AN ANCIENT CEAPT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 115, 11 November 1929, Page 13

AN ANCIENT CEAPT

MAKING OP QUILTS

Quilts made by the wives of minors in the distressed colliery districts of Wales and Durham (Great Britain), and a few mado by other needy women in those parts, formed an interesting but pathetic exhibition which wa"s recently held in London, states an exchange. One fascinating example was the skilled handiwork of a Welsh woman 84 years of age, who supports herself and an invalid daughter by her earnings at quilting. This ancient craft has existed since Tudor days, and the traditional designs are still followed. The leaf pattern, and frequently the chain, for instance, are associated with the handiwork of Welshwomen, while the feather is a design peculiar to Durham. It is left to the individual, however, to incorporate these traditional units in a complete quilt design of her own creation, so that not only technical but artistic skill is called into play. It is noteworthy, too, that the ability to fashion these useful and delightful quilts seems to be inborn in the women of the colliery districts, and in happier times a girl would have scorned to marry until she had one such quilt to her credit. Now they are glad to work them in order to earn money. At the exhibition a quilter sat at her frame to demonstrate how the work, which is done entirely by hand, is executed. No transfers are used to imprint the patterns to be followed. With a rough piece of chalk and a piece of string, or some other equally simple device, the worker draws her own design, and her nimble fingers work it out. Working hard all day at the frame, it would take an expert quilter at least nine days to fashion one quilt. The quilts, which are lined with soft Welsh wool, are delightfully warm and not at all heavy. A variety of self-coloured sateens and silks are used to make them.