My first foray into patchworking was in 1970 and I have been addicted ever since. I also knit, embroider and tatt, but patchwork and quilting remain my first love. Over the years I’ve hoarded even the smallest of scraps of fabric, and have come to realise that the time to use them is now, before they swamp my studio.
These days, when working with patchwork, I like to utilise the Oulipian methods of imposing multiple restrictions on my work as a way to trigger ideas. Recently that has meant exploring and using the natural dyes that were processed in the Albert Mill, Keynsham (between the 1860’s-1960’s). Back then imported timbers were imported and chipped then infused to make textile dyes. Most of these woods are restricted by the CITES agreement now but three (Logwood, Fustic and Brazilwood) are still available from cultivated crops. The restriction of only using these three dyes, plus dyes obtained from plants growing in Keynsham today has been the focus of my recent work. I have combined vintage, recycled textiles with new fabric to produce a series of quilts under the collective title of Cægineshamme Deags, Logwood Mill.
