A small handwork of these Covid months

To replace curtains (slightly too narrow for these two windows because of the width of the Ethiopian loom on which they were  woven)

 

made some years ago of Ethiopian cotton woven with bands of coloured rayon imported from India to Ethiopia,

 

 

 

 

 

(made) for the narrow ground floor windows of friends who live in a house in Philly built a few decades after the Civil War,

 

I fully enclosed Philadelphia Quaker lace with cotton muslin bought in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

 

 

 

Such lace was woven on machines in factories in Philadelphia until 1951 when the last factory was closed for changes in fashion.

 

This lace had been my summer bedspread until much handling had frayed its threads.  I have cut it up into strips and thought to use it for this and that. 

 

 

 

 

The muslin is saffron-coloured. 

The bale from which I bought it and the end piece of the roll of saffron were stamped with one of the symbols of Shiva.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pleasurable activity even if there was tension between the lace and the muslin because they are not of equal weight. 

 

 

 

 

The lower half of the window, which is of plain glass, reflects this design of the Quaker lace when you look at it from outside the house, as though this half were made of stained glass also.

 

 

 

 

So, pleasurable.  And also for the variation of warm (sacred) light which I hope such an arrangement of sun, glass and textiles will stream inside the house

 

especially during this second Covid winter which we are entering.

 

 

 

 

 

4 thoughts on “A small handwork of these Covid months”

  1. Everything you do with textiles is magical, Sarah. These curtains are certainly proof thereof.
    I am certain that they are equally arresting from the outside. Lace is one of the most under-rated fabrics in our modern world. When used over a lovely back-cloth there is nothing for eye-catching and graceful
    Thank you for showing us these latest of your artistic handiworks.
    Susannah

    1. You are kind, as always, Susannah!

      I agree that lace is under-rated today and I suppose it is because it is difficult to keep in shape and to clean. Enclosed like this, however, lace does become easier to maintain so long as it is not handled too much. Such a beautiful fabric, as you note.

      Sarah

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