We decided to revisit the possibilities found in Annabelle’s mother’s collection of Welsh steel worker’s vest. This is the fourth in a series of quilts – Quilts 24, 25 and 26 are the first three. The economy of pattern cutting used in traditional workwear means that when unpicked, like the kimono, the shirt becomes a series of squares to ensure no waste of fabric. There is a single semi circle that is the residual piece turned in to form the opening for the head and strengthen the neckline.

On the reverse of the quilt we have further explored the idea of the figure. Using a  much loved pale grey shirt belonging to the artist Simon Starling, we have traced elements of the shirt among a collection of similar but white shirts, to explore the idea of the ‘absence’ of the shirt/figure. This is something we have been considering – the absence of the figure or person who previously owned and wore the clothing.