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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.













Monday 7 July 2014

Welsh, but Durham-style Quilt

Here is a bit of a puzzle - a quilt definitely made in Wales by a Welsh woman, but with a north country flavour. It seems to be another example of a marked top in the Durham style. North Country marked tops were available commercially and could be purchased by post or through stores. This quilt was made of blue and salmon satin by the seller's great aunt. The size is 80 x 90 inches and the quilt dates from about 1920.


The centre has an emblem that resembles a simplified lovers knot.


There are some nice scrolls and some leaves...not feathers, I think, as they are too pointy...notice the prairie points at the edge. None of this looks very Welsh!



A view of the whole quilt...


You can see that the design is marked with a dark pen....which makes me think that it was either done by someone who did not know too much about marking, or by someone who did not want the markings to disappear before it was quilted. The stitching is large and not especially good...


The corner, showing the prairie points...attractive colours....


The quilt was made by the seller's great aunt, who lived in South Wales. The quilt would have been made in either Abersychan or Sebastapol, as she lived in both places. They are both in the eastern valley travelling north from Newport. The seller didn't think it appropriate to give the great aunt's name.

2 comments:

  1. A first quilt perhaps, or maybe one made by someone of a Senior age? It's still very charming!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Absolutely stunning. Such hard work

    ReplyDelete