Handmade quilts created by people in Kirklees during lockdown last year are going on display at Lindley Library.
The pair of quilts were stitched by 36 local people who joined dozens of others around the country as part of the NHS campaign project #ThreadsOfSurvival.
Chrissie Parker, one of the makers, said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing people’s reactions to the quilts. They are beautiful and when you see the amount of work in them it’s quite breath-taking.”
The quilts go on display at Lindley Library from Saturday January 15.
Threads of Survival is a national creative textiles project which invited people to tell their stories and experiences of the pandemic and also express the importance of the NHS in their lives.
The call was open to anyone and, in the true community tradition of quilting, the exhibition features work from both artists and first time stitchers.
Organised by 999 Call for the NHS, a total of 22 quilts were made by groups from East Anglia, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Lancashire, Somerset, County Durham, Surrey, London, Manchester and Birmingham.
A community quilt from Denby Dale is also part of the exhibition. Kate Tunstall from the Denby Dale Craft Group was intrigued by the call for quilters and spread the word around the village.
Kate said: “When I heard about Threads of Survival I thought it would be something our craft group could get behind.
“Our quilt was an important way of giving people a sense of belonging and means of expression during the awful lockdown period.
“We have seen our work added to that of others around the country in the Textile Biennial exhibition in Lancashire and I’m pleased local people can now see it at first hand. It’s a lovely project to support and be part of.”
Steven Carne, chair of 999 Call for the NHS, is pleased that Kirklees residents will have a chance to see the quilts made locally and said: “We were delighted when Kirklees Libraries contacted us about hosting the Kirklees element of Threads of Survival.
“This is very much a project about people, which is what the spirit of a true public service NHS is all about, looking after people regardless of background or status.
“We want that to remain and not disappear with the current changes taking place. We were thrilled and excited to have the Kirklees quilts included in our exhibition.”
The Kirklees quilts, supported by Third Sector Leaders Kirklees, are coming to Lindley Library after a successful exhibition at Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham, Lancashire, for the prestigious British Textile Biennial, and Ormskirk Parish Church.
