Quilt No.1056PJN - Peter and Jan Newman

Peter and Jan Newman
Owner: 
Peter and Jan Newman
Location: 
WA Perth
Maker
Maker: 
Dulcie Alma Tobin
Made in
AUSTRALIA WA
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Suffolk Puff quilt with puffs mainly in patterned cotton pieces saved from 60 years of household sewing. Puffs are formed into rosettes and the holes are on the top making a decorative feature. It is hand sewn.
2700 x 2400mm.
History: 

The quilt was made by Dulcie Alma Tobin at Mount Lawley WA in the early 1970s using scraps of material saved from the 1920s to 1970. Dulcie had the quilt until she died in 1988 and it then passed to her grand-daughter Jan Newman. It is still used and is Jan and Peter Newman's summer quilt.

Story: 

"Dulcie Alma Tobin: (born in Northam, 1897), saved all the material 'leftovers' from 60 years of household sewing and when she was in her mid seventies, began to stitch them into this quilt.
She was assisted by family - husband Jack threaded all the needles (80 at a time, stuck in a pincushion to keep her going), sister Beatty and daughter Dulcie helping to cut and iron the patches. All the sewing and arranging was done by Dulcie Tobin, despite rapidly failing eyesight. She was 84 years old when it was completed, and so they were able to use it on their bed for a few years before Jack died (1986) and Dulcie moved to the Braille Nursing Home. She died in 1988, shortly after handing the quilt on to her granddaughter Janice Newman." [Jan Newman]

Dulcie and Jack Tobin, 1974, their diamond wedding anniversary
Dulcie and Jack Tobin, 1974, their diamond wedding anniversary
The family home at Mt. Lawley where the quilt was made.
The family home at Mt. Lawley where the quilt was made.

Related Quilts:

Elsie Shephard
Double sided patchwork quilt/rug constructed from squares machined together in strips and then the strips joined. It is made in one piece and then doubled over. The materials are mainly wool, worsted, part cream machine made jumper, pink and blue mohair, blue and white spotted flannelette and cream blanket and all are scraps or from worn clothing.
1690 x 1370mm
N.S.W. Parks and Wildlife Service
Large centre rectangle of hexagons in various colours of patterned and plain cottons. It is surrounded by a wide border in a checkerboard of red and white cottons. There is a wholecloth cotton backing. The front and the back have been turned under at the edge and machined. There is no padding.
1829 x 1372mm
The Embroiderers' Guild of S.A.Inc Museum
4 Pieces of a patchwork quilt which was formerly a whole quilt. It is pieced in cottons in blues reds and browns in many prints. There are whole circles and pieced circles against a plain cream calico background. It is wool lined and is quilted. There are the initials 'A.B.' and '1828' on a central piece. The 4 pieces are various sizes.
Ann Hockey
Patchwork quilt made of small squares pieced from four triangles. Each square is 90mm and is joined to the others by a herringbone lacing in yellow rayon crochet thread, so making an open mesh between each square. The quilt is edged with thick yellow rayon corded braid. Each square is backed with gold coloured cotton. No padding.
1730 x 1430mm
Julie Pearce
Rectangular quilt of print and plain cottons pieced in squares and rectangles, the centre group of pieces surround a larger piece of pale blue fabric, within a frame or border, of bright pink material, then 3 rows of squares and rectangles. Backing of plain fabric. Machine stitched on a treadle machine.
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