After some notices, Kathy, our chairman, welcomed our speaker Jennifer Hughes from Surrey Weavers talking on embroidered textiles of from around the world and especially from South East Asia.
She had brought a dazzling array of garments and sample from her extensive collection. She explained that many patterns of garments had ancient folklore associated with them, especially embroidery around the edges of garments, it was thought that evil spirits could be warded off by red patterns around the cuffs, necklines and at the bottom hems. In addition, many women’s garments had embroidery covering their reproductive areas as can be seen on items with embroidery across the bust and over the stomach and sometimes at the back. Aprons for example had originally been garments not to keep your clothes clean but as a protection against evil spirits.
Much of the work was very fine indeed, minute stitches covering both garments and linen and table cloths. Sometimes done by mothers and grandmothers for a girl’s trousseau. They were a display of wealth and status. Some garments embroidered with gold coloured thread had patterns representing jewellery such as necklaces and even earrings sewn on and this might have been done for a girl whose parents could not afford real gold jewellery for her wedding.
Many of these ancient craft skills were dying out in parts of the world when girls attended school rather than learning these at home. The respect for the needlecraft skills was lost once their societies moved into a more modern world were machines replaced hand sewn embroidery.
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There were also a range of items to buy.
Margaret thanked everyone who had contributed baby jumpers and hats for the “Fish and Chip” babies in Malawi. So far we have over 25 jumpers to send off to the collection point in Scotland. She encouraged us to keep going. Any baby jumper pattern will be acceptable just so long as they are darker colours.
Finally there was a show and tell session in which several people showed us what they have been making.
Brenda brought this jumper, made for members of a bridge club.
Members were reminded that the AGM will be held next month and Iris Bishop will be our speaker. It is starting at 7:30 for the club business before the meeting.