In a few days time, the Old Library at Dulwich College will be transformed as Dulwich Quilters hold their biennial exhibition on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November.
Dulwich Quilters began in December 1986 - many of the founder members had attended classes held by Pat Salt and Dinah Travis and decided they wished to continue meeting regularly. Since then, it has become a group of 25 members of varying nationalities, age and character but they share a common interest – the joy of fondling fabric and turning into textile items. One of our younger members became a mother last July and the group hosted their very first Baby Shower and presented Helen with an ABC playmat, which will be at the show.
Dulwich Quilters always try to raise money for local charities. The raffle quilt this year is A TOUCH OF RED, co-ordinated by three members – Elspeth Facer, Jenny Park and Jenny Strong. A traditional American block pattern was used to make this bed quilt. Some of the fabrics were bought, but members also added their own choice of blue fabric for their blocks – it is predominantly blue, cream with a touch of red! All proceeds will go to Centre 70, a local Advice & Counselling centre that gives free impartial advice. Tickets cost 50p and they will be on sale at the show. The draw for the quilt and other prizes will take place on Sunday 11th November before the end of the show.
The Group Quilt, Just Stitches, is a small hanging made up of individual hand stitched blocks and surrounded with little circles, using the Kantha technique popular in Bangladesh and West Bengal. It has been co-ordinated by Ann Rutherford, the current Chairman.
The Chairman’s Challenge that has become a popular part of the exhibition is FUN & GAMES this year. Once again, the members have allowed their imagination to produce some very clever hangings – you can even play with some of them.
Workshops are organised through the year, and last year, Janice Gunner taught a class on Inspirational Indigo. There is a section in the main hall devoted to the resulting hangings which are very different and well worth a look. We also have outside speakers visiting the group and have enjoyed a variety of subjects from Shackleton’s voyage to Antarctica to judging quilts for exhibitions.
It isn’t all work and no play – Dulwich Quilters celebrated their 25th birthday last December but we held our ‘jubilee’ party in January and had a ball. From silver balloons and bunting to Lindsay Symmes’ Jubilee Ode, not forgetting the food (a feast of delights) and bubbly – we partied away.
Since the past year, five of our group members go every Wednesday to help the St. Christopher’s Hospice quilting group. The St Christopher’s group was formed last May and since then they have made a couple of large hangings for the Hospice and various individual projects. Two of our past Group Quilts, HATS OFF! and POTS AND POSIES have been donated to St. Christopher’s Hospice.
This year some of our past Group Quilts will be exhibited and it will be very interesting to see them again as well as a trip down memory lane. Joyce Tunna, one of our founder members looks after our archives and there will be a small display of our past history on show.
It is pertinent to mention the husbands/partners as well. Their help is invaluable the day before the show - to put up the stands, cut dowels and generally make themselves useful. It is always amazing how long it takes to put up an exhibition and no time at all to take it down!
There will be a sales table and best of all, an overflowing array of cakes and biscuits to tempt everyone. Do come and visit our show – you will be pleasantly surprised!
Details of the exhibition are: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November from 10am to 5 pm at The Old Library, Dulwich College, SE21. Nearest rail station is West Dulwich. Free Parking. Entrance £3 (includes catalogue), no concessions, children free.
One Comment
Inspirational!