About Tour Organizer Pat Dalton
| Pat Dalton started knitting in
1962. She soon began canvas work and by 1979 had joined several needlework
guilds and began embroidering. She is a member of the Embroiderers Guild
of America, American Needlepoint Guild, National Academy of Needlearts,
and Sampler Guild of the Rockies. She has studied at several national and
regional guild seminars, Callaway Gardens School of Needlework, National
Academy of Needlearts, and attended the first International Embroidery
Conference held in London in 1992. She has studied Japanese embroidery and
after five years received her teaching certification. Pat's trips to Asia
now number 27, including 24 trips to China, where she has studied at the
National Embroidery Research Institute in Suzhou. She traveled to China in
September 1997 for the Silk Festival in Suzhou.
An avid collector of Asian textiles, Pat's personal
collection includes many Chinese embroideries and articles of clothing,
several Chinese silk carpets, furniture, and coromandel screens.
Additionally, she has a collection of antique lace, Japanese wedding
kimonos and obis, weavings from Laos, embroideries from Europe, Thailand,
Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and India. She also has a collection of antique
purses, both beaded and embroidered, and an extensive library of
embroidery and textile books and numerous books on China.
Recently Pat has become interested in ethnic
embroideries, especially those done by the Miao and Dong women. In January
and April of 2004, groups traveled to Beijing for three days of class to
study two-sided embroidery and then traveled to Guizhou province for the
study of 14 Miao embroidery techniques. These groups also visited several
local villages, markets, and attended festivals where Miao were dressed in
their finest embroidered costumes and silver ornaments and jewelry.
Pat has collected funds from friends and needlework
guilds and purchased over 500 pairs of reading glasses for the Miao and
Dong women. These women are so poor that they can not even afford regular
glasses. By providing them with reading glasses for magnification
purposes, they will be able to pursue the art of embroidery for many
additional years. Pat hopes they will teach the art of embroidery to their
daughters and grandaughters. As an added bonus, she has made over 250
beaded scissors fobs to give the women to attach to their scissors.
Pat believes the "love of embroidery" is a a
language spoken all over the world! |
Pat traveled to Asia 26 times over the past
several years, leading tour groups and making local contacts to bring more
personalized touches to tours. |
About Dalton Textile Tours
| Dalton Textile Tours was
founded by Pat Dalton to share with other needlework enthusiasts the
beauty of textiles produced in Asia. Tours have visited sites in: Beijing,
Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing, Xian, Kunming, Jing Hong, Dali, Lijiang, Hong
Kong, Guizhou, Guilin, Kashgar, Urumqi, Turpan, Dunhuang, and Zhongdian,
near Tibet. Several tours have also included cruises down the Yangtze
River.Tours visit locations focusing on embroidery; including visits to
artists at work, museums, silk producers, and touring the National
Embroidery Research Institute in Suzhou. It is the only embroidery
research institute in the world. While the focus is on textile arts in
China and Hong Kong, groups also visit historical monuments and sites.
Pat organizes and leads the tours, providing tips on
ways to prepare for the journey. When arriving in China, tour groups are
greeted by local guides to assist in translations along the way, as well
as a national guide.
You are invited to explore this website to experience
the beauty of Chinese textiles. Please email
us for more information on our upcoming tours.
DALTON TEXTILE TOURS
10721 Cougar Canyon
Littleton, CO 80124
phone: 303-790-0121 |
Pat stands for a photo near the river with the
tours national guide, Jin. |
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