — through patterns, age, fabrics, historical context and general significance. The program will also feature a discussion of significant 19th-century quilts from her collection. Fee: $60/members; $100/non-members. Advance registration required; space is limited. Call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64.

29
RUG & TEXTILE APPRECIATION MORNING
Amish Quilts, Southern Maryland Style
Saturday, 10:30 am

Join Textile Museum docents Amy Rispin and Pat Reilly for a talk on Amish quilts from southern Maryland. The audience is invited to bring clean, well-vacuumed examples related to the title of the program. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. FREE; no reservations required.

September

2
ASK-A-CURATOR, ASK-A-CONSERVATOR
Wednesday, 10:30 am–1 pm

Drop in and learn more about your own textiles from TM curatorial and conservation staff. While TM curators specialize in the textile arts of non-Western cultures, the conservation staff can answer questions about caring for textiles produced worldwide. Fee: free/members; $5/non-members.

7
LABOR DAY: MUSEUM CLOSED

12
RUG & TEXTILE APPRECIATION MORNING
Exploring and Explaining the Appeal of Color in Rugs
Saturday, 10:30 am

Textile Museum Trustee Wendel Swan will delve into the appeal of color in rugs. The audience is invited to bring clean, well-vacuumed examples related to the title of the program. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. FREE; no reservations required.

19
TM SHOP SALE & AUCTION
Last Day of Summer
Saturday, 10 am–5 pm
Auction begins at 1 pm

Save up to 60% on select books, textiles, jewelry and wearable merchandise. The auction begins at 1 pm. Reservations are required; please call (202) 667-0441, ext. 29. Customers can also enjoy the new SALE category at The TM Shop Online. Shop early, leave happy!

19
RUG & TEXTILE APPRECIATION MORNING
Caucasian Flat-Woven Textiles: Sources and Origins
Saturday, 10:30 am

Former Textile Museum Trustee and collector Robert Nooter will give an informal presentation on Caucasian flat-woven textiles. The audience is invited to bring clean, well-vacuumed examples related to the title of the program. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. FREE; no reservations required.

For programs that require registration, please mail or fax a registration form with payment to The Textile Museum, 2320 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008, attn: Education; fax: (202) 483-0994. The registration form is available in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (.pdf). You will need the Acrobat Reader program or Netscape plug-in in order to view and print this form. The Acrobat Reader is available free on Adobe's Web site.

Download a registration form here

Download Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site here