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I am a quilter living in Woodbridge, Suffolk who has made quilts since I was a teenager. I also ring bells! Both are great British traditions....I will try to feature some of my antique Welsh and Durham quilts, the quilts I make myself, my quilting activities and also some of my bellringing achievements. Plus as many photos as I can manage. NB: Double click on the photos to see greater detail, then use back button to return to the main page.













Friday 8 December 2017

Purple and White Durham Quilt

Here is a nicely quilted whole cloth, in white and purple cotton sateen.


There is a large circular "coin", which resembles the Weardale quilts.


Many of the other motifs are border or strip quilt designs - running feather ......the outer border is of running feather with daisies.


There are large feathers and daisies to be seen, too. These patterns were popular because they were showy but did not involve much close quilting - they covered the fabric well.


The reverse is a white cotton sateen - the edge is hand sewn, which is slightly unusual for Durham quilts - more often they are machine sewn.



As you can see, the patterns are all hand drawn and not very exact. I rather like the wonkiness.....



This is the "bellows" pattern.

All in all, a nice quilt, very colourful and well worked. Unfortunately, no further information about this quilt, which is probably from the 1930's.

Monday 4 December 2017

Strip Quilt Tree of Life in Pink and White

Here is a very worn quilt....still, with the lovely quilting designs visible. The cotton sateen has worn well. The design is essentially a strip quilt, with trangles of cloth to add to the interest of the design.
 

The light catches the cloth, for some reason....


 

The quilting designs are a twist, and also a scroll with roses and swirls pattern. This was a common pattern with quilt designers, so this may have been a "stamped" quilt...


There is a binding, which may indicate a repair...

The reverse is a pink cotton sateen.


There is no provenance on this quilt, but it is North Country.


I do like the Scroll and Vine pattern, very nice, flowing pattern.