Quilting in a concentration camp.
There appears to be a great revival in patchwork and quilting these days. Perhaps this is due to the recession that has brought to the fore the 'make do and mend' attitude or perhaps it's due to people wanting something that they have created themselves, something unique.
I have always loved sewing and found all types of stitching to be very therapeutic. When I came across an article in a national newspaper proclaiming the same benefits to prisoners during the second world war I had to do a little research.
Women and girls imprisoned in Changi camp were hungary, threadbare and lived in appalling conditions , but out of all this fear and pain they formed a group to learn how to quilt. Their inspiration was Elizabeth Ennis , a girl guide leader who formed her own guide pack in the camp and encouraged the girls in simple tasks .
The pieces for their quilt were scraps torn from their own clothes and they undid seams on old clothes to reuse the thread.
The quilt in question is exhibited in the V and A Museum at the moment as part of their quilt exhibition, dating 1700-2010 . It will be displayed there till July 4th this year and then will move to the Imperial War Museum.
I have only touched on this remarkable , more information can be found here.
There is still more here
They are truly inspirational!
I have always loved sewing and found all types of stitching to be very therapeutic. When I came across an article in a national newspaper proclaiming the same benefits to prisoners during the second world war I had to do a little research.
Women and girls imprisoned in Changi camp were hungary, threadbare and lived in appalling conditions , but out of all this fear and pain they formed a group to learn how to quilt. Their inspiration was Elizabeth Ennis , a girl guide leader who formed her own guide pack in the camp and encouraged the girls in simple tasks .
The pieces for their quilt were scraps torn from their own clothes and they undid seams on old clothes to reuse the thread.
The quilt in question is exhibited in the V and A Museum at the moment as part of their quilt exhibition, dating 1700-2010 . It will be displayed there till July 4th this year and then will move to the Imperial War Museum.
I have only touched on this remarkable , more information can be found here.
There is still more here
They are truly inspirational!
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