Quilting and Patchwork

Quilting in a Japanese Prison

by Mary Emma Allen on August 15th, 2007

As I listened to the song, Time Flies, by Cathy Miller, who sings many songs about quilts and quilting, I thought, “I’ve got to learn more about those quilts in her song!”  But then my schedule became hectic, and I forgot about it.

Yesterday, I read John Flynn’s blog post, New Piece of Quilt History, and thought, “The information has come to me!  Is this coincidence or what?”

John mentions reading Sheila Allan’s Diary of a Girl in Changi, about her experience as a civilian prisoner in the Japanese prison, Changi, during World War II.  One of the projects the Red Cross used to keep prisoners’ spirits up was a series of three quilts, the Changi Quilts. 

          They were “stitched by women on recycled rice bags,” mentions John.  “The [three]quilts were given to the Red Cross for the wounded  Australian, British, and Japanese soldiers.”

Whether the quilts made it to the prisoners is rather doubtful because they have survived and can be found in various displays.  See a picture of one of them here…. at the Australian War Memorial.  Both the Australian and Japanese quilts are displayed here.  The British one is in England.

Many of the women signed their blocks.  According to the song, these may have been messages to loved ones to let the men know the women were alive.  (Men and women generally were separated at these prisons.)

I’m anxious now to get Shelia Allan’s book and learn more about this episode in quilting history and WWII history.

Share This

Related Stories

Fabulous Fan Quilts
Tea Parties for Quilters and Hospitality
Quilts With Storm or Hurricane Themes
The Copyright Puzzle of Quiltmaking

POSTED IN: Books and Magazines, General Quilting/Patchwork