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.
Agapi Naoumidis
Wholecloth quilt made of deep cherry red satin with a cotton backing of a lighter red colour. The padding is wool. The quilting pattern comprises twelve squares, each approximately 350mm with a four leaf pattern in each. The border is straight and wavy parallel lines.
2000 x 1820mm
National Musuem of Australia
Patchwork quilt with alternate squares of green and fawn cotton headcloth. Various Australian wild flowers are embroidered in coloured threads in the green squares. In the fawn squares there is a stylised flower and leaf pattern outlined in embroidery. The border, front and back is green headcloth. The backing is printed cotton with a floral design. There is some padding.
1610 x 1610mm
Ruth Collins
Patchwork quilt of rectangular wool and cotton tailors' samples, in browns, greys, navy, black and beige, in plains and patterned weaves. Padding is a woollen blanket, and the backing is a patterned cotton.
1956 x 1702mm
Stavroula Ioannou
Rose pink satin wholecloth quilt with lighter pink cotton backing. Hand quilting forms large diamond pattern in the centre with a border of parallel lines.
2000 x 1800mm