Mississippi Valley Textile Museum to unveil rare collection of Canadian handwoven coverlets

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM) is preparing to open a new exhibit this fall with the goal of celebrating the artistry and history of Canadian handweaving, featuring pieces from one of the country’s most notable private collections.

A Lifetime of Collecting Part 2: Canadian Handwoven Overshot Coverlets from the Dennis and Sylvia Mills Collection opens October 18 and runs until December 20, 2025 at the popular museum in Almonte. Curated by guest Danielle Marshall, the exhibit will showcase dozens of intricately crafted coverlets that highlight weaving traditions that spanned across 19th-century Ontario.

“The 45 overshot coverlets in the exhibit add a noteworthy record of 19th Century settler weaving traditions to the MVTM,” Marshall said in a release. “With their intricate patterns and fine craftsmanship, these textiles celebrate the artistry of their makers and invite visitors to appreciate them as both everyday objects and beautiful works of art.”

According to the museum, the show is the second installment in a series drawn from Dennis and the late Sylvia Mills’ extensive collection of Canadian handwoven textiles. The couple, both secondary school teachers, spent decades collecting and researching historic fabrics while drawing inspiration from Royal Ontario Museum curators Dorothy and Harold Burnham. The Burnham’s research on Canadian handweaving was showcased in their 1972 exhibit and publication of the name, Keep Me Warm One Night: Early Handweaving in Eastern Canada.

However, Dennis Mills’ dedication to the tradition goes far beyond acquiring artifacts. He has documented provenance, researched weavers and tried to preserve their stories. Notable names represented in the exhibit include Samuel Fry of Niagara, John Campbell of Komoka, Charles Irvin of Mount Charles, and Peter Fritz of Selby, according to MVTM.

“The Mills’ coverlet collection continues to be a wonderful and significant addition to the Museum,” said Michael Rikley-Lancaster, the museum’s executive director and curator. “It showcases Canadian handweaving from a pivotal moment of industrial and cottage manufacturing, and we’re so happy to share it with our community.”

The exhibit opening will be held on Oct. 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. Learn more at https://mvtm.ca/