Waking up in the morning

July 27, 2023

To be honest I am not good in a morning. It may be due to the icy blast that sweeps in through the window next to my bed – or it may be the vision of that grumpy old man who stares back at me from the shaving mirror.

But I reckon if I had a covering of a quilt on my bed like any of the ones I saw at the exhibition in Kings Lynn produced by the Samphire Quilters two weeks ago, my rising would be transformed and I would become a much more jolly soul. (No emails please about how much more difficult I would be if jolliness hit me!)

The designs I saw at the display of the quilters’ work were amazing – so intricate and inventive.

There were quilts for the young – quilts you could give as a wedding present and quilts that would liven up even the gloomiest rooms.

Traditionally quilts could be created for virtually any celebration in the home. They were used as decoration and in many cases for warmth. The craft may be traced back to at least the 13^th century and examples of work come from a variety of countries, especially India and the Far East. Also it needs to be said that it was not just women who created the quilts.

There was a tradition of military quilts sewn by male soldiers posted overseas in the 19^th century.

I enjoy the mixture of colours and tones. My wife on the other hand appreciates the techniques and designs.

The exhibition seemed to me to be a celebration of traditional patterns and contemporary inventiveness.

In some ways I felt that the St Nicholas Chapel did not always do justice to the quilts. I would love to have seen them spread out in order to appreciate close up the sheer craft of those who made them and to allow the colours to really glow.