Quilt No.36KHS - Kalamunda & District Historical Society Inc.

Owner: 
Kalamunda & District Historical Society Inc.
Location: 
WA Perth
Maker
Maker: 
Laura Harrison's grandmother
Made in
ENGLAND
Date: 
pre 1850
Description: 
"�..quilt of silk hexagonal patches with a velvet panel as the centrepiece with petit point embroidery. The silk materials are a valuable source of textile history being very variable in weaves and patterns. The patchwork templates are still in situ and are of a ? linen gauze. The whole quilt is backed with mercerised cotton."
[Maggie Myers 21.5.1986]
2650 x 2330mm
History: 

The quilt was made by the aunt of Mrs Sarah Edith Hode, the grandmother of Laura Harrison. The aunt was a milliner to Queen Victoria's court. The tradition was to hand the quilt down to the eldest daughter, but in the last generation it came to the younger daughter.
Donated to Kalamunda & District Historical Society [WA] by the owner Mrs Laura Harrison.

Story: 

"Information received from Mrs. Elizabeth Trainer��on 12 August 1985, the sister of the donor Mrs. Laura Harrison�..'The qult was sent out to WA in 1912 to Mrs Sarah Edith Hode (nee Horne), Mrs Trainer's grandmother. Mrs Hode was given the quilt by her aunt who had made it and was a milliner to Queen Victoria's court. She had made the quilt out of remnants of ladies of the court's dresses. The velvet embroidered centrepiece was a piece left over from the making of the coronation footstool thus dating the quilt to around 1837. The quilt had traditionally been handed down to the eldest daughter in the family but in the last case was given to Mrs Harison the younger daughter. The family remember the quilt being stored in a blue pillowcase and being brought on very special occasions.' "
[Maggie Myers 21.5.1986 for K.D.H.S.Inc]

Related Quilts:

Evelyn McAlister
Quilt made from dressmaking materials in a design probably made up by the maker but resembling 'Courthouse Steps'. The outer border of each block is mitred. Originally it was reversible but during restoration the back was brought to the front, doubling the size of the quilt. The padding is old woollen materials. The backing is a new piece of floral material. It is now machine quilted.
1830 x 1220mm
National Gallery of Australia
"This is not a true quilt, but a pieced coverlet with a lining. The entire front face of the quilt is of pieced hexagonal and part hexagonal printed cotton patches. Pieces are joined with hand sewn over casting stitches of many different coloured cotton threads. The joining of the patches forms a 'daisy' pattern in some areas and in others it is random. The edge of the front face of the quilt carries a 40mm strip of cotton Chinoiserie which is then folded to the reverse of the quilt and becomes part of the lining. The template for the hexagon patches remains in many of the patches: writing paper and news print." [NGA]
The work is not padded "The lining at the edge of the quilt (for approx.175mm) is a plain weave fabric of a Chinoiserie design. The centre field of the lining is a rectangular panel of a twill weave brushed cotton fabric with a striped floral design." [NGA] 2215 x 2070mm
Janine and Eva Chick
Hexagon quilt, hand sewn, using a wide variety of patterned and plain cotton scraps left over from dressmaking. 6 hexagons are placed around a centre one. There is no padding. The backing is brown flannel turned over to the front with hexagons hand stitched to it.
1220 x 763mm
Marjorie Treasy
Machine sewn quilt made from 125mm squares of scraps left over from dressmaking, joined in strips and then the strips joined. There is a border of fawn cotton and the backing is the same material. The padding is an old blanket and the border is padded with sheep's wool.
1400 x 925mm
Irma Whitford
Pieced repeat block in 'Dresden Plate' pattern in a variety of fabrics with pink and pale blue predominating. Scalloped outer edge. Machine pieced and hand quilted, with echo quilting of four petals between the 'Dresden Plates'. The padding is polyester, and the backing is white calico. 2600 x 1630 mm.
Mare Carter
Patchwork quilt, all cotton including cotton filling. Pink and white. Large plain pink blocks with white pieced blocks in between in arrow type pattern based on rectangles. Hand sewn and hand quilted
1931 x 1728mm