33opened in June that year and was the fi rst UK museum solely
dedicated to British patchwork and quilting, achieving MLA
status (Museums, Libraries and Archives Accredited Museum)
in October 2009.
Interest in the Guild and its aims continued to increase and
in August 2003 this was further enhanced by the introduction
of the Festival of Quilts - launched at the NEC Birmingham.
Now an annual event attracting over 25,000 visitors each
year, visitors have the opportunity to see stunning exhibits,
purchase quilting supplies, listen to experts and participate in
an intensive programme of workshops.
The Heritage Collection currently houses over 800 items
ranging from the oldest piece of dated patchwork in the UK,
the ‘1718 Silk Coverlet’, to more contemporary pieces. Despite
the sad closure of the museum in 2015, after welcoming over
97,000 visitors and displaying over sixty exhibitions, the Guild
continues to display small exhibits from the collection at St
Anthony’s Hall which are open to the public and an impressive
selection at the Festival of Quilts. It also provides quilting talks
and experiences for groups promoting quilt making in all its
forms ensuring the preservation of our quilting heritage whilst
continuing to promote the future of the craft.The Guild’s Ruby Anniversary year is packed with activities,
opportunities and quilting challenges for members to enjoy.
Celebrations began with the May AGM entitled ‘40 Shades of
Red’, at the Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham. Here
were opportunities for members to share their love of quilting
with new friends and old, attend lectures and workshops and
try out new techniques. Challenges for this special year were
entitled ‘Roll out the red carpet,’ and ‘Life begins at 40.’ Other
special events include ‘Spotlight@40’, the commissioning of
new quilts for the Guild’s collection crafted by quilters across
the UK. Each of the regional areas was asked to select a
maker, currently unrepresented in the collection, to produce
an item on the theme of ‘40’. This was open to interpretation- the more creative and inventive the better! Winning entries
will be on display at the Festival of Quilts in August and the
FEATURE // the quilters' guildHeritage Collection quilts on display at the Festival of Quilts
‘Hexagons Lozenges Coverlet’. 1875-1900. This coverlet has a
diamond shape design made up from hexagons in silks and
velvets. The hexagons were pieced over papers and then hand
sewn together to produce this visually striking design.
‘Ladies Work Society Coverlet’. 1875-1900. This appliquéd coverlet is
made from a background of blue and off-white linen with appliqué
motifs of good quality printed dress fabrics. The Ladies Work
Society was established in 1875 and was part of the wider Arts
and Crafts movement that was emerging at the end of the 19th
century. The Ladies Work Society provided a respectable means
of employment for distressed gentlewomen who had needlework
skills and education but no other means of making a living.