Gallery Festival of Quilts - Hawaiian Quilts by Pippa Moss

Oh, I just noticed that I am mentioned in this months Todays Quilter - I'd better post this now!

I was very pleased to have my own gallery of Hawaiian quilts at FOQ 21, having applied several months before. I had been working for months, finishing the hand quilting of several quilts. As the quilts are very large, I had to request changes to the gallery layout to accommodate these. I also folded four unquilted tops into meter widths and sewed these, to fit into the leftover spaces.

The end of August finally arrived - laborious packing of five suitcases, and hauling these to the hotel and then the NEC! When I arrived, the exhibition space was not as I had planned - it was smaller! A quick rethink, and three of the older quilts were culled, leaving ten large quilts and the four folded tops. Luckily, the hanging crew made quick work putting the quilts up on the walls.

The next four days were very pleasant, talking to many people (most masked, as I was). I was also interviewed by Katie from Arnold’s Attic, and you can see this on YouTube, “Meet the Maker  -Pippa Moss”.

A corner of the gallery.

Two tops, folded into meter widths, to fill the odd spaces...Sunflower and Kuuipo

                                               String of Pearls- Lei Momi

                         

                                                  Molokama

                                                                Ipu Kukui

                                                Umeke O Kamehameha

                                                        Kiku Nut

                                            Elizabethe Akana - Ulu or Breadfruit

A very large pattern by Elizabeth Akana - Silversword

Carnation

Millennium Quilt - 2000

Molokama

Piilani

                                                                 Masked up!

I was so pleased when, on the final day, the lady from the nearby coffee stand came to have a closer look at the lovely quilt that she had been admiring from afar for four days.

The quilts came down in record time, and I was able to load up and drive home. I enjoyed my gallery and would encourage others to apply.

Washing a Quilt

I thought that it might be good to show photos of a quilt being washed. Remember, washing is irreversible….you can’t “ unwet” a quilt! So assess it first, fragile quilts or fabrics liable to bleed should not be washed. Luckily, these Durham and Welsh wholecloths are very sturdy and have probably been washed many times before.

First, lukewarm water in the bathtub with a small amount of a special detergent like Synthrapol or Metaplex. Agitate the quilt….leave to soak….

The first lot of water …..lots of dust, dirt and some degradation products….

Let the water drain out. You can gently press and lift the quilt, but do not wring….it is very heavy now that it is wet, and heavy handling could cause damage to quilting or seams.

A second and then a third rinse with clean, lukewarm water. This is to get rid of any traces of the detergent. Let the water drain away as much as possible. 

Gently place the quilt in a container ( some people use a sheet to lift the quilt).

Next, the quilt goes into the clothes washer for a slow spin to get rid of excess water….

 Finally, I place the damp quilt on a drying frame…here, I used my quilting frame. Turn regularly….until dry…..the quilt should be much cleaner and also smell fresher.

Durham Cot Quilt from South Shields

A cot quilt from South Shields, this is a true cot quilt and not cut down, as can be told from the quilting patterns and the edge treatment.

 The back is rather faded, these items were often left folded on shelves! Probably made from fabric remnants, as both the back and front are pieced.

The quilting patterns are fans  and a worm pattern ( I hope that is the right name!)

I love these baby quilts, the small size requires a little bit of planning due to the small size, but here it looks as if the quilter just used templates for larger quilts that she had to hand. 

Mola of a Man and a Woman

A mola from South America. This was bought in 1987 at the end of Operation Raleigh. This shows a man and a woman, with bow and bird, and shovel and plant, demonstrating their roles in society.

 

A detail showing  the applique, reverse applique and embroidery.

A Welsh sampler, Hannah Oliver 1885, from Cardigan.