The Paisley shawl
Patch
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Creator
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Clare
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Story
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The Paisley shawl
This fine printed wool fabric is, I believe, part of a Paisley shawl probably made in 19th century Scotland. Such shawls, inspired by Indian patterns, were popular until the 1870s when they went out of fashion. This one may have belonged to my great-grandmother. Someone, perhaps my mother or grandmother, later made it into a skirt, which, faded, motheaten and darned, found its way into my childhood dressing-up box. Other pieces of the same fabric were in my mother's drawer full of scrap materials, and show by comparison how much the skirt had faded, especially the green dye. It must have been much loved and worn. I would have liked to wear it too, and attempted some more repairs, but eventually had to admit defeat; there was too much moth damage. But I kept it; I never throw away any fabrics, even tiny scraps.
I now live on Dartmoor and make art in various media, based on observations of the landscape. From oil pastel sketches done outdoors on coloured paper I have developed some textile pieces using applique and embroidery. The old paisley fabric, with its rich but subtle colours and fern-like patterns, proved perfect for evoking the effect of rain-soaked dead bracken in autumn and winter.
In my family, sewing skills have been passed down the female line, along with fabrics, buttons, lace and threads. I have a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter who like to sew creatively, so I hope they may find a use for some of the stuff I leave behind. Fabrics can link generations and go through the metamorphoses of different uses. They are patient, and can lie in a drawer for many years until suddenly they are just what you want.
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Rights Holder
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Clare
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Rights
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All rights reserved.
