Otherwise known as ‘tapestry’ blankets (to use their technical name), traditional Welsh blankets have been part of the fabric of this country for centuries, and not just on account of the infamous number of sheep around to keep material supplies plentiful.
What makes them special is their construction: made using a double-cloth technique, typically featuring reversible, interlocking patterns and with fabric intended to stand the test of many a winter in front of the hearth… or spring, summer and autumn, what with the UK weather being what it is. Before they were produced by Welsh wool mills in the 18th and 19th centuries and became major exports to England, the blankets were entirely handwoven using looms, something artists like Steve Attwood-Wright – the headliner of Blanket Coverage in Newtown’s Oriel Davies gallery – are reviving in the 21st century.
Wright’s innovative methods are not only for the sake of preserving history but also resituating it within the modern-day. “Intrigued by unusual fabric structures,” he creates not only double cloths but three-dimensional ones as well. In addition, returning to handmade production is also a return to sustainable production.
Oriel Davies, Newtown, until Fri 24 Dec
Admission: free (but book ahead). Info: here
words HANNAH COLLINS
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