Making of fabric at the Mother House shop

Montreal, New France (Quebec), [ca. 1730]. Illustration : Francis Back.
Making of fabric at the Mother House shop

The inhabitants of New France made their clothing from home-made cloth and fabrics imported from France. The capture of several French ships during the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) resulted in a shortage of cloth and higher prices. The Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame outfitted themselves with equipment that would permit them to partially meet their needs in cloth and muslin. At the same time, they taught this cloth-making trade to young girls and set the example for the rest of the colony’s settlers.