Quilt Museum and Gallery

The Quilters’ Guild Heritage Collection

The Quilters’ Guild was formed in 1979, and at the same time, The Guild began collecting patchwork and quilting, primarily as a teaching and research tool.  The collection has grown to over 600 artefacts today, mainly quilts, coverlets  and patchwork tops, but also including small items such as aprons, hats and bags and a number of pieces of costume.

In addition the collection contains examples of templates for patchwork and also quilting templates particularly from the North of England and the Scottish Borders. The collection also features sewing and needlework tools from all periods. Also open for consultation as part of the Guild collection are the information and images collected during The Quilters’ Guild Documentation Days. These were held during the 1990s and nearly 4,000 quilts, coverlets and associated items were documented .

Items from the 18^th century

In addition to the well-known 1718 silk coverlet the collection contains some interesting examples of quilting from the 18th century, including two exquisite caps and a blue silk petticoat. A small white linen cot quilt is probably one of the earliest pieces in the collection. Possibly worked in a professional workshop it contains delightful quilting patterns of mermaids, castles, ships and exotic-looking animals. It may well date from around 1703 as it has key similarities with a linen quilt in the Victoria and Albert Museum which carries this date in the quilting.

Items from the early 19^th century

The collection is also noted for its key examples of cotton patchwork made in fabrics from the late 18^th to the early 19^th century when the English market in hand block printed cottons, plate prints and roller printed fabrics was beginning to flourish. The frame coverlet  known as ‘Mrs Billings’ is one of the finest in the collection. It was probably made around 1810 and has a central section surrounded by borders of different widths and pieced patterns. This arrangement is very typical of British patchwork and is known as a ‘frame’ layout. The workmanship of this coverlet is outstanding and over a hundred different fabrics have been used in its construction. Another key piece from this date is the ‘Mary Prince’ top. This pieced top echoes the frame layout in the choice of colours but it is pieced from just one geometric shape, the elongated hexagon. It has been pieced over paper templates using a traditional method sometimes known as ‘English paper piecing’.

Items from the later 19^th century and early 20^th century

With the availability of cheaper printed cotton fabrics patchwork and quilted bedcovers gained a huge popularity amongst all classes in the 19th century and the collection reflects all aspects of the development  of the craft during this period. This includes cotton frame quilts, wholecloth  and strippy quilts, strip piecing, block patterns and appliqué. The fancy work quilts which were  made in the second half of the 19th century are well represented with examples of diamond and hexagon patterns using silk and velvets, as well as crazy patchwork  items.  Wales and the North East of England developed  a particularly strong quilting tradition during the 19^th century and both geographic regions are well represented in the collection.

Items from the 20^th century

The 20^th century collection held by the Guild reflects the use of patchwork and quilting for smaller domestic items and in clothing such as bed jackets and dressing gowns. Much more is known about the makers of patchwork and quilted items in this century and we have work by Irene Morgan and Amy Emms as well as the quilt historian Averil Colby.

Contemporary Makers

The Guild is proactively collecting the work of contemporary makers and additions to the collection recently have included the significant pieces Field Force by Michelle Walker and Turmoil and Change by Diana Harrison.