Patched with Pride

The ancient practice of quilting is being kept alive by Dunbar Castle Quilters, a group of women who meet on Wednesday afternoons in the Methodist Church in Dunbar to teach and learn from each other while they work on individual projects which, over the years, have been donated to raise funds for numerous local charities and good causes, including Belhaven Hospital, Dunbar Lifeboats, Maggie’s Centre at the Western General Hospital.

One such event is the forthcoming exhibition on 8th and 9th April at Belhaven Fruit Farm, Thistley Cross, Dunbar, which will include a raffle in aid of St Columbus. The main prize is an exquisite dahlia-design double size quilt made up of 42 panels that took members 12 months to complete as a group project. There will also be another quilt in the raffle, made by Nora Anderson for Help the Heroes. It’s expected there will be at least 25 quilts on display at the exhibition, along with wall hangings, bags, cushions and table runners. Afternoon tea and home baking will also be available both days.

Joseph’s coast of many colours was probably patchwork. Quilting based on scraps of fabric pieced together have been found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs dating back to 3400BC, while quilted bed covers were common household items from the 17th century, especially in northern countries as a means of keeping warm during the cold winter months.

Patchwork quilts are never considered to be finished until they are quilted, which involved a triple ‘sandwich’ comprising backing, wadding and the top patchwork layer. The Amish, a religious group that migrated to America in the 1800s and learned the art of quilting when they got there, turned it into an art form – although they never use patterned fabric in their quilts as this is deemed too worldly for conservative Amish homes.

Dunbar Castle Quilters was started in 1988 by local primary school teacher, Mary Hastie. Following her death, each year members present a memorial trophy and book token to a special needs pupil at Dunbar Primary School who has progressed the most.

Historically, women have joined forces to make sewing practical and beautiful quilts and other items a social occasion. Dunbar Castle Quilters is a convivial group and anyone who likes sewing is welcome to join - it’s a wonderful way to learn and improve the craft and put otherwise valueless pieces of scrap fabric to good use.