TextileArts news and re:views

rare quilts on show at Forge Mill

A unique and fascinating collection of rare British and American vintage quilts are currently on display at Forge Mill Needle Museum, Redditch.

The exhibition includes examples from the 1800s to Victorian times and American quilts from the 1830s to the Civil War period and beyond. It shows many varieties of quilts and quilting techniques and shares some of the unusual stories and histories behind the making of them, including an Edwardian 'convalescent' quilt made by men.

Jo-Anne Gloger, Keeper of Collections at Forge Mill, said:

This exhibition is a real treat for anybody who has an interest in quilts.

The exhibition runs until Sunday, May 27th. For more details, call Forge Mill Needle Museum on (01527) 62509. Museum information and opening times are on the Forge Mill web site

Weeks Ringle of FunQuilts has written a fascinating and moving account of her visit to a quilting class run by Fine Cell Work at HM Prison Wandsworth.

This post has been six months in the making and proves that you never know where life will take you. In this case it took me to a quilting class at Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth just outside of London. This experience changed forever how I see quiltmaking...

Weeks' articles about her experience are on the Whip Up web site:

• Handmade in Prison: Part One - The Teachers
• Handmade in Prison: Part Two - The Prisoners

Whip Up is "a multi author site with contributors from around the world united by a passion for making things, for beautiful design and for a desire to share ideas with others".