history

In the early 1900s, women in the northeast coal region of Pennsylvania began sewing to help support their families. The textile industry was a viable part of the local economy of the region until the out-migration of such businesses in the past 20 years.

The legacy of the fabric arts in this rural community is a testimony to the craftsmanship and creativity of area women past and present and has contributed to the vitality of The Grateful Thread, a weaving store offering handmade, one-of-a-kind products to suit every taste. It is a project of Schuylkill Women in Crisis (SWIC), a private nonprofit organization providing free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence in rural Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

The Grateful Thread began operating in 2007 and was started as a means to: provide job skills and income for SWIC’s clients; make use of surplus donated items received by the agency; provide creative expression for those healing from abuse; expand opportunities for those wanting to volunteer support but hesitant to work in a crisis setting; and as a means of diversifying the agency’s funding base.

Today, women still sew and weave to support families – their own as well as others impacted by domestic violence. Proceeds from all products sold benefit SWIC.