The story behind the quilt :

n January 1853 a new school opened in La Roë and welcomed 75 children. More than 150 years later, a quilt called "Grandmother's Garden" was discovered in the church transept. A group of enthusiastic ladies decided to save it. As it was too fragile to restore, the six quilters decided to make a copy of the original quilt, both to be presented to the public during the 2 national open days in September 2003. The XIX ^th century quilt travelled to the international exhibition in Rouen in May 2003. They both went to Lézardrieux in April 2004.

t is a mosaic of 3000 hexagons (size of each hexagon = 2.5cm - total size = 1.80m x 2.80m) in silk velvet with a hand-woven silk velvet lining. The letter "M" made with white hexagons is situated in the centre of the quilt on a pale blue background embellished with gold. The fact it was found near the virgin Mary altar, folded on the ground, damp, torn and in parts threadbare, seems to indicate that the «Grandmother's Garden» was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Each hexagon is lined with gauze and attached to the others with overcast stiches. This quilt could have been made around 1870 in the school sewing rooms by the nuns and their pupils.

eneviève Mitchell, Michèle Bulot and their friends are carrying out research into the history of this religious quilt and hope it will help them to put the Abbey on the National and International "Maps" !




Creation of the copy :

n September 2002, a group of ladies collected old velvet pieces, upholsterer samples and bought in the Valle d'Aosta (Italy) a very similar lining in linen. The pieces of velvet were selected, cut into squares, sorted into colours and put into shoeboxes. The material was then tacked on to hexagons in cardboard to create the flowers. Michèle Bulot points out that : "You need a 7cm piece of velvet and 10 minutes to sew one hexagon. To put 30 pieces together takes 6 hours. It took about 2000 hours to finish the copy."

he 3000 hexagons were cut and sewn in complete keeping with the old quilt.




QUILTERS, WE NEED YOU !

he Association La Roë Tourisme is planning to create a QUILTING GALLERY in its cultural and art centre. The opening is planned for May 2007. The 2 quilts «Grandmother's Garden» will be at the centre of the exhibition.
We are appealing to all French and foreign quilters to join this exhibition and to create traditional or contemporary quilts for inclusion.
We have decided to leave you free to choose your pattern, however, you must remember that the gallery will be part of a cultural and art centre in the abbey of La Roë. Don't hesitate to contact us

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