PATTERNS OF DREAMS:QUILTS

Today there are about two hundred traditional quilt makers left in Istanbul, yet just ten or fifteen years ago, Istanbul's Chamber of Quilters had 1200 members. In the 17th century Evliya Çelebi wrote that there were 105 quilt makr'sy shops in the Grand Bazaar alone, but today most of these have gone, although the Quilters Association still has its building there.
The quilt shops whose displays of brilliantly coloured quilts, each one with its unique intricate designs like the patterns of dreams, once lit up every sidestreet are now becoming a rare sight. Inside, the quilt maker, his
spectacles slipping to the end of his nose, sits crosslegged with a quilt of glowing red satin flowing over his knees, and with needle in hand sews patiently from morning till night. When you do come across a quilt shop you may find that the craftsman is not making new quilts, but repairing old ones or selling fabrics. The quilters complain that duvet covers are putting them out of business.

'Quilting is a dying craft,' says one. 'We have difficulty paying the rent, and we cannot find apprentices any longer either because no one sees a future in quilt making now.' Ahmet Dursun, owner of Hürriyet Quilt Shop on Sair Nedim Caddesi in Besiktas told us, 'This profession cannot survive much longer. I have been a quilt maker for 26 years, and I learnt the craft from my father. But I do not want my children to do it.'

Since modern quilts filled with artificial fibre and quilt covers became popular, traditional Turkish quilt making has been steadily disappearing. Ahmet and Ibrahim Tunç, quilt makers on Sehit Nuri Pamir Sokak in Ortaköy explained that they use wool or cotton wool to stuff their quilts, and assert that these natural materials are much healthier.
Besir Bostan on Bogazkesen Caddesi in Beyoglu said that in the past a hallaç (a craftsman who fluffed cotton using a bow and mallet) used to prepare the cotton stuffing. He went on to describe how traditional quilts are made.

'We tack the facing fabric and prepare the lining of cambric or unbleached muslin. This is then covered with satin, or printed cotton if the quilt is for everyday use, and then the pattern is sewn.'
While a quilt with a simple design can be made in one and a half days, a complex pattern may take a week or even as much as a month to complete. The motifs are myriad: lozenges, pears, stars, tulips, clover leaves, vines, carnations, violets, daisies and many more. It is almost impossible to make your choice between so many lovely designs. And if you have a less traditional design in mind, and would like your quilt to depict Michael Jackson playing the Black Sea fiddle on the seashore at Salacak, or a portrait of your son or daughter, then you can go to Celalettin Akyüz. Akyüz has been chairman of the Quilt Makers Association for the past thirty years, and been endeavouring to bring a new lease of life to Turkish quilt making.

He has organised courses and participated in many international craft fairs. Quilts he has made adorn the bedrooms of Arab sheikhs, Russian ministers and American millionaires.

'We make works of art,' he says, 'and we must prevent the craft of quilting from disappearing. By opening quilting courses we can train people who are interested. There is a plan to open a peoplss education centre in the former National Turkish Students Association building in Cagaloglu, and I hope courses will be opening there soon.' Another person who is endeavouring to keep this traditional craft alive is Fatos Sadikoglu. At her shop in Akatlar, dressing gowns, nightdresses, jackets, boleros and wraps are bringing back the beautiful old quilt motifs for modern women. Winter is upon us and the nights are cold. You sit watching television, but your eyelids are heavy.

What are you waiting for? Off to bed! Pull the glowing quilt of smooth satin over you and let it warm you through. Snuggle down amongst daisies sprinkled on emerald green grass and dream of spring. Let your dreams fly off with migrant birds winging across blue depths. Discover four leaf clovers concealed in turquoise blue that may bring you good luck all your life.

By Birgül Göker Photos Servet Dilber / PRINT PHOTOBANK TURKEY

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