More on the V and A's Bank Holiday weekend of Stitching

Planned around the Quilting Show.  Click this link for a full programme.

Quilts 1700-2010

Meet up with Katrina later in the week at the V&A to go to the long-awaited quilts exhibition. A big show and a lot to see.
18th century work amongst the most intriguing - made of treasured and valuable scraps of fabric, in particular Indian chintz so admired that the government banned its import (to protect domestic production). Pictured: A Bed Hanging (1730-50).
Would have liked to have seen more from the US.
And .....I have to say, I think I saw more breath-taking contemporary quilts at Creative Exhibition's Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham last summer.
Great to see that The Subversive Stitch by Rozsika Parker has been reprinted, presumably in honour of the show.
Am almost inspired to take the sewing machine out over the weekend.

Images and history

A highlight of the embroidery classes is course leader Hannah Walker's work on related images and history. While researching kantha (Bangladeshi quilted embroidery pictures above) she discovered a piece of trapunto (quilted) embroidery at the V&A, made in Sicily in the 14th century. There are 14 scenes of Tristan and Iseult's ill-fated love.

"Although in subtle shades, the large scale designs are very clear and the quilt must have looked particularly impressive by candlelight, with lively scenes of battles, ships and castles," says the V&A.



















Great embroidery and a great story. And a link to recent experience. In Cornwall a few days ago I had a meeting at a school near Malpas, where in the legend Tristan (pretending to be a beggar) carried Iseut on his back across the ford. The crossing in fading light.

Fashioning Diasporas seminar at V&A Museum

No embroidery was on display - but I spoke about Patterns, Place and Heritage at a conference and mentioned Stitch Wandsworth. The conference - Fashioning Diasporas at the V&A - brought together a kaleidoscope of speakers on the subject of fabric, pattern and dress.
Thanks to the organisers (Fashioning Diasporas is an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project run by the Royal Holloway in collaboration with the V&A) we were able to display some of the British Saris. Draped expertly by Ann Tailor and her daughter, Deepika.

Asian Women's Group visit the V&A

The Asian Women's Group visit the V&A. For many, it was their first visit. Again, curator Mor Thunder talks about 17th century printed patterns for embroidery.


































Lunch outside afterwards. Centre: Therese Rajadurai, Asian Community Librarian in Wandsworth.