From the Textile Museum Collection

Irish Bedspread

This bedcover, or counterpane, is worked in a traditional pattern called Star Tidy (the octagonal pattern), which has been traced by Mary Walker Phillips ( in her book "Knitting Counterpanes" - pg 50) back to an 1845 publication called Manual of Needlework, by Cornelia Mee. The square pattern is a 'honeycomb' type pattern and was also found by Mary Walker Philips to have been very popular in 19th century needlework publications.

Detail of Irish Bedspread, fine white cotton, cira 1890,
brought from County Fermanaghin to Canada in 1926
208 cm x 173 cm - 82" x 68"

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