Quilt No.383RA - Ruth Nash Allen

Ruth Nash Allen
Owner: 
Ruth Nash Allen
Location: 
NSW Sydney
Maker
Maker: 
Women from Hurstville Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Quilt based on 70mm block. Cottons and rayon's with some reused materials. Machine pieced, hand quilted. Backing is mid blue cotton brought over to the front and machined to form a binding. Padding is probably cotton.
2510 x 1850mm
History: 

The quilt was made by women in a church group in Hurstville Sydney as a project in which they could all participate. The women supplied the material and cut the pieces and Ethel Nash Parton, the President, machined them together. The women then hand quilted the 3 layers together. Ethel's mother-in-law and sister-in-law also helped with the quilting. It was made between 1944 and 1948 and the group did not make any other quilts.
For a few years the quilt was used under the mattress, over the wire base on Ethel's bed and then 2 years ago Ethel's sister, Ruth Allen, discovered the quilt when moving the bed. She now uses it on her bed.

Story: 

Ethel Nash Parton belonged to the church group, the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Hurstville branch (Sydney). The church building was at the corner of Noble Street and Railway Pde. Allawah but it is not now owned by the church. Ethel was president of the group from 1944 to 1948.
The women making the quilt were not particularly interested in quilting, it was just 'a project'. There was a wide age range in the group and they wanted an activity in which everyone could participate.
Ethel's sister, Ruth Allen, wrote" I am very happy that Ethel is getting recognition as she's been a wonderful worker and is an unassuming, reserved person."
[Letter to NQR 13.2.1999]

Ethel Nash Parton & Ruth Nash Allen 1997
Ethel Nash Parton & Ruth Nash Allen 1997

Related Quilts:

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Patchwork quilt made from diamond patches in a variety of cotton materials set in a 'tumbling block' pattern. Patterns include geometrics, stripes, a 'Kate Greenway' print and colours are largely soft pastels, dark browns, with some reds and blues. The quilt has been cut down and a later border added. There is no padding and the backing is cream cotton.
2279 x 2000mm
Irma Whitford
Pieced repeat block in 'Dresden Plate' pattern in a variety of fabrics with pink and pale blue predominating. Scalloped outer edge. Machine pieced and hand quilted, with echo quilting of four petals between the 'Dresden Plates'. The padding is polyester, and the backing is white calico. 2600 x 1630 mm.
Anne Gardener
Quilt made from woollen dressmaking scraps, sewn to an army demob issue blanket, grey with blue stripes. Patches are feather stitched in red broder cotton thread. Quilt is edged with red cotton material zig zagged into place. Colours are pink, blue, brown, black and grey, in plain cloth, weaves and checks.
1462 x 966mm
Mare Carter
Patchwork quilt, all cotton including cotton filling. Pink and white. Large plain pink blocks with white pieced blocks in between in arrow type pattern based on rectangles. Hand sewn and hand quilted
1931 x 1728mm
Wangaratta Historical Society
9 large blocks of crazy patchwork in silks and velvets. The blocks are divided by strips of deep ruby coloured silk. There is a wide ruby border with peaks to which is attached cream lace. The backing is beige silk. The main blocks are outlined with feather stitch in gold thread and many individual patches are outlined in fancy stitches and have embroidered motifs some of which are Australian eg centre patch has Sturt's Desert Pea flowers, parrots, wattle. There are also English flowers, Japanese motifs, flags, domestic objects and Marianne's initials. Embroidery is in a variety of threads including chenille.
2250 x 2180mm
N.S.W. Parks and Wildlife Service
Double sided square quilt mainly in cottons. Side 1 has been made in 4 squares each consisting of different sized strips and rectangles. With side 2 there appears to have been 2 stages as if the quilt was extended perhaps to match side 1. It is also squares, rectangles and strips. Sparsley machine quilted. There is no binding but side 2 has been turned over to side 1 and stitched by machine.
1525 x 1525mm