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...
by Joanna Dermenjian | Feb 6, 2024 | Article, Labels, Red Cross, Research
In the April 1987 issue of ‘Canada Quilts’, a letter to the editor was published from a British woman, Pauline Adams, who was looking for information about quilts made in Canada during the Second World War, that had been shipped to Britain. Pauline wrote: “There seem...
by Joanna Dermenjian | Dec 11, 2023 | Article, Artifacts, Research
In October, on CBC Gem (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s digital video streaming service), I viewed a beautiful documentary directed by and starring filmmaker Mary Galloway, entitled ‘The Cowichan Sweater: Our Knitted Legacy’. In the 1980’s, I lived for...
