by Joanna Dermenjian | Nov 4, 2024 | Article
I am working on an article about the Canadian 1960’s quilt revival. While researching primary sources last week, I came across a 1966 article about a quilting group that was celebrating their 50th anniversary. Yes, that’s correct – the first meeting of the Brandon...
by Joanna Dermenjian | Jun 25, 2024 | Article, Artifacts, History
“My 100-year-old friend Joan died recently, and I am trying to sort her belongings. I have a quilt that was given to her during the war; she told me that it had come from Canada and that when she first had it there was a note saying where it had come from. It is in...
by Joanna Dermenjian | Jun 5, 2024 | Article, Artifacts, History, Labels, Research
This post is written by me, with additional conversation provided by an IG follower, Deb Greensill, from England. Joanna writes: During the Second World War, Canadian women on the home front knit socks, scarves, vests and balaclavas for the military, and sewed...
by Joanna Dermenjian | May 5, 2024 | Article, Research
When I first joined Kingston Heirloom Quilters in Kingston, Ontario, I was introduced to their oldest member, Phyllis Vanhorne. Since I lived near Phyllis, I sometimes drove her to our daytime quilt guild meeting. Phyllis was 96 years old then and had been quilting...
by Joanna Dermenjian | Apr 8, 2024 | Article, Red Cross, Research
The text on the back of the photo above reads: CANADIAN RED CROSS, NEW BRUNSWICK DIVISION, Work Room in Legislative Assembly Room, Fredericton, N.B. (Shared by permission: Provincial Archives of New Brunswick (PANB): MC2441 – New Brunswick Division, The Canadian...
by Joanna Dermenjian | Mar 5, 2024 | Article, Research
Last week, I received a lovely gift from Margaret in Australia (on IG @quiltsinkidsbooks), including Australian military knitting patterns from both the First and Second World Wars. I have never seen these booklets before. These examples of knitting ephemera caused me...
