Jude makes a blanket fit for a future king

The alpaca and silk cream and beige coloured blanket was hand-woven on Jude’s 150-year-old loom in her Saintfield Studio and presented to Prince Charles over lunch recently.

“I’m a Young Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and was chosen to have lunch at St James’ Palace with the Prince,” explained Jude.

“I presented the blanket to him and he described it as ‘exquisite’ and said he would give it to Prince William and Kate.”

Jude is one of Ireland’s leading textile designers dedicated to hand weaving and she creates beautiful, plush fabrics used for home and business interiors.

Recent commissions include the cushions used in the Merchant Hotel in Belfast, bedspreads and cushions used in the Presidential Suite at the Mandarin Oriental in Doha and blankets used by the world leaders at the G8 Summit at Lough Erne, for which she received a personal thank you letter from Prime Minister David Cameron.

exhibition

Her work is also on display in the Made It exhibition at Craft NI Gallery throughout August as part of August Craft Month. The exhibition features the work of designer makers who went through Craft NI’s making it programme.

“Jude’s work is stunning – it is elegant and exudes quality. Her work would be absolutely fit for little Prince George,” said Alan Kane, Chief Executive of Craft NI.

And Jude added: “It’s just amazing to think that one of my blankets could be used to tuck up the little prince at night.”