Quilt No.695HL - Heather Leonard

Heather Leonard
Owner: 
Heather Leonard
Location: 
VIC Melbourne
Maker
Maker: 
Hilda Kyffin
Made in
AUSTRALIA VIC
Patterms
Wholecloth, Re-used clothing or blanket, Utilitarian, Typically Australian
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
This 'Quilt' is made from an army great coat from the second world war. The seams have been unpicked and pieced together by machine zig-zagging the flat edges (with Singer treadle sewing machine). The pocket slits are turned back and seamed rather than being pared off. The outside edges are turned over and blanket stitched in red. It does not have a backing.
1620 x 1180mm
History: 

This blanket was made by Hilda Kyffin at her house in Moorabbin sometime post war. It is made from a great coat worn by her husband during the second world war. It was used to cover Hilda's double bed mattress against winter chills until 1985. It is now owned by her daughter and is not used.

Story: 

"My mother was incredibly resourceful having come from a family of seven children and struggled through the depression and the war. She had great respect for 'proper woollen material' which was strictly rationed in wartime����
My mother joined the Moorabbin Country Women's Association after the war and was a back bone member until 1985. She was active in crafts and charity work with them. Fortunately I have been able to save many examples of their traditional craft which she made. Re-using things was their stock in trade."
[Heather Leonard 20.10.2000]

Major Powell James Kiffin MC who owned the great coat
Major Powell James Kiffin MC who owned the great coat
Hilda Kiffin
Hilda Kiffin
The post war Housing Commission house at Moorabbin
The post war Housing Commission house at Moorabbin

Related Quilts:

Yvonne Hamdorf
Quilt No.1016YH - Yvonne Hamdorf
Wholecloth pram quilt with a top of pink cotton sateen, and the reverse is a more finely woven, ivory, fabric. All over quilting design as main feature, with stylised hearts, leaves and cross hatching. The padding is cotton batting. 870 x 660 mm.
Wholecloth, Quilting as major design element
John Tomkin
Quilt No.1005JT - John Tomkin
Hand stitched, cotton, appliquéd, quilt in a flower pattern on a plain background. Colours are shades of green, apricot and browns. This quilt was known as a 'Bride's Quilt'. Padding is thought to be layers of white fabric raised almost like a wadding. The backing is cotton material. 2470 x 2020 mm.
Wholecloth, Embroidered and/or Appliqued
Agnes Pratten
Quilt No.954AP - Agnes Pratten
Wholecloth quilt covered front and back with the least worn parts of old curtains. The padding is a carded wool sheet from Ipswich Woollen Mills placed between layers of cheesecloth.
1800 x 1225mm
Wholecloth, Re-used clothing or blanket, Utilitarian, Typically Australian
Griffith Pioneer Park Museum
Quilt No.351GPM - Griffith Pioneer Park Museum
Patchwork quilt made from hexagon patches of cotton, silk, brocade, sateen and wool. Some silk patches are individually lined. Colours are mainly red, blues, purple, black, yellow and brown, with some pastels. Many silk patches have disintegrated, showing the paper templates. Quilt has a brown cotton inner lining, then a blue cotton backing, and is edged on the reverse with checked silk. Hand sewn by more than one person: one experienced sewer, one not so experienced.
1370 x 1170mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
Diana Cameron
Quilt No.530DC - Diana Cameron
Small patchwork piece possibly made from salesman's samples. There is no opening in the back so it is not a cushion cover. There is no padding. The backing is green polished cotton. There is a 40mm fringe around the edge.
520 x 520mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
Irene Copping
Quilt No.781IC - Irene Copping
Durham quilt. Hand quilted with Durham Feather Pink on one side and cream on the other. Cotton material with a slightly sheen cotton used for the quilting. Cotton wool padding.
2440 x 2150mm
Wholecloth, Quilting as major design element