Great excitement at Oakshott when our fabrics were chosen by the Quilt Museum in York for the kit to go with their 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet exhibition (5 September–13 December 2014).
The 1718 Coverlet’s 60 exquisitely sewn blocks use a mosaic patchwork technique and illustrate the maker’s surroundings. This is just one small section from the coverlet:
This is a rare chance to see a textile treasure which is normally kept in storage to prevent its deterioration. But if you can’t get to York by 13 December then you can still see the coverlet in detail in Susan Briscoe’s fascinating book The 1718 Coverlet. This book contains a fascinating history of the original and the story of how The Quilter’s Guild made a replica (also on show). If you want to make your own coverlet then the book also contains both original and modern instructions (and Susan is running a workshop on 11 October 2014).
The Quilters’ Guild selected 16 colourways from Oakshott’s New Colourshott collection. Describing their choice, Susan says:
“Oakshott cottons are perfect for a project like this because their quality and colour intensity produce a wonderful iridescence: they look like silk, yet they’re actually 100% mercerised shot cotton.”
The fabric selection is available from the Quilt Museum’s online shop www.quiltmuseumshop.org.uk as pre-cut Fat Eighths or Fat Quarters.
Beautiful fabric selection! I cannot see them on the Museum website. Is it possible to purchase a set of the fabrics selected for the quilt – in Australia? I have the book and would like to try making a reproduction of this lovely quilt.
Thanks
Hilda
It is isn’t it, Hilda? This is very much the Quilters’ Guild/Museum’s project and they now have the kit on their website: for the Fat Quarter click here and for the Fat Eighth click here.