Weavers' Knot 2015

A gathering of past recipients of a Theo Moorman grant at the V&A Clothworkers' Centre, Blythe Road, London in March 2015.

Sue Pritchard, curator of contemporary textiles, V&A, (right) shows work by Theo Moorman to the weavers at the Weavers' Knot 2015.

Our appetites had been whetted when the invitation card arrived to have a study day at Blythe House, near Olympia. Not only did this looking very promising but the invited list of previous TMT Award winners was both impressive and daunting!

Armed with the required ID the large entrance gate opened to this most impressive Grade II listed building. It was built in 1899 as the Headquarters for the Post Office Savings Bank. It is now shared by the V&A, the British Museum, and the Science Museum. A magnificent building that is used for various films and TV locations, providing some useful income.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Clothworkers' Company, over the last 4 years the V&A textile collection has been transferred to its new home, moving some 85,00 objects, to new state of the art storage systems. The architects have given great care to design all the storage areas to distribute the weight evenly.

At last it is possible to arrange group visits, and also individual study sessions by appointment. Do look at the website for information about this procedure, and bear in mind that it is closed in August for an Audit, very important as financial support depends on this. It is always hoped there will be very few NIPs - Not in Place where an object is not in the allocated space so serious detective work is required.

We were divided into two groups, one with Sue Pritchard, the other with Suzanne Smith, to see a variety of amazing objects and we also met the people who were selecting potential items for new major exhibitions.

Tall hanging space houses many garments each in their Tyvek protective bags as a barrier against light and dust. Long drawers below allow items to be stored flat. Our questions were welcomed and answered very fully. Inevitably the whole aspect of moth and insect control was raised - and I expect many of us will be taking additional measures in our own homes and studios now! We could all have lingered in this storage area for the rest of the day!

In the large light study area, Sue Pritchard had put out two contrasting items from the collection: the famous sampler by Jane Bostocke 1598, and a modern piece - a machine embroidered surgical implant used in reconstructive surgery. In the same room was one of the superb mahogany cabinets from the V&A study gallery with the collection of examples that can be slid out to view.

After a delicious lunch we returned to the V&A section to the Patricia Baines Seminar Room to look at some of Theo Moorman's weaving from the collection. It was indeed fitting for us to be there that day, as many of us remember Patricia with great affection. We saw some of the items that had been part of the Circulation Department, based on the best of British design, used as a teaching resource, sadly disbanded during severe cutbacks.

The Worshipful Company of Weavers runs a competition every two years for young graduates to weave a panel of a set size - 5' x 5' x not more that 12" that will be displayed at their headquarters for two years and then on long term loan to the V&A. We are saw several of these innovative art pieces.

Tea and cakes rounded off a very special day, with TMT Award Winners being able to exchange ideas and share our current developments with each other as well as the Trustees.

We had been extremely fortunate to have so much time with Sue and Suzanne who had given much thought about what to show us. The usual group visit would be 45 minutes.

I do recommend registering on the V&A search collections website, since many thousands of objects are now viewable, and the details obtained if seeking to study in person. Group visits can also be arranged.

A very big thank you to the Trustees and Julia Philips for arranging this very special day. It was a real joy to meet other recipients in such an erudite location. Geographically we are so far flung, and yet another bonus is the warmth in messages since to meet up if traveling nearby.

Jennie Parry, grant recipient, 2012.