In summer 2022 MCML started work on a project to more completely document and photograph archival holdings in the collection. This led to discoveries that we held many patterns related to artifacts in the collection, all hand drawn and painted. These beautiful original ideas were transformed into rug hookings, embroideries and quilts. This was the inspiration for the First Draft exhibit, which showcases the patterns and the works together, side-by-side.
The archival work also uncovered other patterns, for which the original works are not in the collection. Some of these are also included in the exhibit as they are wonderful examples of handmade patterns.
