Fabric of Life: Weaving a Figured Coverlet with Justin Squizzero

Justin Squizzero of The Burroughs Garret brings us along as he weaves a figured coverlet using a 19th-century Jacquard head and 18th-century loom.

Handweaver Justin Squizzero challenges modern definitions of progress by creating functional textiles that celebrate the natural world and the dignity of human labor. Echoing a time when utilitarian objects were entirely handcrafted, his work connects material, maker, and user across time and place. Squizzero’s venture, The Burroughs Garret, draws on the textile traditions of his northern Vermont home, marrying natural dyes and fibers with a reserved aesthetic rooted in early New England. Produced on his 19th-century farm using 200-year-old hand looms, Squizzero’s textiles examine the role of handcraft in a post-industrial society, questioning the human experience in a digital age.

Justin and his husband Andrew live on the Burroughs-Hebb-McClintock farm where they raise hogs and poultry, tend a quarter-acre kitchen garden, and work to breathe new life into an old corner of Newbury, Vermont.

Justin says "The traditional skills that we know today are the result of centuries of human ingenuity. Preserving those skills honors the past, but more importantly, ensures that these practical pieces of our collective knowledge are available to the future. Organizations like Fabric of Life that support continued practice and teaching are essential for ensuring that traditional skills don't just survive, but have a chance to thrive."
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Fabric of Life's annual Barnfest event helps support our mission of preserving traditional skills. While we wish we could be hosting this event in person, we hope this virtual format will allow more people to be involved in helping to sustain the work of Fabric of Life through our online fundraiser auction (https://www.ebay.com/usr/fabric-of-li....
Bidding on our online auction items closes on Tuesday, October 27th at 10AM EST!!
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Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.

Learn more about Fabric of Life at: https://fabric-of-life.org/