Quilt No.98MM - Muriel Mackenzie

Muriel Mackenzie
Owner: 
Muriel Mackenzie
Location: 
QLD South East
Maker
Maker: 
Ella Constance Mackenzie
Made in
AUSTRALIA QLDt
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Wholecloth utilitarian quilt with velour type material top and cottage weave curtain material on the back. The padding is a 'bush blanket'. Machine sewn and quilted.
1677 x 1144mm
History: 

Made by Ella Constance Mackenzie (born Canning) during the late 30s or early 40s, at Killarney Queensland. Ella was the mother-in-law of the present owner.
The quilt is stored in a tin trunk and not used.

Story: 

"These quilts were made out of necessity to help keep a family warm during very cold winters in Killarney. When I was first engaged and used to go to Killarney I used to hope that these quilts would not be put on my bed as they were very heavy. Within the family they were referred to as 'hug me tights'."
[Muriel Mackenzie 3.10.96]
"My Mother had 4 sons,( no daughters) born in Killarney. Her father built the first hotel in Killarney after migrating form Bath at the turn of the century. My Mother was about 5' 2" always sewing, mending and crocheting. My Father was a commercial traveller representing Thomas Brown, D. & W.Murray, A.M.Hartzberg, general wholesalers. A room in the hotel was used for commercial travellers to lay out their merchandise for the shop keeper to order from."
[Bill Mackenzie 3.10.96]
Bill's mother was not a sewer of clothing for herself or her sons.

Bill and Muriel with the quilt
Bill and Muriel with the quilt

Related Quilts:

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.
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.
Oakey Historical Museum Society Inc
This quilt consists of rows of pieced blocks approximately 280mm square sewn directly on to a foundation square. The design is really a version of 'log cabin' set on the diagonal. The backing squares are made from flour bags including a number stamped in blue ink "The Defiance Milling Company��..Toowoomba NET 3 lbs". Another is stamped in green ink "Parsons Rolled Oats". Two short sides and one long side of the quilt are bound in apricot coloured cotton.
1960 x 1700mm
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Cot quilt of mixed textiles and techniques. Made in sections and stitched together possibly with some padding. It features embroidered and appliqued animals (cats, donkey, elephant, squirrel, birds, kangaroo, emu) and nursery rhyme characters. Materials are cotton, silk, wool, imitation fur. There is a black velvet patch with a cross stitch parrot and embroidered date and initials 'May 1925 AE'. The backing is woven self patterned curtain material. There is a ruffle around the edge in the same material.
1400 x 930mm
Christine Taylor
Autograph quilt consisting of 372 x 100mm calico squares with signatures worked in green thread. There is a scalloped border. The backing is green paisley flannelette and the padding is an old twill sheet.
2200 x 1840mm
Robyn Oliver
Wholecloth quilt, yellow sateen both sides. Hand quilted, geometric designs; centre square cross hatch, corner spaces filled with diagonal lines, border of 4 lines of parallel quilting. Flock padding visible in holes - said to be wool. 5 cms thick.
2290 x 1950mm