Wool in the home: Designs

 

The design above is Trefriw's "F" pattern, designed by Freda Williams in the 1940s and recently discontinued. This blanket appears to be from the early 1940s. This was photographed in a historic home next to a fireplace whose supporting beam is formed from a timber salvaged from the Spanish Armada.

 

Above: at least forty years old, the owner believes it to have been made in Penmachno, though other opinion states that Penmachno did not produce this design, though Trefriw did. 

 

Above: A honeycomb quilt showing both sides.

 

Again, over forty years old and thought by the present (not original) owner to have been bought in Penmachno. 

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This cushion cover may also have been woven at the Rhyd-y-bont mill as, although it is a Trefriw "R" pattern, these are not Trefriw colours.

An observation and accompanying photos from Jane Beck of www.welshblankets.co.uk

It is good to see people sharing information about their social history. The bedcovers you show at the bottom of the page do not come from Penmachno. Some as you quite rightly say are Trefriw's F pattern, which was copied by both Dai Lewis at DERW in Carmarthenshire & Rhydybont in Llanybydder. The Caernafon (T3) examples were not woven there but the red one looks like Trefriw.

There are three patterns of bedcover associated with Hannah Jones, the first being (T3) which the mill is reputed to have designed in the nineteenth century and sent out as a pattern mid Twentieth. Old examples are often Black with Blue and red. There are two peony Rose designs too which were later copied by Holytex & Merion. But the very best quality and most beautiful carthenni undoubtedly came from Hannah Jones.

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These two bedcovers are from my private collection.

Jane Beck - www.welshblankets.co.uk

(The first aniline dye, mauvine, was the result of a failed experiment in 1856. The thick black substance in 18 year old William Henry Perkin's flask was found to dissolve in alcohol to form a purple liquid suitable for dyeing fabrics. Thus began the aniline dye industry. - RE)

Jane has given us permission to download photos from her site, which appear below for the sheer pleasure of looking at them. Some are replica blankets, some are one off examples of fabric or tapestry blankets from bygone days, and some are modern blankets and tweeds produced by various mills.