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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 16 September 2011

Turkey Red Panel Quilt

I am very interested in Turkey red paisley fabrics - especially the printed panels that were sometimes used in quilt tops.

Here is one of the fabric panels that I salvaged from a throw that I bought on EBay for very little (the seller didn't think that they were vintage, as they were so colourful!)



Well, here is a Durham quilt that has also been made using preprinted red paisley panels. This quilt is rectangular and measures 78 x 96 inches. It is a rather worn quilt, as it was in regular use by the owners family until I bought it, having been in the family for many years. You can see that the centre is a printed panel, surrounded by more printed borders and plain turkey red fabric.



The quilting in the centre follows the lines of the printed panel - nothing new in what we do today, then...



The edges of the mitred corner has been top stitched using a sewing machine - it was probably easier to do it this way!



The quilting surrounding the central panel is cross hatching, then a twist, then a border design with a square enclosing a four petaled motif.




The reverse is a red paisley print.





The back is very colourful.



Notice that the mitre does not go directly into the corner!!





The quilt is worn and through one hole, you can see that the filling is cotton ( as is usual for north country quilts).




This quilt has had a lot of use in its days, and one end is particularly rubbed.




This quilt was bought from its owners, the Beveridge family who live at Mains Farm House in Ebchester near Consett, County Durham - two sisters who, to the delight of their husbands, were clearing their lofts after the children had flown the nest. The quilt probably dates from the 1900's but as the red fabrics were manufactured for some time it is difficult to tell.

3 comments:

  1. Lovely quilt, thanks for sharing. The big fabric panel is a great find.

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  2. I love that quilt Pippa. I can see why it has been so loved and used. The colours are just so beautiful. Were the panels made specifically for quilts or were they made for shawls? I think the quilter did a good job with the designs.

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  3. From what I have read, these fabrics were used for a number of purposes, including petticoats and other clothing. Red was supposed to be a "healthy" and warming colour, especially for children and in the sickroom. Interesting how the quilt has been made into a rectangle. Pippa

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