Inaugural Quilt

‘Aspects of Manx Life’

This quilt was made in 1991 by founder members (Audrey Cooil, Jo Thrussell, Jill Kerruish, Marian Cunningham, Iris Heywood, Kath Wright and Sheila Huxley) to celebrate Mannin Quilters first year as a quilting group (the first on the Island) and exhibited at our first exhibition in 1992 at St Thomas’ Church, Douglas. The quilt is machine pieced and hand quilted.

First and foremost, The Legs of Man, The Triskelia are central. Then, just as the Americans changed the names of blocks to suit each state, so we have changed the names to suit our Island’s specialities. Aeroplanes have become Ronaldsway Airport. Courthouse Steps become Tynwald Hill (our historic place of Government). Trees become plantations. Wheel of Fortune becomes Laxey Wheel (the largest working water wheel in the world). T.T. block and Storm at Sea needed no alteration. Ohio Star for the many Manx settlers who emigrated to America and all over the world. In applique we have Manx kippers, Manx Shearwaters together with surfing at Gansey and sailing.

The quilting shows many more Manx specialities. :- TT riders in their leathers, our tailless Manx cats, the fuchsias that hedge the roadsides, our four horned Loaghtan sheep and finally in deference to our history, Viking Longships, Celtic chain and Celtic knots.