Eye - 06 September 2013

From crafts to caution

Crafting Quakers

Mary Bradbury, of Cockermouth Meeting, got in touch with tales of Quaker crafts appearing in surprising places. It started with a stitch…

‘Some years ago I attended an embroidery class doing “colour through gold”. I made a piece which turned out as a blue cross on a gold background. I could not think what to do with it so put it in a drawer.

‘Sometime later I was at another embroidery group and mentioned this piece.

‘The tutor was a member of the York Minster Broderers, who have re-covered all the Minster embroderies. She expressed an interest in my piece and, when she saw it, said it was just what was needed for a bourse (mat) for the Challis in the Lady Chapel.

‘Would I give it to her? I was only too glad to do so. Later the tutor asked for a smaller piece for the veil to go on top of the cup, which I supplied.

‘So, a Quaker’s embroidery is used in York Minster each Lady Day (25 March).’

But Quakerly fingers have been busy in other mediums too, including pipe cleaners!