The precious quilt took months to make, and now it’s missing (Picture: X/@verityebell/PA)
Calling all travellers on the London train network: Have you seen this quilt?
The silk blanket was forgotten in a luggage rack on the way to Victoria Station, and the baby it was made for would like it found.
Public law barrister Verity Bell shared photos of the beautiful quilt on Twitter yesterday, urging anyone in the area to try and track it down.
‘My friend Lucie desperately needs your help,’ she said. ‘She has spent nine months hand making this beautiful quilt out of disused kimono silk for her oldest friend’s brand new baby.’
The quilt was left in the luggage rack in a blue tote bag, and with lost property services closed until tomorrow, there has so far been no way to find it if it was handed in.
‘Lucie designed, made and embroidered every inch of this quilt herself,’ Verity said. ‘Her oldest friend wanted Classical girls’ name suggestions: it was Lucie who named the baby Calliope when she finally arrived.
‘Today was the day Lucie was due to meet Calliope and present her with her quilt. However, tragedy has struck: owing to a combination of tiredness and excitement, Lucie LEFT the quilt she has worked on FOR MONTHS in the luggage rack on the train to London Victoria!’
‘If you or someone you know is travelling by Southern Rail today, please, please, please check the luggage rack. The quilt is in a blue tote bag. Southern Rail Lost Property doesn’t open until Monday.
‘I believe in the goodness of strangers. Let’s #findthequilt. If you can’t find the quilt, please reply to this thread to admire Lucie’s incredible work and spread the word.’
The quilt was left on a Southern Rail trains to Victoria Station in London (Picture: PA)
Calliope’s mum Sarah Stuart wrote: ‘My wonderful friend Lucie made this quilt for my daughter. We are hoping for a nice story to tell C of how it went on a little journey with @SouthernRailUK and was found by a kind stranger! Please share.’
The thread garnered thousands of reactions, with train guards alerted and urged to search their services but so far with no luck.
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Many retweeted and tried to help but sadly some gave false hope with one person even claiming to have found the quilt in Croydon, but actually using a doctored photo based on a rough sleeper’s sleeping bag which was uncovered using reverse image search.
Posting an update this afternoon, Verity said: ‘It’s Day 2 of #findthequilt and we have yet to hear news from the Southern Rail stations contacted. Lucie is considering writing a children’s book about the adventures of the quilt. I am considering urging her to sew an AirTag into the next one!’
Hopefully the lost property office opening tomorrow brings good news, but in the meantime keep your eyes peeled for a blue tote back and a stunning silk quilt.
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