Cabin fever: Quilt and fiber arts

This weekend Lincoln's New Salem demonstrates transformation of wool into quilts and blankets

[January 17, 2014]  PETERSBURG — Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site offers an escape from cabin fever Saturday and Sunday with demonstrations of frontier techniques for transforming wool into beautiful quilts and blankets.

Demonstrations will take place at the visitor center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can try their hand at carding, spinning, knitting, weaving and more. Historic interpreters will also conduct a "bed turning," where quilts are displayed and explained to visitors.

The Prairie Aires will provide music for the event on Saturday. Weather permitting, activities will also take place in the historic village so visitors can experience a taste of life in a log home during an 1830s winter.

Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Preservation Agency, is a reconstruction of the 1830s log village where Abraham Lincoln lived for six years. It is about 20 miles northwest of Springfield and two miles south of Petersburg on Route 97 and is open for free public tours.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]