Martha used a denier gauge to check the number of threads per inch in a piece of woven cloth.

Assorted sewing items and a magnifying glass used in manufacturing cloth were recovered in the midden, indicating the household activities

SThe scissors were found in the South Grove Midden, one of the most artifact-rich sites at Mount Vernon.

of Martha Washington. Martha, her daughter Patsy, and female household slaves spent hours sewing and the many straight pins, thimbles, and scissors are evidence of this important activity.

One of Martha’s responsibilities on the plantation was to overseethe  enslaved weavers, and magnifying glass – known as a denier gauge – was used to count the number of threads per square inch. The thread count was an important indicator of the quality of the woven cloth, and thus inspecting the product of the looms was probably a daily responsibility.

A thimble, and other sewing artifacts, provides a glimpse into the daily life of the women at a plantation.

Enslaved women, as well as Martha Washington and her daughter, would have used straight pins in their sewing.