The Quilt Association was formed in 1995 by a group of friends in order to raise funds to house the collection of antique Welsh quilts known as The Welsh Heritage Collection. To this end the Association has acquired the Minerva Centre in Llanidloes.
The Quilt Association Heritage Collection consists of around 60 quilts with dates ranging from 1850 to the present day, most were made in Wales and show styles and techniques specific to Welsh quilts. The collection also has a few examples of quilts from other areas, together with associated books, costume and quilting ephemera. The collection is stored in a humidity controlled area and packed into boxes lined with acid free tissue paper.
Whilst we do our best these are still not ideal conditions and one of the aims in setting up the centre is to provide better storage conditions. We are also in the process of recording and cataloguing the collection which is available for research and study by students interested in various aspects of textiles.
The Association aims to promote an interest in the craft of patchwork, quilting and other allied textile crafts by organising exhibitions, workshops and classes showing both antique and contemporary work.