QUILTING AND WEAVING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 15

QUILTING AND WEAVING

THE QUEEN’S INTEREST (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, Dec, 8. An early fashion season is predicted by the dressmakers in view of the official announcement that of the four Courts to be held in 1939, two will be in March. Courts may take place in July after the return from Canada of the King and Queen. Although no promise can be given as to whether ladies will be summoned to the Courts in March or in the summer, efforts will be made to suit the convenience of applicants. Therefore in making application ladies are requested to indicate whether they would prefer to be summoned to attend a Court in March or in the summer. One or two up-to-date dressmakers intend to launch their collection at the beginning of February. > THE ART OF QUILTING The Queen has been to No. 10 Downing street to see what wonders the modern “quilt wives” can work. Mrs Neville Chamberlain is very much interested in that ancient national art. Some of the finest Welsh quilting is done at Forth, Aberdare, Pontypridd, and Merthyr, while in Durham the best known quilting centres include Spennymoor and Browney Colliery. It is believed to be the oldest form of needlework in the country. For hundreds of generations the art has been known to women living in the mining areas of Northern Counties and of South Wales, and it has been handed down from mother to daughter. Until the mining areas were attacked by unemployment shortly after the war these beautiful quilts were rarely seen outside the cottage homes of the miners’ wives. To-day the women are turning their craft to good account and are making quilts for some of the greatest houses in the land. The exhibition at Downing street includes a pink satin quilted dressing gown specially ordered by Mrs Chamberlain from a cottager in Glamorgan, a pale pink velvet quilt as ordered by the ex-Queen of Spam, a blue one as favoured by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlonc, and an exact copy of a green quilt ordered for Glamis Castle. Little Prince Edward has a quilted cot cover and pillow to match, in white.

Quilted cushions are much in demand. It was interesting to note that no pointed patterns or tracings were ever used, and every village had us individual style. Quite often an expert can tell from what part of Britain this curiously precise needlework comes by merely noting the curves and circles inscribed. ART FOR ART’S SAKE When the depression came a tew years ago, the workers were obliged to use the very cheapest and poorest of materials, but that did not prevent them from putting their finest work into the quilts, which take anything from two to eight weeks to make. In some cases where the husbands were unemployed and the women could not afford even the cheapest material they used old sheets. With them it has been a case of art for art’s sake. Handworked quilts are always made when a girl is going to be married. They are called the “ Marriage Quilt." and into it the mother puts her best work and designs. The design nearly always includes a heart THE QUEEN’S ORDERS

In addition to purchasing a child's party frock, in oyster white velvet, with hood to cover the hair, the Queen ordered four quilts to be made by the wives of the Durham and South Wales miners, one in a “ teardrop ” design. Another quilt will have a feather

motif. One that will belong to Princess Elizabeth is to have a “ ring of roses ” design.

QUEEN MARY’S PURCHASE

Queen Mary visited Paddington to see girls weave exquisite carpets and hand looms for the drawing rooms of famous town and country houses. She purchased a chair seat cover in a design showing Windsor Castle, surrounded by flowers, with a view of the river and two swans. Queen Mary saw a superb flower carpet which girls are weaving for Mrs Euan Wallace under the direction of Mr Pontremoli, the carpet artist.