Altrincham Signature Coverlet

Maker:

Members of St. George's Church, Altrincham

Date:

1910 - 1920

Signature coverlet for St. George’s Church, Altrincham, made from 49 blue handkerchief squares of linen embroidered with 8 names or sets of initials on each square in white thread. The stitching of the names varies between running stitch, satin stitch and chain stitch. The squares are divided into eight sections by feather stitch stars giving a triangle for each name. The centre square has an embroidered outline of the church and its name (but no date). The squares have cream Torchon hand-made bobbin lace sashing and there is an outer frill of the same lace around all four sides. It is likely that the lace has been re-used from another project, as lace made specifically for the coverlet would not be gathered at the corners but worked exactly to fit.

This piece belonged to donor’s two great aunts, Edith and Madge Skinner, both of whose names are on the coverlet. It is thought they might have won it in the church raffle for which the coverlet was made. Edith and Gertrude were both school teachers locally in Altrincham; neither married, and were staunch members of the Church at St Georges having been born in the area. They also belonged to the Town’s Women’s Guild and spent many hours in making handicrafts and knitting  (usually socks on four needles, which fascinated us as children). Both sisters were nurses during the first World War.