My thoughts on Textile History by Margy Norrish

  • Hmong Pa ndau Embroidery

    The Hmong are an ethnic people, originally from the mountainous regions of China who were relocated southward by the Chinese government (along with other tribes) in the 18th C to become one of the subgroups of Miao ethnicity. In the mid 19th C they migrated to the mountainous regions of Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam. …

  • European Machine-made Tapestries

    European Machine-made Tapestries Years ago I worked for an on-line appraisal company where clients sent in pictures and descriptives of items for which they wished professional identification and comments.  My area was 19th C and 20th C European and American textiles. More than ½ of all textiles I viewed were late 19th C, early 20th…

  • European Machine-made Tapestries

    European Machine-made Tapestries Years ago I worked for an on-line appraisal company where clients sent in pictures and descriptives of items for which they wished professional identification and comments.  My area was 19th C and 20th C European and American textiles. More than ½ of all textiles I viewed were late 19th C, early 20th…

  • Depression Quilts

    Depression Quilts Some have called quilts made in the 1930’s “depression quilts”.  For the most part these were actually bright, cheery pieced quilts constructed from small cotton scraps.  One word here, the quilters did not cut up clothing to make their quilts!!!!! Clothing was patched, darned, hemmed and lengthened and handed down when outgrown.  Clothing…

  • Depression Quilts

    Depression Quilts Some have called quilts made in the 1930’s “depression quilts”.  For the most part these were actually bright, cheery pieced quilts constructed from small cotton scraps.  One word here, the quilters did not cut up clothing to make their quilts!!!!! Clothing was patched, darned, hemmed and lengthened and handed down when outgrown.  Clothing…

  • Hooked Rugs and Cushions

    Hooked Rugs and Cushions Floor coverings in the 1800’s ranged from very expensive woven wool carpets to cheaper in-grain woven carpets to straw and rush mattings.  The straw mattings were popular until nearly the 20th C as they were used to protect more expensive carpeting from wear.  They could easily be removed, cleaned and replaced…