2002-15-B Appliqué flowers quilt
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This is a red and white nine patch quilt with flowers appliquéd on squares. It was made by Ellen Ann Hamer (1896 – 1987) before she married, probably when she lived with her aunt and uncle in Beulah, Llidiartywaen, near Llanidloes. The design of red and white appliqué flowers was based upon an earlier quilt, also in the collection (2002-15-A), made by her mother Mary Evans also of Beulah.
This large nine patch (2120 x 1850mm) is very striking, with its four petalled simple flowers in alternating red and white cotton twill. There is a star shaped centre to each of the flowers. The work is hand appliquéd, with hand quilting in pink thread, and reverse appliqué on the corners.
The quilter, Ellen Hamer, was known as someone “always busy, doing something, turning collars, but never on a Sunday.” She did a lot of craftwork, including sewing, crochet and knitting. John Hamer, Ellen’s husband, was a farmer at Glynbrochan near Llanidloes, where they lived for sixty years, having a total of four children.
This quilt has been exhibited on many occasions, including The Quilt Association summer show “Reds on the Beds” of 2005, and at The Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham in August 2008.