Quilters set to host anniversary exhibition

A Mid Wales quilting group will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year with a major public exhibition in Llanidloes showcasing heritage craft, historic design and sustainable textile work.

The Welsh Heritage Quilters will stage their anniversary exhibition, titled TŶ’R CWILTIAU, meaning House of Quilts, at the Minerva Arts Centre from 25 April to 25 May 2026.

The exhibition will centre on variations of the Log Cabin patchwork design, a pattern with a long international history. Organisers say its roots can be traced from ancient Egyptian textiles through to Britain and America in the nineteenth century. During the American Civil War period, the block became associated with President Abraham Lincoln, and some folklore links certain colour layouts to coded messages connected with the Underground Railroad.

Visitors will be able to see a wide range of interpretations of the design, from contemporary machine quilting to traditional Welsh hand quilting techniques, for which the region is well known.

Alongside the main theme, the show will also include a fabric row of terraced houses featuring detailed interior scenes, continuing the housing theme behind the exhibition title.

Sustainability will also feature strongly, with members presenting quilts created using repurposed and reused fabrics. The group says the aim is to show how traditional craft skills can respond to modern environmental concerns.

A retrospective display will highlight the work of life member Pauline Meads, known as Polly, who has spent more than 60 years teaching textile techniques and judging competitions. Although she has recently moved closer to family, organisers say her influence on quilting in Wales continues through the many people she has taught and supported.

The exhibition will be open to the public throughout the month, with organisers inviting visitors from across Mid Wales and beyond to attend.