The collection of quilting and patchwork at Amgueddfa Cymru contains examples of bedcovers from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries, together with smaller items such as cushion covers, linings from christening baskets, eighteenth-century petticoats and a christening gown worn by Peter Morgan of Golden Grove in 1722. The quilt collection at the Museum dates back to the 1930s. Although a few examples of quilts had been donated to the Museum in 1914, no systematic collecting had been undertaken prior to the establishment of the Department of Folk Culture and Industries in 1932.
The collection is available to view by appointment. If you would like further information, please contact the curator using our Email Form.
Scroll down through our collection of quilts which are listed in the following categories:
Commemorative quilts
Patchwork and appliqué quilt made by Mary Lloyd of Cardigan in 1840.
A marriage quilt made by Mary Miles of Berthlwyd Farm, Quakers Yard, in 1886.
Detail of a wholecloth marriage quilt made by Mary Miles of Berthlwyd Farm, Quakers Yard, in 1886.
A sateen quilt decorated with printed signatures. It was sent to the Welsh War Relief Committee in 1942 from Edmonton, Canada.
Detail of a sateen quilt decorated with printed signatures. It was sent to the Welsh War Relief Committee in 1942 from Edmonton, Canada.
Detail of a marriage quilt made in Maesteg in the 1920s.
A wholecloth wedding quilt made in Maesteg in the 1920s.
A quilt made from a range of printed cottons. The central panel contains a portrait of Caroline of Brunswick, consort of King George IV. Made in Brecon in about 1820.
An unlined patchwork bedcover. Made by the Richards family of Darowen, possibly to commemorate the building of their new parish church in 1863.
Detail of a wholecloth quilt from Abergwawr made to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.
A wholecloth quilt from Abergwawr made to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.
Hexagonal patchwork
A patchwork table cover used at Llwyn Onn Hall, Wrexham. Made from cotton dress fabrics and chintzes which date from about 1780-1820.
A cotton patchwork bedcover made by a dairy-maid at Llanharan House, near Llanharan, in 1886.
A bedcover of predominantly red and lilac cotton prints. Made mid-to-late 19th century by Esther David of Llanfabon.
A 19th century patchwork bedcover from Cardiff. Mostly made from cotton chintzes.
A bedcover of hexagonal cotton prints arranged in cables. Given as a wedding present in 1874 to A. C. Humphreys-Owen of Glansevern House, Welshpool.
Detail of an unlined patchwork bedcover. Made in Llantrisant in 1886.
An unlined patchwork bedcover made in 1886 in Llantrisant.
A 19th century patchwork quilt from Wick. Made from a range of printed cottons.
A quilt of red and white hexagons arranged in diagonal bands. Made by Elizabeth Edwards of Cardiff in 1870.
Patchwork: Work in progress
Detail of a 19th-century patchwork bedcover from Cardiff. Mostly made from cotton chintzes.
An unfinished late 19th century patchwork bedcover from Port Talbot. Made from plain and printed cotton hexagons. The paper templates remain in parts.
Detail of an unfinished late 19th century patchwork bedcover from Port Talbot. Made from plain and printed cotton hexagons. The paper templates remain in parts.
An unfinished late 19th century patchwork from Cardiff. The 'log cabin' pattern has been achieved by dividing strips of cotton into light and dark shades.
An unfinished late 19th century crazy patchwork of satin, velvet and ribbed silk. Oversewn with feather stitches and French knots. Made in Maentwrog.
The reverse of an unfinished patchwork. The paper templates and tacking remain in position. Made in Mountain Ash in 1880.
An unfinished patchwork of hexagonal printed cottons. The paper templates and tacking remain in position. Made in 1880 in Mountain Ash.
An unfinished early 19th century patchwork from Dinas Powys. Made from printed cotton pieces arranged around an oval central panel.
Prize-winning quilts
A programme containing details of events and exhibitions held at St Fagans in conjunction with the Festival of Britain in 1951.
A programme containing details of events and exhibitions held at St Fagans in conjunction with the Festival of Britain in 1951.
A quilted bonnet made by Jane Davies of Pontardawe for the 1951 quilting competition held at St Fagans.
A prize-winning poplin quilt made by Jessie Edwards, a quilting teacher from Merthyr. Exhibited at the Fagans during the 1951 Festival of Britain.
Detail of a poplin quilt made by Jessie Edwards of Merthyr. The quilt won first prize at the 1951 quilting exhibition held at St Fagans.
Quilts for children
A silk cot quilt made by Miss Mabel Owen of Aberdare. It won first prize at the Royal Welsh Show held in Aberystwyth in 1933.
A cot quilt made in 1987 at St Fagans National Museum of History by Katy Lewis of Caerphilly. Peach coloured cotton with polyester filling.
A red and white patchwork cot quilt. Made and used in Carmarthen in 1914.
A patchwork cot quilt from St David's, Pembrokeshire.
A patchwork cot cover used in about 1850 by the infant William Hely Llewelyn of Cwrt Colman, Bridgend
A cot quilt made from printed cotton and chintz squares. Made in 1856 for William Hely Llewelyn of Cwrt Colman, Bridgend, as a seven year old child.
A cot cover of plain and ribbed silk patchwork arranged in the 'falling blocks' design. Made and used in St Asaph in 1870.
Quilts: Earning a living
Village quilters from Solva posing with a frame in 1928.
Central motif of a wholecloth quilt made in 1933 by a group of quilters from Porth, Rhondda.
A cream cotton poplin quilt with carded wool filling. Made in 1933 by a group of quilters from Porth, Rhondda.
A notebook filled with notes, pencil drawn patterns and payments for quilting. Complied by Irene Morgan (nee Davies) of Abderdare in the 1920s-30s.
A notebook filled with notes, pencil drawn patterns and payments for quilting. Complied by Irene Morgan (nee Davies) of Abderdare in the 1920s-30s.
A notebook filled with notes, pencil drawn patterns and payments for quilting. Complied by Irene Morgan (nee Davies) of Abderdare in the 1920s-30s.
A reversible wholecloth quilt of pink and green cotton with a flounced edge. Made by Phoebe Walters, a professional quilter from Bancyfelin, in about 1906.
Detail of a wholecloth quilt of pink and green cotton. Made by Phoebe Walters, a professional quilter from Bancyfelin, in about 1906.
Quilts: Make do and mend
A 19th century geometric patchwork quilt made from off-cuts of flannel from Ogof Woollen Mill, Drefach-Felindre. Probably made by the weaver Benjamin Jones, or a member of his family.
A quilt made by the Borth based artist Becky Knight in 2006. Constructed from recycled Guinness cans, machine stitched to form the traditional 'drunkards path' design.
Detail of a quilt made from recycled Guinness cans. Designed and made by Becky Knight of Borth in 2006.
A 19th century patchwork quilt made from off-cuts of flannel from Ogof Woollen Mill, Drefach-Felindre. Probably made by the weaver Benjamin Jones, or a member of his family.
An early 20th century bedcover. Made in Blaenau Ffestiniog from scraps of tweed and worsted suits worn by quarrymen.
A patchwork quilt made from a range of printed cottons. Made by an unknown quilter from Rhydlafar in about 1850.
A mid 20th century quilt from Cardiff. Made from rouched up silk ties. Lined with larger pieces of silk, possibly suit lining.
A reversible late 19th century quilt from Llangamarch. Made from two recycled woven and printed paisley shawls.
A patchwork quilt made from multicoloured printed cotton squares. The filling is probably an older quilt. Made by Esther David of Llanfabon. Mid to late 19th century.
A bedcover made by James Williams, a tailor from Wrexham, between 1842-52. Made from 4,525 pieces of woollen cloth, mainly off-cuts from military uniforms.
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