A look at quilting through the ages

Quilts are much more than a collection of materials stitched together.

The word quilt means stuffed sack, but they are so much more than that too.

There are numerous hours that go into the designing and creation of these works of art that will be handed down for generations to come.

People have already been doing just that for generations.

The War Time Quilts exhibit is showcasing quilts dating back even as late as the early 1800’s.

The quilts are part of a very rare collection curated by leading quilt historian Dr Annette Gero.

While quilting is often considered the domain of women, this exhibition shows how men turned to quilting as a past-time in the midst of war.

Made by active soldiers and prisoners of war, the quilts are constructed using rugged and difficult textiles such as thick felt, heavy woollen serge or worsted twill; all scoured from disused uniforms, army blankets and other discarded military fabrics.

The exhibition includes quilts dating from the Napoleonic Wars (1803-15), the Crimean War (1853-56) and World War I and World War II.

One example is the Zulu military quilt.

This extraordinary woollen military quilt with thousands of tiny patches was hand  sewn in the late 19th century from military uniforms. The double edging is ‘pinked’ and the inner squares of tiny diamonds have embroideries of British crowns and flags. Several other embroideries show native huts, spears and shields, a drum and anchors.

Because all of the embroidery all refers to the Zulu war, one can assume it was made on-site or later when the soldiers returned home. The Zulu warriors’ equipment was the shield and the stabbing spear which appear on the quilt.

Another, titled  Soldier’s Patchwork with Incredible Border is made of felted wools taken from uniforms.

It was hand sewn, with hand applied beadwork, and textural layered appliquéd border

This extraordinary patchwork with embroidered textural layers and beadwork was made in the Regimental colours of the 37th Foot Regiment and contains fabric in a mosaic of red, yellow, black, green and blue felted wools taken from the uniforms.

Intarsia with Soldiers is distinguished by pictorial rows of soldiers at the top of the quilt and a musical band at the bottom.

The soldiers in the red, blue and white uniforms are musketeers of a Prussian infantry regiment, and the soldiers in the row in white are Prussian cuirassiers.

Uniforms of this kind were worn in the late 1780s.

The quilt also depicts the court jester, numerous pots of flowers and four blocks with a man and a woman who may be village folk. There is also a stork, which is the symbolic bringer of children.

The quilt is initialled ‘J S J’ but it is not known whether this is the maker or a person for whom the quilt was made.

The quilt comes from the period of Frederick the Great (1712 –1786).

The exhibition, featuring 33 quilts and one cushion cover will be on display at the Ipswich Art Gallery from March 18 until June 25.

Have you made your own quilts? We’d love to see them.