Quilt No.239KW - Kathleen White

Owner: 
Kathleen White
Location: 
SA
Maker
Maker: 
Kathleen White
Made in
AUSTRALIA SA
Patterms
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Patchwork quilt (one of a pair) made from hexagons in cottons, rayon, and taffeta, to fit a single bed. The quilt has a pleated ruffle or flounce of pale green fabric. Patchwork machine sewn onto backing, flounce sewn by machine.
History: 

Made by the owner, Kathleen White (born Smith), with her mother Mary Smith and sister Rosemary Smith. Used in Kathleen's house at Kingston (SA).

Story: 

"I read a book called 'Aunt Jane of Kentucky' & each chapter was about a different quilt or scrap & I got inspired so sewed lots of bits onto an old blanket and made a Wagga. �
My mother had been away & when she came home she told me it was a Wagga & as an experienced C.W.A. Handicraft worker decided to show me how to do Patchwork with Hexagon. We always did our own sewing & had scraps & as soon as our friends & neighbours found out what we were doing they gave us more pieces.
I am sending you a photo of one of the quilts � they are the same.
The photo of my mother was a little older than when we made our first quilt but she kept on doing Hexagons & random patchwork until she was 95. All her life she made cushions & pot holders using Log Cabin which she learnt from her grandmother in about 1900.
The photo of my sister & I we are a year or so younger than when we started quilting.
I am the one with the bow. Sister Rosemary still does patchwork but mainly random by machine.
My second sister Vida has a slightly crippled hand & can't manage Hexagons so in 1985 when it was her 50 Birthday a lot of family & friends made [hexagon] 'flowers' from apricot shades & I put them together with a plain apricot in between on the back I embroidered a little verse which Vida had written for Mum several years ago �
I had a bit of difficulty finding photos of the home we lived in when the quilts were made, but have one of it as an empty ruin. It was a very old place when we lived there & it was surrounded by garden.
The � photo with water in front was where I lived when I was first married in 1954, my husband was a Soldier Settler & with my mothers help I finished the quilts & they were used on spare beds & later childrens beds etc.
I have now retired & we live in Kingston & the quilts are still treasured & odd hexigons replaced as they perish but they are mostly stored in a draw.
I have 3 daughters who are all keen on Patchwork but only 1 has time, or makes time, to carry on the skills. �"
[Letter from Kathleen White June 1995]

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