Events

When it comes to ‘Make do and Mend’, wartime quilts can divulge some interesting stories. And, one of these starts in Canada! During World War II, when the bombing of British cities was at its height, Canadian needlewomen made and donated some 25,000 patchwork quilts to British war relief. The quilts, often in red, white and blue, or with special ‘V for Victory’ printed fabric, were gathered in Canada by the Canadian Red Cross and distributed in Britain by the Salvation Army, the ARP (later Civil Defence) and the WVS (now WRVS). Although many carried the names of the individuals or groups who had made them, most had a label which said: ‘Gift of CANADIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY”. Many have survived and a selection of these will be included in the Quilt Museum’s exhibition ‘Sewing in Wartime’, opening on 10 July.

Open April - September, Mon-Sat 10 am to 4 pm and October – March, Tues-Sat 10 am to 4 pmr. Admission charges apply. Group bookings of 10 or more are eligible for a 10% discount. Telephone 01904 613 242 or email info@quiltmuseum.org.uk for further information.

‘Under African Skies’, the second exhibition, is the story of one quilter’s 10-year journey to source African fabrics. Magie Relph often spends up to eight weeks each year ‘on the road’ in Africa, riding crowded buses and the occasional horse-drawn cart visiting suppliers and sourcing new artisan producers. What started as a hobby has developed into a small fairtrade business, supplying those British quiltmakers and textile artists who also have a fascination with unusual fabrics. ‘When I started selling a few fat quarters of African fabric out of a suitcase to my quilt group’, recalls Magie, ‘I had no idea that ten years later I would be seeing so many wonderful creations made using African fabrics.’ Fabrics sourced by Magie include handy-dyed batiks, resist dyed Indigo, Kola nut and Indigo and traditional mud cloth as well as wax prints and Shwe Shwe Indigo. The exhibition will include a selection of quilts made with African fabrics and also displays of the fabrics themselves with information about their provenance and makers.

Open April - September , Mon-Sat 10 am to 4 pm, October – March, Tues-Sat 10 am to 4 pm. Admission charges apply. Group bookings of 10 or more are eligible for a 10% discount. Telephone 01904 613 242 or email info@quiltmuseum.org.uk for further information.

Works from the Embroiderers Guild Collection. Open 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday (October to March); also Mondays from 10 am to 4 pm between April and September. Admission charges apply. Group bookings of 10 or more are eligible for a 10% discount. Telephone 01904 613 242 or email info@quiltmuseum.org.uk for further information.

A Barbara Bailey Commemorative Exhibition. Open 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday (October to March); also Mondays from 10 am to 4 pm between April and September. Admission charges apply. Group bookings of 10 or more are eligible for a 10% discount. Telephone 01904 613 242 or email info@quiltmuseum.org.uk for further information.