Casgliadau Arlein

Embroidered cushion cover. Made by Philys Thomas of Treherbert following a period in a psychiatric hospital, 1920s-30s.

Made from one piece of fabric folded in half. Side edges are machine stitched, bottom edge is open (no fastening). Selvages along open edge. Floral hand stitched embroidery on pale olive green (buff) coloured synthetic canvas ground. Cotton embroidery thread in different shades of green, orange, mauve and pinky-red. Tabby woven ground fabric constructed from Z-twist singles yarns. Underdrawing in blue felt tip pen (?) still visible underneath embroidery.