Quilt No.1113HL - Helen Larkin

Owner: 
Helen Larkin
Location: 
Vic Melbourne
Maker
Maker: 
Unknown
Made in
ENGLAND
Date: 
1881 - 1900
Description: 
Unfinished, hand stitched, polychromatic patchwork quilt in a tumbling block design. Constructed from silk fabrics and stitched with cotton yarns. Although crumpled and torn, the original paper squares are still in the back of the patchwork pieces. There is no padding. 1300 x 1300mm.
History: 

The quilt was made by an unknown person In England in the 19th century. It was a present to the grandmother of the present owner and was brought out from England in 1919.

Story: 

"The quilt was brought out to Australia from England by my grandmother (who was English) in 1919, following the first World War. My grandparents met after my grandfather had fought in France. The quilt was apparently made by a friend in England and given to my grandmother to complete. However, it remained unfinished and was
kept in a cupboard for over 50 years and given to my mother on my grandmother's death. When my mother was a child my grandmother occasionally showed the quilt to her but did not give any further information about its origins. My mother has now passed the quilt on to me." [Helen Larkin]

Related Quilts:

National Gallery of Australia
"The quilt consists of 12 blocks of crazy patchwork with an embroidered border. The quilt is made of 167 different fabrics; most of these are silk. These velvets, printed silks and satins are beautifully embroidered with flowers, household items and Kate Greenway images of children at play. Many of the motifs have a strong influence from the Aesthetic Movement. The edge of the quilt carries a border in maroon silk decorated with tendrils and daisies in very fine embroidery.
The patches are joined with hand sewing and embroidery, however the 12 panels are joined with machine stitching (chainstitch machine stitching). The blue silk lining was hand sewn into position with silk thread." [NGA]
"The quilt does consist of three layers but the central layer is not padding. The crazy patch pieces were sewn together and this was lined with white cotton fabric prior to the embroidery at the edges of the 12 panels being placed. This in turn was lined with a fine blue silk." [NGA] 1810 x 1460 mm
Annette Gero,
Wholecloth quilt originally covered with cretonne and recovered with orange satin. Machine quilted. Padding of wool.
1270 x 1160mm
National Trust of Australia (TAS)
Patchwork quilt of cotton hexagons in a random mix of colours and prints, the predominant colours being blue, red, green, light yellow and pastels. Patches hand sewn. There is no padding and the backing is a grey wool blanket. The top is machine stitched around the edge to the blanket.
1645 x 1060mm
Joanne Pedler
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Shirley Maywald
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940 x 915mm
Hazel Jarmyn
Patchwork quilt made from cotton hexagon patches in the 'grandmother's Flower Garden' pattern, in bright prints and plains, with cream 'paths' made from dress material. Padding is flannel sheeting, and backing is the same cream material as the 'paths'. The centre of the 'flower' patches are autographed with friends' names and dates, as are some 'petals' and cream patches, in black ink.
1550 x 1400mm