Three friends came to visit the other day for afternoon tea, which gave me the chance to wear my recently completed blue jumper. I was really spoilt as they had brought along a pretty pot plant and some home baking too.
There was a pretty little card with the pot plant. “We chose that one because we know you like blue”, I was informed, “and it’s about quilting too”. And so it was, it showed one of the hand embroidered blocks from the famous Changi quilts. I’ve seen this quilt in London, I told them. The Changi quilts were created by women interned by the Japanese in Changi Prison. The quilts were the idea of Mrs Ethel Mulvany. Supposedly made for the wounded in Changi hospitals, the quilts were actually meant to relieve boredom, to boost morale, and to pass information to other camps.
During our trip to England in 2008 we had the thrill of viewing this quilt held in the Red Cross Building in London. Researching before we left home, I discovered that a private viewing was available by appointment. How wonderful it was to see this lovely work f art, done in such trying times, with the woman using whatever threads and fabrics they could find. Each of the blocks were different, signed and often with a message too.
We had a lovely afternoon with our friends, plenty of chatter going on, and the sweet little gift card certainly brought back wonderful memories.
10 comments:
I have heard of that quilt. I am always interested in all of the WWII information on the camps as one of my uncles was a prisoner of war in the Philippines and Japan for just about the whole time it went on, he was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and came home in the end alive but very sick. Glad to see you are doing well and your sweater turned out so good!
Look at you! You look marvelous and the blue sweater does become you Jenny.
Thank you for sharing that wonderful quilt...how interesting!
What a fascinating back story to this quilt--nice that you actually got to see it in person!
I love how well your blue sweater came out--just beautiful--nice work--looks like you are starting to feel a lot better...hope so hugs, Julierose
Happy to hear you had visitors and a lovely time reminiscing.
I believe that three quilts were made, one each for the Red Cross organisations of Britain, Australia and Japan. Each woman was asked to put “something of herself” into the square, together with her signature. You certainly have to wonder at their thoughts as they stitched away, wondering if they would survive and meet up with their loved ones again
Love your new sweater, it looks so warm and cozy. Always nice to have visitors. I've never heard of that quilt. Such an interesting story behind it and I'm glad you were able to see it in person.
Lovely knitting, beautiful card and wonderful memories
You’re looking very snug and warm in your new jumper...
Lovely to have visitors that brought along a gift and beautiful card.
The Changi quilt is amazing...how nice you got to see it.
Lovely to have good friends for company. Very thoughtful.
Lovely color for your jersey. I lived in Singapore in late 70s and read of the quilted story. So resourceful and likely a godsend for the constant anxiety they lived with.
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