Quilt No.583SC - Susanne Cody

Owner: 
Susanne Cody
Location: 
NSW South Coast
Maker
Maker: 
Olive May Snow
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Quilt, machine construction using rectangles of mainly woollen materials with some corduroy and mohair. Initially 14 rows and then 2 rows added for extra warmth. 25mm bias cut yellow poplin binding. The padding is an old army blanket and the backing is printed cotton.
1500 x 1093mm
History: 

The quilt was made by Mrs. Olive May Snow (born Birch) in Goulburn NSW in the early 1950s. She gave it to her sister Lorna and it is now owned by Lorna's daughter Susanne Cody. It is not used now.

Story: 

" Olive Birch (married at 45 years) had always worked at the Singer Sewing Machine shop in Auburn St Goulburn. They had a button covering service and when customers came in to have their buttons covered Olive would carefully collect any spare scraps of fabric that were left over.
She then sewed them all together by machine and used one of my father's old army blankets for extra warmth. Upon its completion my father so admired it that Olive gave it to him as a gift.
It was always part of growing up - if we were sick or cold we were snuggled up in it- it was very much used and enjoyed - well washed and hence the patches have shrunk over the years.
Perhaps it was this cheery rug that began my love of and journey into patchwork. My aunty Olive bought my first sewing machine on completion of my HSC in 1967."

[Susanne Cody 6.11.99]

Olive Snow with the quilt 1998
Olive Snow with the quilt 1998

Related Quilts:

National Gallery of Australia
"This is not a true quilt, but a pieced coverlet with a lining. The entire front face of the quilt is of pieced hexagonal and part hexagonal printed cotton patches. Pieces are joined with hand sewn over casting stitches of many different coloured cotton threads. The joining of the patches forms a 'daisy' pattern in some areas and in others it is random. The edge of the front face of the quilt carries a 40mm strip of cotton Chinoiserie which is then folded to the reverse of the quilt and becomes part of the lining. The template for the hexagon patches remains in many of the patches: writing paper and news print." [NGA]
The work is not padded "The lining at the edge of the quilt (for approx.175mm) is a plain weave fabric of a Chinoiserie design. The centre field of the lining is a rectangular panel of a twill weave brushed cotton fabric with a striped floral design." [NGA] 2215 x 2070mm
National Trust of Australia (NSW)
The body of this quilt is hexagons. This centre piece is surrounded by an applique border of birds and flowers and donkeys on see-saws. The flowers have been elaborately pieced from a great variety of materials. Some of the birds have pres studs for eyes.
Oakey Historical Museum Society Inc.
Cotton patchwork cover constructed from hand sewn hexagons (65mm) in cotton and linen furnishing materials. The curved edges are bound with blue and cream printed striped cotton. The backing material is not visible.
941 x 261mm
Mare Carter
Patchwork Quilt, all cotton including filling. Pattern is "squares and diamonds". Quilt is faded but blue is probably the predominant colour. Hand stitched and hand quilted.
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The Pioneer Women's Hut
Continuous 'sleeve' of hand sewn small hexagons, many woollen, some joined, some darned, plain and patterned. Several bands of plain coloured hexagons. The padding is ticking, an old cream blanket and part of a bedspread.
1960 x 800mm
Fay Burgess
Hexagonal piece of patchwork made up of 9 rows of rosettes of hexagons in a wide variety of colours and patterns mainly in silks and velvets. It is incomplete. Backing papers are still in the outside rows and also basting threads. Hexagons are joined by fine whip stitching. It is unlined.
1370 x 1220mm