British Quilt Study Group

About The British Quilt Study Group

The British Quilt Study Group was founded in 1998. Ten years ago members of The Quilters' Guild Heritage committee were instrumental in arranging the first meeting and the group retains close links with the Heritage committee ( now part of the Collections committee) and The Quilt Museum and Gallery at St Anthony’s Hall in York.

The group was formed to fulfil the aims  of The Quilters' Guild to promote the appreciation, knowledge and understanding of the heritage of quilt making.  The specific aims of the group are;

• To foster an interest in both historical and contemporary aspects of British Patchwork, quilting and appliqué through study and research.
  
• To promote the development of research skills through training, work shops, bursaries and mentoring schemes, and to provide the means for publication of research.
  
• To provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas through seminars and study days.
  
• To foster links with quilt study groups and related academic organisations in other countries.

The group brings together textile and quilt scholars, academics and anyone with an interest in both the history and recent developments of the British quilt movement.

Members participate through our newsletter Culcita published twice a year and our publication Quilt Studies as well as our member events and annual seminar.

Full membership of BQSG is open to all Quilters' Guild members at an annual subscription of £15. The subsciption includes Culcita, Quilt Studies and full voting rights for the section.

Overseas residents who belong to a similar Guild, and museums, educational and research institutions both in the UK and overseas can now become a "Friend of BQSG". Full details and an application form may be obtained from bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk

More about our publications and organisation is below. Please contact the coordinator Rachel Nichols (bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk or 01392 877375) if you have specific enquiries.

Joining BQSG will provide you not only with a network of members who are knowledgeable about British Quilts and textiles but will also help, through exchange of information, to establish an accurate written base of information about quilts, making methods, quilters, tools and quilt trends. The study is not limited to historic subjects but includes current makers, tools and trends.

BQSG Co-ordinator : Rachel Nichols

e: bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk

Annual Seminar

An annual seminar is held during the autumn in a different location every year. The seminar brings together our members and others for two days engaged in quilt study. In addition to the presentation of research papers (later published as Quilt Studies) there is often the opportunity to visit a specialised textile collection with like minded people. Additionally the weekend provides the chance to meet and exchange views with others of similar interests. It is a unique learning experience.

Seminar 2009

The seminar was held at West Dean College near Chichester from 30th October - 1st November 2009.

West Dean was a splendid venue and we met in the Old Library in the main house.

Three research papers were presented and these will be available in Quilt Studies 11 which will be published in May 2010.

On Friday evening Linda Connell from the National Needlework Archive told us about the work of the archive ,how textiles are documented and the resources and research facilities they would hold in their new centre in Newbury.

Saturday opened with Carolyn Ducey (International Quilt Study Centre) "From the United Kingdom to the United States: the Evolution of Chintz Applique Quilts" and after coffee Elizabeth Betts talked on "Print with Print:the role of Liberty fabric in the post 1960's UK Quilt Revival".

After lunch Dr Susan Marks Paper was read in her absence and this was followed by an invited talk from Barbara Burman on "Pockets of History:Quiled and Pieced Pockets in UK Collections"

 Satruday evening saw a relaxed communal session covering a variety of subjects from progress at The Quilt Association to the future of BQSG and snippets of knowledge and appeals for help with researcvh.

On Sunday morning 16 members were priviledged to participate in a workshop lead by Tina Fenwick Smith looking at fabrics from the Colby collection and how textures and patterns do not always come true in illustrations.

Annual Seminar 2010

The annual seminar and presentation of research papers will take place in Macclesfield between 29th and 31st October 2010

Proposals for papers must be received by BQSG no later than 19th January 2010. Proposals are accepted from any researcher whether or not a member of BQSG and should be sent to Dr Sue Marks or emailed to bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk

Papers For Presentation

BQSG seeks original research relating to the history of British quilts, quilt makers, quilt making, associated textiles and related subjects.

Before submitting a proposal for a paper please read the submission and manuscript guidelines, below (PDF format).

Dr Sue Marks (contact through bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk) is the paper submission advisor and she will be happy to help you, or, if you require, find a member to support and encourage you in your research and writing.

Download BQSG Submission Guidelines

Culcita

Culcita, edited by Carolyn Ferguson  (cmferguson777@)btinernet.com ), is published twice a year and distributed free to all members and friends. Individual copies cost £3 plus postage. Deadlines for articles, advertisements, requests and items of interest are:

• 7 May (this newsletter carries event dates only and seminar registration forms)
• 7 September
• 7 January

 Culcita was distributed to all paid up members at the end of January. Overseas members will receive an email copy unless otherwise requested.  In addition all paid up members and friends should have received a copy of Quilt Studies 10 as part of their subscription.

Members joining after January 2010 will receive Quilt Studies 11 due out in May 2010.

Quilt Studies

Quilt Studies are the published papers given at the BQSG annual seminar. The following issues are available:

Issue 1 (Edited by Celia Eddy) (published 2000) sold out
Strippy Quilts – DOROTHY OSLER
Turkey Red Cloth – DERYN O’CONNOR, TINA FENWICK SMITH, PAULINE ADAMS

Issue 2 (Edited by Celia Eddy) (published 2001)
Eighteenth Century Quilting in London – CLARE ROSE
Changing Perceptions of the Quilt – SUSAN MARKS

Issue 3 (Edited by Dorothy Osler) (published 2002)
Fabric as Evidence: Unravelling the Meaning of a Late 18thC Coverlet–JACQ BARBER
A Study of a late 19thC Appliqué Coverlet – BRIDGET LONG
Evidence for an Unrecorded Way of Setting-up a Quilt in the Frame–PAULINE ADAMS

Issue 4/5 (Edited by Dorothy Osler) (published 2004)
Issue 4
Lapis: Recognizing a Colour Phenomenon Found in Some Printed Cottons in Early 19thC. Patchwork - DERYN O’CONNOR
Issue 5
Research Findings on the 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet
Introduction - TINA FENWICK SMITH and DOROTHY OSLER
The 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet: Provenance and Family History - MARY HEWSON
A Comparative Study of the 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet - BRIDGET LONG
The Dress Show: A Study of the Fabrics in the 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet - DERYN O’CONNOR
The 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet: A Brief Historical Survey of the Social and Economic Context in Which It Was Made - CELIA EDDY

Issue 6 (Edited by Dorothy Osler) (published 2005. SOLD OUT
Quilts and Cultural Values – LAUREL HORTON
Bible Quilts - RACHEL NICHOLS
Quilted Petticoats – SHEILAH DAUGHTREE

Issue 7 (Edited by Dorothy Osler) (published 2006) SOLD OUT (few copies available at Quilt Museum shop)
Uncovering the History of Patchwork and Quilting in Norway – Joan Foster
The blossoming of Patchwork: a study of cotton and linen patchwork in 18C and 19C – Bridget Long
Revolutionary prints; a new style of late 18C block printed fabric designs – Deryn O’Connor

Issue 8 (Edited by Dorothy Osler) published 2007 SOLD OUT
Machine made patchwork:the development and adoption of tools and techniques-Pauline Adams
A study of Quakers,Convicts and Quilts – Carolyn Ferguson
Early Quiltmaking among the Ulster-Scots in the Southern United States –Laurel Horton
Here we go round the Mulberry Bush? Sericulture and silk mix fabrics in North Wales- Dorothy Osler and Deborah Evans.

Issue 9 (edited by Hazel Mills) published 2008

Victorian Piety on Cloth- Wyatt and Bloomfield Coverlets-  MARGARETA FAUST

Fabric or Fabrication-textile references in four Elizabeth Gaskell novels. CAROLYN FERGUSON

Uncovering Hidden Marks in 1718 silk coverlet-. BRIDGET LONG

Cloth and Culture-silk mix fabrics from North Wales. DOROTHY OSLER and DEBORAH EVANS

The Hawick Quilts -. LINDA LANE THORNTON

 Issue 10 (edited by Hazel Mils)  Published 2009

Sibling ,Cousin or Friend? Considering the relationship between two late 18C mosaic patchwork coverlets-  BRIDGET LONG

Reflections on recent practice led Quilt Collaborations-          LYNN SETTERINGTON

One common border, two continents, three countries: a study of a set of silk whole cloth quilts-  JOAN FOSTER

The third Quilt: an investigation into possible connections between a coverlet in Nottingham and the Wyatt and Bloomfield coverlets-   MARGARETA FAUST   

From 1st January 2010 all copies of Quilt Studies in print are available through the Quilt Museum online shop. In case of difficulty please contact bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk

Future Events

13th April 2010.  V&A Museum Kensington

Talk and tour of the exhibition "Quilts 1700-2010".

Places are still available. Please contact bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk for details and to book.

The talk commences at 11am and following a short lunch break entry to the quilt exhibition will be at 1pm.

26th-28th March 2010 Southport Lancashire

Quilters Guild AGM. there will be a BQSG stand where you can meet members and join the group.

21st May 2010  Quilt Museum York

Research Training Day lead by Dr Sue Marks. Please email bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk for full details and a booking form. This event is open to all. 

22nd May 2010. Quilt Museum York

Talk and an opportunity to see the exhibition. Booking is now open and places are limited.

19th-22nd August 2010  Festival of Quilts Birmingham

Meet BQSG at the Festival

29th-31st October 2010. Macclesfield

Annual seminar. Details and booking form available in May