Quilt No.1115KJ - Kay Jones

Kay Jones
Owner: 
Kay Jones
Location: 
WA
Maker
Maker: 
Alice Attridge
Made in
ENGLAND
Date: 
1881 - 1900
Description: 
Quilt top with English piecing in a star in polygon pattern. English and French cotton fabrics in a wide variety of patterns and plains constructed over papers with the tacking still in tact. Papers are mainly part envelopes some with stamps and post dated 1898. 2200 x 1800mm
History: 

The quilt top was possibly made by Alice Attridge in Essex. Alice died in 1918. It then passed to Alice's daughter Florrie Clayton and then to Alice's grand-daughter Shirley Gibb and is now owned by Kay Jones the maker's great grand-daughter. It was brought to Australia in 1976.

Story: 

"Not much is known about the quilt. Alice died in 1918 when my mother, Florrie Clayton, Alice's daughter was 14. My mother obviously kept the quilt as a memento of her mother and it stayed in a cupboard until we brought it to Australia in 1976 when again it was put in a cupboard in, horror of horrors, a plastic bag. Then I gave it to my daughter Kay Jones and its history came to life." [Shirley and Brian Gibb 20.8.02]

Shirley and Brian Gibb with Alice's quilt top.
Shirley and Brian Gibb with Alice's quilt top.

Related Quilts:

National Gallery of Australia
"This quilt follows the traditional hexagon patchwork pieced pattern, which are then joined and sometimes edged with a contrasting border. The edges of the quilt have been turned and then scalloped edges made of identical patches to the main body of the quilt have been attached to the edge. The quilt is fully lined, and the lining is visible front the front face through the gaps between the scalloped edge. The lining is attached to the patchwork with a row of stitches along the edges; there are no stitches in the centre field. The fabrics of the quilt are plain weave cotton in simple floral and geometric designs. Most of the fabrics are monochromatic. Several different colour ways of the same fabric are evident which could suggest some fabrics were from manufacturer samples. The lining is a William Morris print.
Each of the patchwork pieces (there are several thousand present) are sewn together with very fine overcasting stitches. The quilt is entirely hand sewn. There is some evidence that templates from the hexagon pieces possibly blotting paper, remain in situ���The quilt is not padded or quilted. The lining is fine twill weave cotton printed in pink and pale purple. The design follows William Morris's 'Strawberry Thief design'." [NGA] 2075 x 1911mm
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