Meeting 6 March 2014
Our guest speaker was Melanie Birmingham who gave an in-depth
insight into all things felt.
Her title was ‘May Your Stitches Be Tight’ which is a well-used
greeting in yurt communities. Melanie enthralled us with her background knowledge
into ethnic felt making along the northern and southern Silk Routes. She
demonstrated techniques passed down through generations for over 1000 years
which she had learned first-hand on her travels. We were guided along the Silk
route and eventually reached the Mongolia area. Felt making, especially the
wonderful rugs is a communal activity, you are greeted on entering a yurt with ‘May
Your Stitches Be Tight’ and then you get to work. All the community work
together women, children and men who help with the horses to roll the fibres
into felt. These rugs are used as social hierarchy symbols, the brown ones go
on the floor first as everyday rugs, these are for the family to use day to
day, guests are invited to sit on layers of patterned rugs – the higher the
layers the more important you are. These are the Sunday best rugs.
We also saw a variety of different hat styles and Melanie
enlightened us to the fact you can tell whether the stitcher was right or left
handed from the stitching used. Melanie creates replicas of archaeological exhibits
to demonstrate the techniques used. Felt has been made in the same way since at
least 1800 BC – unfortunately Victorian male archaeologists omitted details of
stitching and colour on their finds and most are black and white photos.
We had an Exhibition table with Grace’s work to ponder and
marvel a; a plethora of embroidery and textile styles to admire. Well done
Grace, you are an inspiration to all.
