I make no apologies for craft bombing you with abandon at the moment. Recently it was the North Yorkshire’s Thirsk Yarnbombers’ hanging baskets dangling outside shops pubs and businesses
The Black Lion JW Estate Agents
Today we switch to quilting. As you will know, Frost Magazine has been covering the Columbia Community Centre and how it stepped up to the plate during Covid, much as Thirsk’s community did, and I wanted to see how things were post-Covid in my mother’s birthplace. I discovered that the CCA were pressing forward in leaps and bounds poring over plans for refurbishment, which has now begun – hooray.
Link to the first editorial on the refurbishment of the CCA building,
While work progresses, the CCA based at Brady Square, Washington, Tyne and Wear is of course, managing on the one hand to facilitate the internal and external renovations, while with the other, making sure that the groups who meet at the centre still have space to dance, exercise or in the case of the Fat Quarters Sewing Group create magnificent quilts like the one heading this article. Oh, and to have a cuppa, of course.
Having been sent the photo of the quilt by Marion Taylor the secretary and unstoppable force of the CCA, I simply had to talk to Marilyn Ellison, the creater of this glorious Wedding Quilt, made for a grandson who is to pledge his troth today, the 12th August. You see, I make baby quilts, which take me long enough, so how on earth…
Knowing the blood sweat and tears, not to mention pricked fingers, that go into my little offerings, all with the rather wonky result, well-meant though they are, I simply had to chat to the creater of a ‘proper’ quilt, one which fills me with awe, and more than a bit of frustration. I mean, how and stay sane?
Enter stage left, Marilyn Ellison – drum roll, ta-ra-ra – doyen of the quilting world, in company with the other Fat Quarters ladies of the CCA. So, come on Marilyn, give us the gen on quilting, and Wedding Quilts, and all you know, if you please.
Marilyn comes from a long line of dressmakers – at least three generations: ‘So it was perhaps natural,’ Marilyn said when we spoke, ‘that on retirement I would continue to pursue the family talent in some way.’
‘But before we move on,‘ I insisted, ‘Let’s put the name of the group to rest, because let’s face it, none of you are fatties not even plumpies. So why the name?’
‘No, no,’ laughed Marilyn. ‘Let me explain: if you have a metre of cloth, in order to get more usable material you fold it in half lengthways, then again, so you have a Fat Quarter. You then cut through the fat layers, or quarters, to produce four shapes. In this way you get more from the metre of cloth.’ So there we have it; no fatties, just quilting lingo.
Now back to the matter in hand.
It seems that a Wedding Quilt, such as the one Marilyn has worked, is not made in one piece, but in manageable blocks. These blocks are then sewn into one big quilt, which by the end is pretty heavy on the arms and shoulders. Can you imagine, therefore, working each patchwork shape into the whole, not a block? It couldn’t be done, for a start it would fall over the floor and you’d end up with arms like a weight lifter. Once the blocks are amalgamated into a whole, a border is then sewn.
‘So is that it?’ I asked.
‘Heavens no, then comes the wadding, and finally the backing material which is usually in one piece or perhaps two – remember that you can obtain 5’ wide material. Finally each quilt has a label sewn on by the quilter, with a quote, or whatever is their usual ‘signature’’ Just like a work of art, I thought. For these creations are art.
My mind flicked to Larkrise to Candleford which I am watching on DVD at the moment and Marilyn and I talked about the strain of sewing by candlelight as people once did, but we decided that the eye strain was as nothing against the benefits of their Sewing Bee chatter, which no doubt was actually gossip, and probably made the industrious endeavour pleasant, instructive, and fun. Indeed a break from the cleaning, baking, bringing in the harvest and traipsing miles to the local town. I watch each episode of Larkrise to Candleford wondering at the sheer exhaustion of the life, and the discomfort.
But back to today’s world.
Our chat about sewing bees led to Marilyn and I discussing the merits of working in a group in this day and age, and they are just the same as in the 1800s – chatter and friendship which the Fat Quarters Sewing Group experience in their present home at the CCA. I say present, because the Fat Quarters is an amalgam of two groups, and has been in existence for quite some time resident in places various.
Candlelight or not, the chatter goes on much as it always has done, and the friendships endure. As Marilyn said, ‘These crafts are making a comeback, and if anyone is interested they will be more than welcome to join the Fat Quarters Sewing Group, really they will.’
So take heed, all you sewers, or potential sewers, for you will receive encouragement, and guidance, and I know from my little efforts that a handmade quilt is well received.
But that wasn’t all we talked about, for Marilyn told me about the Quilters Cottage at the Beamish Museum and I reckon the Fat Quarters should head there for a day out to visit Josph Headley’s cottage, which originally stood in Warden, near Hexham, where he carried on the cottage industry of quilting in the 1800s. His fine craftwork was, it is thought, sent as far as America, and his particular border ‘signature’, became known as Old Joe’s Chain and I believe can be seen on display at Beamish who hold one of the only three of his quilts in existence. Go on, girls, give yourselves a treat. There is a cafe there too, and ice cream parlours.
Joe’s story is fascinating: craftsmanship, marriage to a woman 25 years older, and … wait for it …murder…
And so is quilting, and there are friends waiting to welcome you into the fold.
Information: Columbia Community Association Columbia uk Community Forum
Here’s the link for more: https://www.beamish.org.uk/exhibits/quilter-cottage/
Margaret Graham is the author of 30 books under her own name, Milly Adams and Annie Clarke. She has a special interest in military veterans and walked Hadrian’s Wall last year to raise funds, she also lost weight -hooray but it’s all back – boo. She is Annie Newsome’s daughter (of which she is proudest).
Annie in her parachute silk wedding dress and Bill, Margaret’s Da
